1 John 3:18
in 1 John 3Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.
KJV
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
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This verse in 1 John 3
Commentary
13 notes on this verse"Little children, let us not love in word, or in tongue," says John, teaching them to be perfect, "but in deed and in truth; hereby shall we know that we are of the truth." And if "God be love," piety also is love: "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." And again, to him who desires to become a Gnostic, it is written, "But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in purity."
This site's exposition
withholds his compassion from him
on 1 John 3:17-18
Verse 17 brings verse 16 down to ordinary need, a man who sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him. John asks how can the love of God abide in him? Love is tested by deeds, not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
This site's exposition
let us love not in word and speech
Love is proved in action. The call follows verse 17, where a brother in need meets a closed heart and exposes an empty claim of love. Love in truth is love that is real, matching its words with its deeds.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Whence beginneth charity, brethren? Attend a little: to what it is perfected, ye have heard; the very end of it, and the very measure of it is what the Lord hath put before us in the Gospel: "Greater love hath no man," saith He, "than that one lay down his life for his friends." Its perfection, therefore, He hath put before us in the Gospel, and here also it is its perfection that is put before us: but ye ask yourselves, and say to yourselves, When shall it be possible for us to have "this" charity? Do not too soon despair of thyself. Haply, it is born and is not yet perfect; nourish it, that it be not choked. But thou wilt say to me, And by what am I to know it? For to what it is perfected, we have heard; whence it begins, let us hear. He goes on to say: "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have hunger, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how can the love of God dwell in him?" Lo, whence charity begins withal! If thou art not yet equal to the dying for thy brother, be thou even now equal to the giving of thy means to thy brother. Even now let charity smite thy bowels, that not of vainglory thou shouldest do it, but of the innermost marrow of mercy; that thou consider him, now in want. For if thy superfluities thou canst not give to thy brother, canst thou lay down thy life for thy brother? There lies thy money in thy bosom, which thieves may take from thee; and though thieves do not take it, by dying thou wilt leave it, even if it leave not thee while living: what wilt thou do with it? Thy brother hungers, he is in necessity: be-like he is in suspense, is distressed by his creditor: he is thy brother, alike ye are bought, one is the price paid for you, ye are both redeemed by the blood of Christ: see whether thou have mercy, if thou have this world's means. Perchance thou sayest, "What concerns it me? […]
It is not enough to have good intentions. You must also put them into effect with genuine willingness and a happy heart.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, and we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
Bernard of ClairvauxSermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 50 · Written before 1153.
proposed
Therefore through the second, works are done, and in it charity resides -- not that affectual charity, which, seasoned with the salt of wisdom, growing rich, brings to the mind a great multitude of the sweetness of the Lord; but rather a certain actual charity, …
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, etc. Namely, in deed, so that when a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, we give them what is necessary for the body. Similarly, when we see them …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Having finished about Cain and about evil deeds similar to his deed, he again turns to love, and says that love inclined the Lord to lay down His soul for us, and that following His example we too must lay down our souls for the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Compliments and flatteries become not Christians; but the sincere expressions of sacred affection, and the services or labours of love, do. This love will evince our sincerity in religion, and give us hope towards God: And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him,
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
My little children - Τεκνια μου, My beloved children, let us not love in word - in merely allowing the general doctrine of love to God and man to be just and right; Neither in tongue - In making professions of love, and of a charitable and humane disposition, and resting there; but in deed - by humane and merciful acts; And in truth - Feeling the disposition of which we speak. There is a good saying in Yalcut Rubeni, fol.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue - By mere profession; by merely sayinG that we love each other. See 1Pe 1:22. But in deed and in truth - In such acts as shall show that our professed love is sincere and real. Let us do the deed of love, whether anything is said about it or not. See the notes at Mat 6:3.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τεκνία | teknia | Little children | G5040 → | 8 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἀγαπῶμεν | agapomen | we may love | G25 → | 143 times |
| λόγῳ | logo | in word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| μηδὲ | mede | nor | G3366 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γλώσσῃ | glosse | in tongue | G1100 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἔργῳ | ergo | action | G2041 → | 168 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀληθείᾳ. | aletheia | in truth. | G225 → | 109 times |
ΤεκνίαLittle children
tekniaG5040 →8 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἀγαπῶμενwe may love
agapomenG25 →143 times
λόγῳin word
logoG3056 →329 times
μηδὲnor
medeG3366 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
γλώσσῃin tongue
glosseG1100 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἔργῳaction
ergoG2041 →168 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀληθείᾳ.in truth.
aletheiaG225 →109 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
Galatians 5:13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- Romans 15:1–2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- 1 Peter 2:16
Through
1 Peter 1:22Since 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.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 1:5
Through
Romans 12:9Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:14
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- Psalms 34:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 John
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; 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; Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 50; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4; John Chrysostom, CATENA; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 John and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 John.