1 John 3:16 - Love One Another

Audio Bible

Context

Love One Another
…15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. 16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?…

Cross References

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.Romans 5:8
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.Philippians 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: / Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. ...1 John 4:9-11
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. / And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. / Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.1 Peter 2:21-24
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: / “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” / When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. ...2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. / And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.John 13:34
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

1 John 4:9,10
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him…

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

and we.

1 John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

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1 John 3

By this we know what love is:
This phrase introduces the concept of love as defined by the actions of Jesus Christ. In the biblical context, love is not merely an emotion but an action demonstrated through sacrifice. The Greek word for love here is "agape," which signifies selfless, unconditional love. This sets the standard for Christian love, contrasting with the world's often self-centered understanding of love.

Jesus laid down His life for us:
This refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a central event in Christian theology. Historically, Jesus' death occurred around 30-33 AD in Jerusalem, a city with significant religious and political tension. The act of laying down His life is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53, which speaks of the suffering servant. It also serves as the ultimate example of sacrificial love, a type of Christ's role as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers:
This phrase calls believers to emulate Christ's sacrificial love in their relationships with others. The term "brothers" refers to fellow believers, emphasizing the importance of community and mutual support within the body of Christ. This echoes Jesus' teaching in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." It challenges Christians to prioritize others' needs, even to the point of self-sacrifice, reflecting the early church's communal living and support as seen in Acts 2:44-45.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
Central figure in Christianity, whose sacrificial death is the ultimate demonstration of love.

2. John the Apostle
The author of 1 John, one of Jesus' closest disciples, known for his emphasis on love and truth.

3. Early Christian Community
The recipients of John's letter, facing challenges of false teachings and needing encouragement in love and truth.

4. The Cross
The event where Jesus laid down His life, serving as the ultimate act of love and sacrifice.

5. Brothers (and Sisters) in Christ
Fellow believers who are called to emulate Christ's love in their relationships with one another.

Teaching Points

Understanding True Love
True love is defined by sacrifice, as demonstrated by Jesus. It is not merely an emotion but an action that often requires selflessness and humility.

Imitating Christ's Sacrifice
As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His sacrificial love. This may not always mean physical death but involves putting others' needs before our own.

Community and Brotherhood
The Christian community is strengthened when believers practice sacrificial love. This fosters unity and reflects Christ's love to the world.

Practical Sacrifice
Consider what it means to "lay down our lives" in daily contexts—time, resources, and personal comfort can be offered in service to others.

Love as a Witness
Our love for one another serves as a testimony to the world of Christ's love. It is a powerful witness that can draw others to faith.

Verses 16, 17. - The nature of love as shown by Christ, and its obligation on Christians. Love has been declared the criterion for distinguishing the children of God from the children of the devil. It remains to show what love is; and this is best seen in a concrete example. "The Eternal Word, incarnate and dying for the truth, inspires St. John to guard it with apostolic chivalry; but also this revelation of the heart of God melts him into tenderness towards the race which Jesus has loved so well. To St. John a lack of love for men seems sheer dishonour to the love of Christ" (Liddon). Verse 16. - In this (verse 10; 1 John 2:3)we have come to know (have acquired and possess the knowledge of) love (what love is), in that he laid down his life for us. This is better than "We have come to know love as consisting in this, that he laid down his life for us," which would have been ἐν τούτῳ οϋσαν. Cain is the type of hate; Christ, of love. Cain took his brother's life to benefit himself; Christ laid down his own life to benefit his enemies (see on John 10:12). This realized ideal of love we must imitate; ready to sacrifice ourselves, and even our lives, for the good of others. The effacement of another's rights and perhaps existence for one's own sake is the essence of hatred; the effacement of one's self for another's sake is the essence of love. Christ died for those who hated him; and the Christian must confront the hatred of the world with a love that is ready even to die for the haters. This shows that the "brethren" here and in verse 14, though used primarily of Christians, does not exclude unbelievers; otherwise the parallel with Christ would be spoiled (see on verse 10). Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

By
Ἐν (En)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

this
τούτῳ (toutō)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

we know
ἐγνώκαμεν (egnōkamen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

what
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

love [is]:
ἀγάπην (agapēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

[Jesus]
ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.

laid down
ἔθηκεν (ethēken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

life
ψυχὴν (psychēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.

for
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

us,
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

we
ἡμεῖς (hēmeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

ought
ὀφείλομεν (opheilomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3784: Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.

to lay down
θεῖναι (theinai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

[our]
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

lives
ψυχὰς (psychas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.

for
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

[our]
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

brothers.
ἀδελφῶν (adelphōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

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1 John 3:16 Catholic BibleNT Letters: 1 John 3:16 By this we know love because he (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)