1 John 3:19

And hereby we know Rather, Herein we shall know: the -and", though well supported, is probably not genuine, and the evidence for the future as against the present is overwhelming. -Herein" (ἐν τούτῳ) sometimes refers to what follows (1Jn 3:16, 1 John 4:2; 1 John 4:9), sometimes to what precedes (1 John 2:5). Here the latter is the case: by loving in deed and truth we shall arrive at the knowledge that we are morally the children of the Truth. -The Truth" here is almost equivalent to -God". -To be of the Truth" is to have the Truth as the source whence the guiding and formative influences of thought and conduct flow: comp. 1 John 2:21; John 3:31; John 8:47, and especially John 18:37. The preposition -of" here = -out of" (ἐκ), and the notion of originmust not be lost sight of any more than in 1Jn 2:16; 1 John 2:19; 1Jn 2:21, 1 John 3:8; 1Jn 3:10; 1 John 3:12; 1 John 4:1-3, &c.

The construction and punctuation of what follows is doubtful; also the reading in the first and second clauses of 1 John 3:20. Certainty is not attainable, and to give all possible variations of reading and rendering would take up too much space. The conclusions adopted here are given as good and tenable, but not as demonstrably right.

and shall assure our hearts Literally, and shall persuade our hearts. Is this clause coordinatewith -we shall know", or dependent upon it (-we shall know that we shall assure")? Probably the former. The meaning is, -Herein we shall know that we are of the truth, and herein we shall persuade our heart." Authorities are much divided between -heart" (B, Peschito, Thebaic) and -hearts" (א CKL); the former seems preferable. S. John elsewhere always uses the singular both in Gospel and Epistle: it "fixes the thought upon the personal trial in each case" (Westcott). In any case it obviously means, not the affections(2 Corinthians 7:3; Philippians 1:7), but the conscience(Acts 2:37; Acts 7:54). It is worth noting that the Greek word (καρδία) is cognate with the English -heart." The substitution of -assure" for -persuade" appears to be somewhat violent, for it is a meaning which the verb (πείθειν) does not in itself possess. But if the context justifies the substitution, because the meaning plainly is -persuade our heart that it need not condemn us", then the context may speak for itself in the English, as in the Greek. Comp. -We will persuadehim and rid you of care" (Matthew 28:14); and -having made Blastus their friend", literally -having persuadedBlastus" (Acts 12:20).

before him This is placed first for emphasis in the Greek; and before Him shall assure our hearts. The important thing is that we can quiet our consciences in the sight of God. The self-deceiver, who is not -of the Truth", but -walks in darkness" hating his brother (1 John 2:1), can quiet his heart, -because the darkness hath blinded his eyes": but this is not done -before God".