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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

1 John 3:2

1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 John 3:2 what we will be. After Christ’s return, believers will have bodies that will never be sick, grow old, or die. They will be completely without sin. we shall be like him. “Like” does not mean “identical to.” Believers will never be exactly like Christ, since he is both man and God, but our perfected humanity will match his.

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See also 1 John 3:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 John 3:2. _NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD_] He speaks of those who are _begotten_ of God, and who work righteousness. See the preceding chapter. _AND IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE SHALL BE_] ου...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD - We now in fact sustain this rank and dignity, and on that we may reflect with pleasure and gratitude. It is in itself an exalted honor, and may be contemplated as...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    IV. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE AS MANIFESTED BY THE CHILDREN OF GOD Chapter S 2:28-3:18 __ 1. The children of God and their coming manifestation (1 John 2:28 -1 John 3:3) 2. Sin and the new nature (1...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 JOHN 2:29 TO 1 JOHN 5:12. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD'S CHILDREN. 1 John 2:29 to 1 John 3:3. Because God, made known to us in Christ, is righteous, those

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    REMEMBER THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (1 John 3:1-2)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God--and such we indeed are. The reason why the world does not recognize us is that it did not recognize him....

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BELOVED. App-135. THE. Omit. NOT YET. Greek. _oupo_. BUT. The texts omit. KNOW. App-132. SEE. App-133. AS. even as. Compare 1 John 2:6....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 John 2:29 to 1 John 5:12. God is Love There seems to be no serious break in the Epistle from this point onwards until we reach the concluding verses which form a sort of summary (1 John 5:13-21). T...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Beloved_ This form of address only occurs once in the first part of the Epistle (1 John 2:7), just where the subject of love appears for a few verses: it becomes the more common form of address (1 Jo...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    2. After ΟἼΔΑΜΕΝ omit δέ with [592][593][594][595] against [596][597]. [592] 4th century. Discovered by Tischendorf in 1859 at the monastery of S. Catherine on Mount Sinai, and now at Petersburg. All...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 John 2:29 to 1 John 5:12. GOD IS LOVE There seems to be no serious break in the Epistle from this point onwards until we reach the concluding verses which form a sort of summary (1 John 5:13-21). Th...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 John 2:29 to 1 John 3:12. THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΟΎΠΩ (G3768) еще не. ΈΦΑΝΕΡΏΘΗ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΦΑΝΕΡΌΩ (G5319) прояснять, проявлять, разоблачать, ΈΣΌΜΕΘΑ _fut. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΕΙΜΊ (G1510) быть, ΟΪΔΑΜΕΝ _perf. ind. act. от_ ΟΊΔΑ (G1492)...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2442 THE INESTIMABLE PRIVILEGES OF BELIEVERS 1 John 3:2. _Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, &C.— In 1 John 3:1 the apostle says, the world knew them not. Here he intimates, that they themselves did not fully comprehend what glory and felicity was implied in their...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER VIII _DIVINE SONSHIP TESTED BY PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS_ (The First Test. The Second Time) 1 John 3:1-3 A. _The Text_ Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. BELOVED by the Father...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 2. BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD. The announcement that we have the exalted privilege of being the sons of God is followed by a still greater and more important fact, which is connected wi...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    18 The term "antichrist" occurs only in John's epistles. The prefix "anti" now has the meaning of "against" and antichrist signifies one who is against Christ. But "anti" originally meant "instead of...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:2 manifested; (h-17) Actual manifestation is here meant; not merely a revelation for faith. know (i-19) _ Oida_ , as ch. 2.29. it (k-22) Or 'he.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND THE DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF SONSHIP 1. The sons of God] RV 'children of God,' adding the words, 'and _such_ we are.' The word translated 'children' here is characteristi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW CAN I BE SURE? 1 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 3 THE CHILDREN OF GOD DO THE RIGHT THINGS (1 JOHN 3:1-10) V1 See what great love the *Father has given to us! He has called us children of God....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    III. (2) THE DIVINE BIRTH THE OUTCOME OF GOD’S LOVE (1 John 3:1). — The thought of the new birth suddenly fires the Apostle’s mind with reverent amazement, in which he calls on his hearers to join. H...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Our Present Dignity and Our Future Destiny. “See what unearthly love the Father hath given us, in order that we may be styled ‘children of God'; and so we are. It is for this reason that the world dot...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Having spoken of our present dignity, the Apostle goes on to speak of our future destiny. The Incarnation manifested our standing as children of God, but “it was not yet manifested what we shall be”....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE MARKS OF GOD'S CHILDREN 1 John 3:1 This chapter opens with one of the astounding announcements of Scripture. Why God should have made _us_ His children is incomprehensible, except to show forth t...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The letter now passed to a discussion of the fellowship of the saints with God as love. The hope born of love will have as its inevitable result the purification of those possessing it. The apostle sh...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (3) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be (c) like him; for we shall see him (d) as he is. (3) The othe...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. I beg to detain the Reade...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE SHALL BE_ ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us … for we shall see Him as He is.’ 1 John 3:1 Three important questions—Whence? Where? Whither? Whenc...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _CERTAINTY AND UNCERTAINTY_ ‘Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE MYSTERY OF THE FUTURE_ ‘And it doth not yet appear what we shall be.’ 1 John 3:2 Much is known of the past, but what is to be revealed in the future who can tell? Study makes us familiar with...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD_ ‘It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.’ 1 John 3:2 Believers s...