1 John 3:8
The James Method Verse Mapping
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1 John 3:8 (NIV, 1984 version):
He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Here’s the concept map I created for these verses:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 3:8. 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 3:8 (NIV 1984)
He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Translations (key differences bolded)
KJV: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
NKJV: He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
NLT: But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
ESV: Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Contrasting those who follow Christ with those who don’t
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Sinful/sinning
Greek:
Definition: to miss the mark, to wander from God’s law
Devil
Greek:
Definition: prone to slander, accusing falsely, opposed to God
Beginning
Greek:
Definition: origin, first thing in a series that by which anything begins to be
Appeared
Greek:
Definition: to make visible or known what has been hidden
Destroy
Greek:
Definition: to distress, break up, do away with, to overthrow
Work
Greek:
Definition: employment, a thing accomplished by hand, an act or deed
Does
Greek:
Definition: to do a thing, practice
Reason
Greek:
Definition: for this
Cross References
John 8:44: You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The devil is a murderer and liar and has been from the beginning.
Hebrews 2:14: Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—
Jesus came to destroy the devil.
Revelation 20:2-3, 10: 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Satan will be bound and thrown into the lake of fire forever.
1 John 3:10: This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
If we do not do what is right, we are of the devil.
1 John 3:5: But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Jesus takes away our sins. (Sins are the devil’s work in us.)
View of God
God has been fighting against the devil ever since the devil started sinning. God sent his Son to earth to conquer sin and death, which is the work of the devil. God will ultimately be victorious.
View of Man/Self
If we pursue sin, we are following Satan rather than following Christ. The presence or absence of sin in our lives is a mark of who we follow—Satan or God.
Reflection and Application
We need to be on the lookout for sin in our lives, and when we identify sin, we need to use the power of God, given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, to destroy those sins. On our own, we don’t have the power to conquer sin, but Jesus has already conquered sin and death on our behalf. We need to rely on him for the power we need to stop sinning.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you have already done the work to ensure that the work of the devil is destroyed forever. In our world now, Satan’s work is so evident, but we know we have hope because of your work on the cross. Lord, protect my mind and heart from sin so that my actions and behaviors reflect my faith and hope in you.