1 John 3:11
in 1 John 3This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:
KJV
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
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This verse in 1 John 3
Commentary
11 notes on this verseFor this is the message,.... Sent from God by Christ, or what he in his ministry declared, and is the commandment which was so frequently urged by him, Joh 13:34; that ye have heard from the beginning; of the preaching of the Gospel to them, and of their conversion; see 1Jn 2:7; that we should love one another; to which the command of Christ, the reason with which it is enforced, and the early notice of it, should engage.
This site's exposition
the message you have heard from the beginning
on 1 John 3:11-12
The oldest command returns: We should love one another. Cain is its counter-example, one who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother, the two families of verse 10 given a face. The motive is given: his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"For this is the message which we heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." He has made it manifest to us that it is of this he speaks; whoso acts against this commandment, is in that accursed sin, into which those fall who are not born of God.
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's was …
The Medieval Church3 voices
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book 21, Section 29 · Written before 604.
proposed
But on the other hand, others are not forward to support their needy brethren with things; but only to cherish them with soft words. Which persons the holy preaching of James strongly rebukes, saying, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled: notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body: what shall it profit you?
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. The Lord saying: This is my commandment, that you love one another (John XV).
The Apostle confirms by example how great an evil it is to hate one's brother. Look, he says, Cain hated his brother and killed him, despite the fact that he was his own brother. Cain performed the evil deeds of his father the devil, while …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
To dissuade from what is contrary thereto, all ill-will towards the brethren, and that by the example of Cain. His envy and malignity should deter us from harbouring the like passion, and that upon these accounts:-- 1. It showed that he was as the first-born of the serpent's seed; even he, the eldest son of the first man, was of the wicked one.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For this is the message - Margin, “commandment.” In the received text, this is ἀγγελία angelia - “a message brought;” in several manuscripts, and in later editions, it is ἐπαγγελία epangelia - “annunciation, announcement;” an order given, or a commandment, Act 23:21. It is not very material which reading is followed. The word “command” or “rule” would express the sense with sufficient clearness. The reference is to the law given by the Saviour as a permanent direction to his disciples.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the message--"announcement," as of something good; not a mere command, as the law. The Gospel message of Him who loved us, announced by His servants, is, that we love the brethren; not here all mankind, but those who are our brethren in Christ, children of the same family of God, of whom we have been born anew.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
For this is the message - See 1Jn 1:5. From the beginning God hath taught men that they should love one another. How essentially necessary this is to the comfort and well-being of man in this state of trial and difficulty, every sensible man must see. All are dependent upon all; all upon each, and each upon all. Mutual love makes this dependence pleasant and doubly profitable. Nothing can be more pleasing to an ingenuous and generous mind than to communicate acts of kindness.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτι | hoti | For | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| αὕτη | haute | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστὶν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγελία | angelia | message | G31 → | |
| ἣν | hen | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἠκούσατε | ekousate | you have heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| ἀρχῆς | arches | [the] beginning | G746 → | 55 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἀγαπῶμεν | agapomen | we may love | G25 → | 143 times |
| ἀλλήλους· | allelous | one another; | G240 → | 100 times |
ὅτιFor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
αὕτηthis
hauteG3778 →1381 times
ἐστὶνis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγελίαmessage
angeliaG31 →
ἣνthat
henG3739 →1405 times
ἠκούσατεyou have heard
ekousateG191 →425 times
ἀπ᾽from
ap᾽G575 →640 times
ἀρχῆς[the] beginning
archesG746 →55 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἀγαπῶμενwe may love
agapomenG25 →143 times
ἀλλήλους·one another;
allelousG240 →100 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 4:7Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
- 1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- 1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.
- 1 Peter 1:22
Through
1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
it leads to
- Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
- Romans 12:10
Through
John 15:12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:21
And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
- 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 1 John 4:21
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 John
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Ten Homilies on 1 John 5; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book 21, Section 29; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on 1 John; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 John.