What is the meaning of 3 John 1:11? Beloved • John opens with affection, reminding his reader of their place in God’s family (1 John 3:1–2), just as Paul often addressed believers as “brothers and sisters” (Romans 1:13). • Being called “beloved” grounds every command that follows in God’s love, not mere duty (John 15:9). do not imitate what is evil • Imitation shapes character; John warns against copying conduct that dishonors God (Romans 12:9; 1 Corinthians 10:6). • Evil is not neutral—its patterns pull hearts away from holiness (Ephesians 5:11). • The command is proactive: refuse to model your life on anything that contradicts God’s revealed righteousness. but what is good • Scripture consistently calls believers to choose good over evil (Psalm 34:14; Galatians 6:9). • Goodness is defined by God’s nature, seen perfectly in Christ (Acts 10:38; Philippians 4:8). • Choosing good involves both attitudes and actions—serving, giving, speaking truth, showing mercy (Micah 6:8; Colossians 3:12). The one who does good is of God • Ongoing goodness evidences new birth and union with Christ (1 John 2:29; Matthew 7:17–18). • Good works do not earn salvation, but they verify it (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). • “Of God” underlines source: true goodness flows from God’s indwelling Spirit (John 15:5; Galatians 5:22). the one who does evil has not seen God • Persistent evil reveals an unregenerate heart that has not truly encountered God (1 John 3:6; John 3:20). • “Seen God” refers to experiential knowledge—a life-transforming sight through faith (John 1:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6). • Habitual sin exposes blindness to God’s holiness and love (Isaiah 6:5; Hebrews 12:14). summary John’s brief exhortation divides life into two clear patterns: imitating good, proving kinship with God; or imitating evil, proving spiritual blindness. Because we are beloved, we’re empowered to reject evil and reflect God’s goodness, letting our actions testify that we truly know Him. |
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