1 John 3:7
The James Method Verse Mapping
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1 John 3:7 (NIV, 1984 version):
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Here’s the concept map I created for these verses:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 3:7. 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 3:7 (NIV 1984)
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Translations (key differences bolded)
KJV: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
NKJV: Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
NLT: Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.
HNV: Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
ESV: Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
NASB: Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Contrasting those who remain in Christ with those who don’t
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Children
Greek:
Definition: a term of kindly address by teachers to their disciples
Do not let anyone
Greek:
Definition: nobody, no one, nothing
Lead you astray
Greek:
Definition: deceives, to cause to stray, lead aside from the right way, to lead away from the truth
Does
Greek:
Definition: practices, to do, to act rightly, to perform
Right/righteousness
Greek:
Definition: righteousness, state of him who is as he ought to be, a condition acceptable to God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting
Righteous
Greek:
Definition: upright, observing divine laws, keeping the commands of God, innocent
Cross References
Romans 2:13: For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Those who obey the law will be declared righteous.
Galatians 6:7: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked.
Ephesians 5:6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Let no one deceive you with empty words.
1 John 2:26, 29: 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
People will try to lead you astray. Jesus is righteous and those who do right are born of him.
Psalm 106:3: Blessed are those who act justly,
who always do what is right.
Blessed are those who do what is right.
Ezekiel 18:5-9: 5 “Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.
6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines
or look to the idols of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.
7 He does not oppress anyone,
but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.
8 He does not lend to them at interest
or take a profit from them.
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairly between two parties.
9 He follows my decrees
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;
he will surely live,
declares the Sovereign Lord.
A righteous man does what is right. He follow God’s decrees.
1 John 2:1: My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Dear children, do not sin. Jesus is the Righteous One.
View of God
God is righteous. He is the standard by which we judge right and wrong. If something is against God’s righteous, it is sin. If it aligns with God’s righteousness, it is right.
View of Man/Self
People are easily led astray by words that sound good but hold no truth. But if we obey Christ and do what is right in his eyes, then we will be righteous—not our own righteousness but his.
Reflection and Application
Those who follow God know the truth, but it’s so easy to be deceived by words that sound good but miss the mark of God’s truth. This is easily seen in our culture with sexual immorality, gender/sexual identity, prosperity gospel, etc. We must hold to God’s standard of truth so that we can do what is right—so we can act in ways that align with God’s truth and righteousness.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your truth and the standard of righteousness that you set for us. Help me to hold to that standard and not be deceived by words that sound good but ultimately miss the mark. I confess those times that I have missed the mark and been deceived—by other people, by my feelings, by social media. Help me to hold to your truth so I will do what is right.