1 John 3:21
New International Version
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

New Living Translation
Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

English Standard Version
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Berean Standard Bible
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,

Berean Literal Bible
Beloved, if our heart should not condemn us, we have confidence toward God,

King James Bible
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

New King James Version
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

New American Standard Bible
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

NASB 1995
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

NASB 1977
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Legacy Standard Bible
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Amplified Bible
Beloved, if our heart does not convict us [of guilt], we have confidence [complete assurance and boldness] before God;

Christian Standard Bible
Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence before God

American Standard Version
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;

Contemporary English Version
Dear friends, if we feel at ease in the presence of God, we will have the courage to come near him.

English Revised Version
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Dear friends, if our conscience doesn't condemn us, we can boldly look to God

Good News Translation
And so, my dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have courage in God's presence.

International Standard Version
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God.

Majority Standard Bible
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,

NET Bible
Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,

New Heart English Bible
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Webster's Bible Translation
Beloved, if our heart doth not condemn us, then have we confidence towards God.

Weymouth New Testament
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have perfect confidence towards God;

World English Bible
Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God,

Berean Literal Bible
Beloved, if our heart should not condemn us, we have confidence toward God,

Young's Literal Translation
Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God,

Smith's Literal Translation
Dearly beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have freedom of speech towards God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Most beloved, if our heart does not reproach us, we can have confidence toward God;

New American Bible
Beloved, if [our] hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God

New Revised Standard Version
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, then we have confidence before God.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have boldness before God.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence to ward God,

Godbey New Testament
Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God:

Haweis New Testament
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence towards God.

Mace New Testament
beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we may securely confide in God.

Weymouth New Testament
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have perfect confidence towards God;

Worrell New Testament
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence toward God;

Worsley New Testament
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Love One Another
20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, 22and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.…

Cross References
Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

James 1:6
But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:12
In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.

Proverbs 3:26
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Psalm 66:18-19
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. / But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.


Treasury of Scripture

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

1 John 2:28
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Job 22:26
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

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Beloved Boldness Condemn Confidence Dear Fear Friends Heart Hearts Loved Ones Perfect Towards Wrong
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Beloved Boldness Condemn Confidence Dear Fear Friends Heart Hearts Loved Ones Perfect Towards Wrong
1 John 3
1. He declares the singular love of God toward us, in making us his sons;
3. who therefore ought obediently to keep his commandments;
11. as also to love one another as brothers.














Beloved
This term of endearment, "Beloved," is translated from the Greek word "ἀγαπητοί" (agapetoi), which signifies those who are dearly loved. In the context of 1 John, it reflects the deep affection and spiritual kinship that the Apostle John feels towards his readers. Historically, this term is used to address fellow believers, emphasizing the familial bond within the Christian community. It serves as a reminder of the love that should characterize relationships among Christians, mirroring the love of Christ.

if our hearts do not condemn us
The phrase "if our hearts do not condemn us" speaks to the inner assurance of a believer. The Greek word for "condemn" is "καταγινώσκω" (kataginosko), which means to know something against someone, or to find fault. In a spiritual sense, this refers to the conscience of a believer being clear and free from guilt. Historically, the heart was seen as the center of thought and moral judgment. This phrase suggests that when believers live in accordance with God's commandments and love, their conscience is clear, allowing them to stand confidently before God.

we have confidence
The word "confidence" is translated from the Greek "παρρησία" (parrēsia), which means boldness or freedom in speaking. In the context of a relationship with God, it implies a fearless trust and openness in approaching Him. This confidence is not based on human merit but on the assurance of being in right standing with God through Christ. Historically, this boldness was a radical concept, as approaching a deity with confidence was not common in ancient religious practices. For Christians, it underscores the intimate relationship they have with God as their Father.

before God
The phrase "before God" indicates the presence of God, where believers can approach Him directly. The Greek word "ἐνώπιον" (enōpion) means in the sight of or in the presence of. This reflects the privilege of believers to come into God's presence without fear, a privilege made possible through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Scripturally, this access to God is a recurring theme, highlighting the new covenant relationship where believers are invited to draw near to God with a sincere heart. Historically, this was a significant shift from the Old Testament practices where only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. Now, through Christ, all believers have direct access to God, emphasizing the personal and communal relationship with the Divine.

Verse 21. - Beloved (1 John 2:7; 1 John 3:2), there is a still more blessed possibility. If the consciousness of genuine love will sustain us before God when our heart reproaches us, much more may we have confidence towards him (1 John 2:28) when it does not reproach us.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Beloved,
Ἀγαπητοί (Agapētoi)
Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 27: From agapao; beloved.

if
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

hearts
καρδία (kardia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

do not condemn [us],
καταγινώσκῃ (kataginōskē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2607: To condemn, blame. From kata and ginosko; to note against, i.e. Find fault with.

we have
ἔχομεν (echomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

confidence
παρρησίαν (parrēsian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3954: From pas and a derivative of rheo; all out-spokenness, i.e. Frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance.

before
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

God,
Θεόν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.


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NT Letters: 1 John 3:21 Beloved if our hearts don't condemn us (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)
1 John 3:20
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