1 John 3:11

11 For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.

1 John 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 3:11

For 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, ( John 13:34 ) ( John 15:12 John 15:17 ) ;

that ye have heard from the beginning;
of the preaching of the Gospel to them, and of their conversion; see ( 1 John 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.

1 John 3:11 In-Context

9 People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin.
10 Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.
11 For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.
12 We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous.
13 So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.