Devine Scripture

1 John 3:18

What does 1 John 3:18 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 3:18 means

John affectionately addresses his readers and presses the point: love must be more than speech. Words and tongues without “deed and truth” are hollow. Truth means sincerity and alignment with reality; deed means action. Together they form authentic love. This does not denigrate encouraging words, but it insists that love’s reality appears in concrete, faithful care. The verse invites believers to examine whether their love is costly, consistent, and anchored in God’s truth, not in flattery or performance. Love that is true moves the hands and feet; it is embodied obedience shaped by Christ’s pattern.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

My little children, do not let our love be in word and in tongue, but let it be in act and in good faith.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in word and in truth!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Children, let us not love with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Context

This succinct command sums up verses 16–17 and transitions into assurance (verses 19–21). By calling for love in deed and truth, John provides the criterion for self-knowledge: doing the truth stabilizes the heart before God. The next verse will show how such lived truth produces assurance. The movement is intentional: definition (Christ’s love), demonstration (meeting needs), directive (deed and truth), and then the fruit (assured hearts and bold prayer). Love thus becomes the pathway to confidence, not because deeds earn favor, but because they express the life and obedience that accompany faith.

v.17But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?

v.18This passage

v.19Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 John 2:1

    My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

  • Matthew 25:41

    Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:

  • Galatians 6:1

    Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

  • 2 John 1:1

    The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.

  • James 2:15

    If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,

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