1 John 3:1
The James Method Verse Mapping
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1 John 3:1 (NIV, 1984 version):
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Here’s the concept map I created for this verse:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 3:1. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
1 John 3:1 (NIV 1984)
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Translations (key differences bolded)
KJV: 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
NLT: 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.
ESV: 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
CSB: 1 See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.
NASB: 1 See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.
BBE: 1 See what great love the Father has given us in naming us the children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not see who we are, because it did not see who he was.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: To tell us what it means to be children of God
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Great (how great)
Greek:
Definition: of what sort or quality (what manner of)
Love
Greek:
Definition: affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love
Lavished
Greek:
Definition: to give something to someone, to bestow a gift, to supply necessary things, to give to someone to care for his interests
Children of God
Greek:
Definition: those who are led by the Spirit of God and are thus closely related to God
World
Greek:
Definition: inhabitants of the earth, the ungodly multitude, men alienated from God
Know
Greek:
Definition: to understand, perceive, have knowledge of
Cross References
John 3:16: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God loved the world so much he gave his only Son.
Romans 5:8: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God showed his love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Ephesians 2:4-5: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Because of God’s great love, he made us alive with Christ.
1 John 4:9-10: 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God showed his love by sending Jesus as a sacrifice.
John 1:12: 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Those who believe in Jesus are children of God.
Romans 8:14-21: 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We are God’s children because we have the Holy Spirit.
John 15:18-19: 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
We are chosen out of the world - The world hates us and Jesus.
John 16:3: 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
Those opposed to Christians do not know God.
View of God
God is love. This is one of God’s greatest characteristics, and out of this love flows God’s actions toward humans. He is so generous with his love that he has adopted us as his children. But not everyone accepts this love.
View of Man/Self
We have been blessed to be the recipient of God’s great love. We are his children, and as such, we get treated similar to how Jesus was treated. Some will accept us, but many will reject us if we believe in Jesus.
Reflection and Application
What do we as humans gain because of God’s great love for us? A Savior, Jesus, who God sent to die for us while we were still sinners. He gives us eternal life. He gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can live for him in the midst of a dark world. He adopted us as his children, which comes with an eternal inheritance. All of this means that the world will reject us, just like it has rejected Jesus. For this reason, we should not be surprised when we are ridiculed and oppressed and persecuted.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you have loved us so much that you sent Jesus to die for us. Your love is so extravagant that even though our sins required Jesus’ sacrifice, you still accept us as your children if we call on your name. This might not make sense to the world, but it is a miracle for those who believe. Help me to live a life worthy of being your child—a life that honors Christ’s sacrifice.