1 John 3:14
The James Method Verse Mapping
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1 John 3:14 (NIV, 1984 version):
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Here’s the concept map I created for these verses:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 3:14. 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 3:14 (NIV 1984)
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Translations (key differences bolded)
NIV 2011: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
KJV: We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
NKJV: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
NLT: If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.
ESV: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
NET: We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.
CSB: We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
NASB20: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Encouragement to love others because we have passed from death to life
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Know
Greek: ειδω (eido)
Definition: to get knowledge of, to understand, perceive - the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning
Passed
Greek: μεταβαινω (metabaino)
Definition: to pass over from one place to another, to remove, depart
Death
Greek: θανατος (thanatos)
Definition: death of the body, separation of the soul and body by which life on earth has ended - with the implied idea of future misery in hell
Life
Greek: ζωη (zoe)
Definition: state of one who is possessed of vitality, absolute fullness of life, a life devoted to God, those who put their trust in Christ both in this world and after the resurrection
Love
Greek: αγαπαω (agapao)
Definition: to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
Brothers
Greek: αδελφος (adelphos)
Definition: belonging to the same people, fellow believer, Christians
Remains
Greek: μενω (meno)
Definition: abides, not to depart, to continue to be
Cross References
2 Corinthians 5:1: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
If our earthly house is destroyed, we have an eternal one in heaven.
1 John 5:13-20: 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
We have eternal life if we believe in Jesus. Some sin leads to death and some does not. Christians should not continue to sin.
John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
If we hear God’s word and believe, we have eternal life and have crossed over from death to life.
Ephesians 2:1-5: 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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.
We were dead in our sins but by God’s grace we have been saved and have been made alive in Christ.
John 15:1-17: 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
We remain in Christ and he remains in us. Then we will bear fruit, including obeying God’s commands and loving others.
1 John 2:9-10: 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
If we love our brother (and sister), we live in the light, not in darkness.
1 John 4:21: And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
If we love God we must also love our brother (and sister).
View of God
God is the source of both love and life. He is the only one who can cause people to pass from death to life. He is the only one who can save us. He does this because of his love for us.
View of Man/Self
Our default setting as humans is death. We are destined to both physical and spiritual death unless something gives us life. That something is belief in Jesus, and our belief should be evidenced through love.
Reflection and Application
There is a cavern between life and death. We start on the side of death. The only way we can pass over from the side of death to the side of life is through faith in Jesus. As we remain in him, we will be prompted to show love for those around us. If we don’t have this love, then that is evidence that we are still on the side of death. If we love others, we can be confident in our salvation and our eternal life.
Prayer
Lord, you are the eternal one, and you are the only one who can give eternal life. You freely give eternal life to those who believe in you and who follow your commands, including the command to love one another. Lord, help my life to show evidence that I follow you by the love that I show to those around me.