1 John 3 · Verse 23

1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 3:23, King James Version

1 John 3:23 in other translations

BSBAnd this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
WEBThis is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand this is His command, that we may believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He did give command to us,
DARBYAnd this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given us commandment.
BBEAnd this is his law, that we have faith in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love for one another, even as he said to us.
WebsterAnd this is his commandment; That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

What does 1 John 3:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. Summing up of God's commandments under the Gospel dispensation in one commandment. this is his commandment--singular: for faith and love are not separate commandments, but are indissolubly united. We cannot truly love one another without faith in Christ, nor can we truly believe in Him without love. believe--once for all; Greek aorist. on the name of his Son--on all that is revealed in the Gospel concerning Him, and on Himself in respect to His person, offices, and atoning work. as he--as Jesus gave us commandment.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 23. And this is his commandment. His commandment, by way of eminence; the leading, principal thing which he enjoins on us; the commandment which lies at the foundation of all true obedience.

That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. Mk 16:16. Comp. Jn 16:1, Acts 16:31.

And love one another, etc. This follows from the other, and hence they are mentioned as together constituting his commandment. Jn 13:36.

(e) "this is his commandment" De 18:15-19, Jn 14:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 That we should believe on the name of his Son - We are commanded to believe on Christ, that for the sake of his passion and death we may be justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses; and being through him redeemed from the guilt of sin, restored to the Divine favor, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, we are enabled to love one another as he gave us commandment; for without a renewal of the heart, love to God and man is impossible, and this renewal comes by Christ Jesus.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 3:22-24

When believers had confidence towards God, through the Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as…

Read the full comment on 1 John 3:22-24 →

1 John 3:23 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
αὕτηhautēthisG3778
ἐστὶνestinisG1510
ἡhētheG3588
ἐντολὴentolēcommandmentG1785
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἵναinathatG2443
πιστεύσωμενpisteusōmenwe may believeG4100
τῷtōin theG3588
ὀνόματιonomatinameG3686
τοῦtouof theG3588
υἱοῦhuiouSonG5207
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424
ΧριστοῦChristouChristG5547
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀγαπῶμενagapōmenwe may loveG25
ἀλλήλουςallēlousone anotherG240
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
ἔδωκενedōkenHe gaveG1325
ἐντολὴνentolēn[the] commandmentG1785
ἡμῖν.hēminto us.G3165

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

Cross references for 1 John 3:23

  • John 6:29

    Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

  • John 13:34

    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

  • 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:

  • John 15:12

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

  • 1 Peter 4:8

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

  • 1 John 3:11

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

  • 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.

  • Mark 9:7

    And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

  • 1 John 4:21

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

  • Matthew 22:39

    And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • 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.

  • Acts 16:31

    And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
his commandment.
De 18:15-19; Ps 2:12; Mr 9:7; Joh 6:29; 14:1; 17:3; Ac 16:31
1Ti 1:15
love.
11; 2:8-10; 4:21; Mt 22:39; Joh 13:34; 15:12; Eph 5:2; 1Th 4:9
1Pe 1:22; 4:8

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

Context

  • 1 John 3:22

    And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

  • 1 John 3:23

    And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

  • 1 John 3:24

    And 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.

Read all of 1 John 3

1 John 3:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y éste es su mandamiento: Que creamos en el nombre de su Hijo Jesucristo, y nos amemos unos á otros como nos lo ha mandado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– Et c’est ici son commandement, que nous croyions au nom de son Fils Jésus Christ et que nous nous aimions l’un l’autre, selon qu’il nous en a donné le commandement;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und dies ist sein Gebot, daß wir an den Namen seines Sohnes Jesu Christi glauben und einander lieben, gleichwie er uns ein Gebot gegeben hat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et hoc est mandatum ejus: ut credamus in nomine Filii ejus Jesu Christi: et diligamus alterutrum, sicut dedit mandatum nobis.