1 John 3:2
What does 1 John 3:2 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 3:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 3:2 means
We are already God’s children, yet our full future is not fully disclosed. There is continuity—we remain His children—and there is glorious transformation coming. When “he shall be manifested,” John speaks of Christ’s appearing. Then we “shall be like him,” which points to the believer’s final conformity to Christ in holiness and glory. The reason is relational and revelatory: “we shall see him even as he is.” Seeing Christ without veil will change us. Our present identity guarantees our future destiny. Hope is not speculation; it rests on the certainty of Christ’s manifestation and the transforming power of beholding Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949My loved ones, now we are children of God, and at present it is not clear what we are to be. We are certain that at his revelation we will be like him; for we will see him as he is.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862beloved, now, children of God are we, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be, and we have known that if he may be manifested, like him we shall be, because we shall see him as he is;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God: and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that when he shall appear we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Beloved, now are we children ofGod, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Context
Having celebrated our present status as children, John lifts our eyes to the future appearing of Christ. This verse bridges identity (who we are) and hope (what we shall be). It sets up verse 3, where this hope fuels present purification. The flow is intentional: assurance about the future does not produce passivity but devotion. John keeps both truths together—present adoption and future likeness—to counter false teachers who either deny Christ’s true coming or separate faith from ethical change. The motivation for holiness that follows is grounded in this unveiled, Christ-centered hope.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 31:19
Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men!
- 2 Peter 1:4
whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
- Job 19:26
And after my skin, eventhisbody, is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;
- 1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.
- Galatians 3:26
For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
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