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2_Now are we the sons of God _He comes now to what every one knows and feels himself; for though the ungodly may not entice us to give up our hope, yet our present condition is very short of the glow...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Now to say that we are born of Him is to say that we are children of God. [13] What a love is that which the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children! [14] Therefore the world know...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD,.... By adoption, secretly in God's predestination, and in the covenant of grace; and openly in regeneration, through faith in Christ, and by the testimony of the S...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Ver. 2. _What we shall b...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Beloved_ It is a most certain and joyful truth, that _now are we_, who believe on God's Son with our heart unto righteousness; _the children of God_ And, persevering in that faith, we shall be acknow...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    NOT YET APPEAR; the fulness of their future excellence and bliss could not here be known. APPEAR; in glory....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE GLORY, PRIVILEGES, AND OBLIGATIONS OF SONSHIP. The beauty of the sonship of God:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, AND IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE SHALL BE; BUT WE KNOW THAT, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    This chapter continues the subject introduced in ch.2:28. Verse 29 has shown that righteousness is an absolute requirement. It is indeed a solid, sound basis for the precious bestowal of the love of t...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1,2 Little does the world know of the happiness of the real followers of Christ. Little does the world think that these poor, humble, despised ones, are favourites of God, and will dwell in heaven. L...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Our present state he affirms to be unquestionably that of SONS, whatsoever hardships from the world, or severer discipline from our Father, we must for a while undergo; but for our future state, it is...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh In like manner John says: "And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: we know, however, that when He shall be manifest, we shall be like Him."[154] Orig...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 John 3:2 Beloved G27 now G3568 are G2070 (G5748) children G5043 God G2316 and G2532 has G5319 yet...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD'S PEOPLE CONTRASTED WITH THE LAWLESS WORLD (1 JOHN 3:2). Following on his declaration that God has begotten His true people through Christ so that they are His children (tekna - John only uses ‘so...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we will be like him, for we will see him even as he is. And every one w...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 John 3:2. BELOVED, NOW ARE WE CHILDREN OF GOD. This new address is appropriate to the sharers in common of the love of God, The affirmation that follows, repeating the solemn ‘children of God,' is m...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The apostle now introduces a new order of thought, governed by the idea of regeneration as the gift of life in Christ to individual man. He first (down to chap. 1 John 3:3) dilates on its glory as a b...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    NOW (νυν). Without waiting for the παρουσια or second coming. We have a present dignity and duty, though there is greater glory to come.IT IS NOT YET MADE MANIFEST (ουπω εφανερωθη). First aorist p...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 John 3:2 Consider the short word "now." What is time present? What is the meaning of "now"? I. This is a matter not so plain, nor lying so much on the surface, as we might at first sight imagine. T...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 John 3:2 The Believer's Sonship. It is a law of our nature, or rather of our mental constitution, that in looking at any particular truth or subject we unconsciously present it in that aspect which...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 John 3:1. _Behold,_ For there is no greater wonder out of heaven than this: «Behold,» 1 John 3:1. _What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: t...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    I have read this chapter many times in your hearing, but we cannot read it too often, for it is full of the deepest and most important instruction. God grant that fresh light from above may shine upon...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 John 3:1. _Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:_ Behold it, wonder at it, and never cease to admire it. Is it not one of the great...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: God's love magnified and the believer exhorted to holiness. Brotherly love urged. How our hearts may be assured before God. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Satan, Cain, John. CONCLUSION: It is a w...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 John 3:1. _That we should be called the sons of God!_ The character of the favoured race is defined in the preseding verses: they keep the commandments of God: 1 John 3:3. They abide in Christ by wo...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    WE ARE NOW GOD'S CHILDREN. "The world may hate us and persecute us, but even now we are already God's children!" BUT IT IS NOT YET CLEAR. "We have not been told the details of our future glory. We cou...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 3 VER. 1. _Behold what great love the Father hath bestowed on us_ (unworthy, enemies and sinners as we are), _that we should be called, and be the sons of God._ Love, actively, His wondrous lo...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him._ Not in nature but in quality, in happiness, in eternal...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SONSHIP _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ THE last word of the previous chapter brought to mind that the Christian is related to God by a spiritual and Divine _birth_. A Chr...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 3:1 TO 1 JOHN 5:12 3. SECOND MAIN DIVISION. _God is Love._ 1 JOHN 3:1

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1): I love that verse. Behold, what manner of love God has bestowed upon you, that you sh...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 John 3:1;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Beloved. See 1 John 2:7. Now are we and, etc. The two thoughts of the present and the future condition of God's children are placed side by side with the simple copula, and, as parts of one thought....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    CHILDREN OF GOD 1 John 3:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS What a wonderful truth is this: "Now are we the sons of God." What! We who were once children of darkness, are now the children of light; we who were c...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    It doth not yet appear — Even to ourselves. What we shall be — It is something ineffable, which will raise the children of God to be, in a manner, as God himself. But we know, in general, that when he...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    As if the apostle had said, "Although the world knows us not, affects us not, esteems us not, because of the weakness of our grace and the strength of our corruptions, yet notwithstanding both these,...

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