1 John 3 · Verse 11

1 John 3:11

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:11, King James Version

1 John 3:11 in other translations

BSBThis is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
WEBFor this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another—
ASVFor this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:
YLTbecause this is the message that ye did hear from the beginning, that we may love one another,
DARBYFor this is the message which ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:
BBEBecause this is the word which was given to you from the first, that we are to have love for one another;
WebsterFor this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

What does 1 John 3:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. For this is the message. Marg., commandment. In the received text, this is αγγελια--a message brought; in several Mss., and in later editions, it is επαγγελια--annunciation, announcement; an order given, or a commandment, Acts 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 Savour as a permanent direction to his disciples.

That ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one anther. Jn 13:34, Jn 13:35; 1Jn 2:7.

(1) "message" "commandment" (*) "message" "charge"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 3:11-15
We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love to our brethren is one. It is not zeal for a party in the common religion, or affection for those who are of the same name and sentiments with ourselves. The life of grace in the heart of a regenerate person, is the beginning and first principle of a life of glory, whereof they must be destitute who hate their brother in their hearts.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 John 3:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτιhotiForG3754
αὕτηhautēthisG3778
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ἡhētheG3588
ἀγγελίαangeliamessageG31
ἣνhēnthatG3739
ἠκούσατεēkousateyou have heardG191
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
ἀρχῆςarchēs[the] beginningG746
ἵναinathatG2443
ἀγαπῶμενagapōmenwe may loveG25
ἀλλήλους·allēlousone another;G240

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 John 3:11

  • John 15:12

    This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

  • 2 John 1:5

    And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

  • 1 John 4:7

    Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

  • John 13:34-35

    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • 1 John 4:21

    And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:9

    But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

  • 1 Peter 4:8

    And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  • 1 John 1:5

    This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • Galatians 6:2

    Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
this.
1:5; 2:7,8
message. or, commandment.
1Ti 1:5; *Gr:
that we.
4:7,21; Joh 13:34,35; 15:12; Ga 6:2; Eph 5:2; 1Th 4:9; 1Pe 1:22; 3:8
1Pe 4:8; 2Jo 1:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 John 3:10

    In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

  • 1 John 3:11

    For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Read all of 1 John 3

1 John 3:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque este es el mensaje que habéis oído desde el principio: Que nos amemos unos á otros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car c’est ici le message que vous avez entendu dès le commencement, savoir que nous nous aimions l’un l’autre,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn dies ist die Botschaft, die ihr von Anfang gehört habt, daß wir einander lieben sollen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quoniam hæc est annuntiatio, quam audistis ab initio, ut diligatis alterutrum.