1 John 3:1
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.
Study Note
Study Note
'See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are' — the exclamatory idiom 'see what kind of love' (idete potapēn agapēn) signals amazement before a love that defies ordinary category: the sovereign Maker of all things has designated sinful humans as his family. The phrase 'and so we are' (kai esmen) is not a Johannine addendum but a necessary theological clarification: the title 'children of God' is not merely honorific or eschatological promise but present reality. The observation 'the world does not know us because it did not know him' grounds the community's social marginalization in christological terms — the same misrecognition that rejected Jesus now overlooks his children. The verse opens a meditation on the already-not-yet tension: we are now children of God, but 'what we will be has not yet appeared' (verse 2).
Other Translations
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
See ye what love the Father hath given to us, that children of God we may be called; because of this the world doth not know us, because it did not know Him;
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.
Cross References
And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy …
Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought …
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy …
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness …
For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage …
Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured …
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them …
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not …