1 John 3:24
What does 1 John 3:24 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 3:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 3:24 means
Keeping God’s commandments—summed up in faith in Jesus Christ and love for one another—results in mutual abiding: the believer dwells in God, and God dwells in the believer. This is intimate, ongoing fellowship. John adds how we “know that he abideth in us”: by “the Spirit which he gave us.” The Spirit assures by producing obedience, love, and confession of Christ, and by granting inner witness of God’s presence. Assurance, then, rests on intertwined strands: God’s promise, observable fruit, and the Spirit’s testimony. The God who commands also indwells and empowers His children to live out His will.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who keeps his laws is in God and God is in him. And the Spirit which he gave us is our witness that he is in us.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he who is keeping His commands, in Him he doth remain, and He in him; and in this we know that He doth remain in us, from the Spirit that He gave us.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he that keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given to us.
Context
This closing verse gathers the chapter’s threads: identity as God’s children (verse 1), hope of likeness to Christ (verse 2), pursuit of purity (verse 3), break with sin (verses 4–10), love as the family mark (verses 11–18), assurance and boldness (verses 19–22), and the core command of faith and love (verse 23). It ends with the Spirit’s assuring presence, preparing for the next chapter’s testing of spirits. The flow is complete: from the Father’s love, through the Son’s work, to the Spirit’s witness, shaping a community marked by righteousness, love, and confident communion with God.
v.23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.
v.24This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 4:5
that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
- John 14:21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.
- Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
- 1 John 2:6
he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
- 1 John 4:15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
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