1 John 3:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's love is so great that He calls us His own children, and gives us His name.
What Does 1 John 3:1 Mean?
John can hardly contain himself. He stops to point and say 'Behold,' as if asking us to stand still and really look at this. The love the Father has poured out goes well beyond the ordinary kind. It is so unexpected, so far beyond what we deserve, that John strains to name it: 'what manner of love.' And the proof of it is this astonishing thing, that we should be called the children of God. We are sons and daughters, given the family name, far more than servants kept at a distance.
John adds a tender, honest note: the world does not understand us, and it never understood Jesus either. To belong to the Father is to be a little out of step with a world that did not recognize its own Maker. Yet that very strangeness is a sign of where we belong. The Son came to make us children of the Father, and the love that named Him beloved now rests on us.
1 John 3:1 in the Original Language
potapos (ποταπός), 'what manner of' -- of what sort or country, a word of wonder at something strange and out of this world.
How to Apply 1 John 3:1 Today
When we forget who we are, this verse asks us to stop and behold the love that named us God's own children. That name comes to us as a gift, freely given, and if the world finds us a little strange, it once failed to recognize Jesus too. We belong to the Father now.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 John 3:1
What does 1 John 3:1 mean?
God's love is so great that He calls us His own children, and gives us His name.
How can I apply 1 John 3:1 today?
When we forget who we are, this verse asks us to stop and behold the love that named us God's own children. That name comes to us as a gift, freely given, and if the world finds us a little strange, it once failed to recognize Jesus too. We belong to the Father now.