1 John 3:14

 

1 John 3:14

(KJV) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

(1611 KJV) Wee know that wee haue passed from death vnto life, because wee loue the brethren: he that loueth not his brother, abideth in death.

(1587 Geneva Bible) We know that we are translated from death vnto life, because we loue the brethren: he that loueth not his brother, abideth in death.

(1526 Tyndale) We knowe that we are translated from deeth vnto lyfe be cause we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abydeth in deeth.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.

(NIV) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

(NASV) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

(THE MESSAGE) The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead.

(AMP) We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death.

(NLT) If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

(ESV) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

(CEV) Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life. But if you don't love each other, you are still under the power of death.

(NCV) We know we have left death and have come into life because we love each other. Whoever does not love is still dead.

(1901 ASV) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

(HCSB) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

(RSV) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

(NAB-Roman Catholic) We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death.

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) We know we have passed over from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love remains in death.

 

Footnotes

NKJV - NU-Text omits his brother.

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

hmeiV oidamen oti metabebhkamen ek tou qanatou eiV thn zwhn oti agapwmen touV adeljouV o mh agapwn ton adeljon menei en tw qanatw

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

hmeiV oidamen oti metabebhkamen ek tou qanatou eiV thn zwhn oti agapwmen touV adeljouV o mh agapwn menei en tw qanatw

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century

B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

33 (Miniscule) - Ninth Century

 

Verses which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century

K 018 - Ninth century

L 020 - Ninth century

P 025 - Ninth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Omit “his brother” after “loveth not”

Lachmann, Karl - 1842

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

 

Affected Teaching

Here is another case of going from the specific to the nebulous. The second part of this verse specifically states that if you do not love your brother, then you are abiding in death, which basically means you are giving evidence you are unsaved. One of the major tests of being a true Christian is that we have genuine love for the brethren. It is a love which is proactive and has no hidden agendas. The world hates Christians but true Christians will love each other despite the hatred the world has for them. The modern versions state that you must have love or you are abiding in death. What type of love? For the environment? For whales? It leaves the door wide open so someone can inject any type of love and think they are on their way to Heaven. In fact, the books of 1, 2, and 3 John are all basically speaking about loving the brethren as giving evidence of a person’s salvation. Vague love means nothing. A husband can love a wife or a wife can love a husband but that does not give evidence of salvation. When we love the brethren, we are showing a spiritual affinity to other Christians. This type of love supersedes the love of the world which has only a physical aspect. True love based in salvation is much deeper and more caring than the surface dimension of love which can change in a moment. True spiritual love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit given only to the believer. (Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Back