1 John 3:9: Uncovering the Depths of God's Love
In the books of 1 John, the apostle John pens a letter to the early Christian community, emphasizing the importance of love and fellowship with God. One of the most significant verses in this epistle is 1 John 3:9, which sheds light on the transformative power of God's love. In this article, we'll delve into the interlinear breakdown of this verse, revealing the richness of God's word.
1 John 3:9 Interlinear Breakdown
ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγένηναι (hoti ek tou Theou gegonenai) Whosoever is born of God
- ὅτι (hoti) - conjunction, indicating the reason or explanation
- ἐκ (ek) - preposition, indicating origin or source
- τοῦ (tou) - genitive article, modifying Θεοῦ (Theou), meaning "of God"
- Θεοῦ (Theou) - genitive case of Θεός (Theos), meaning "God"
- γεγένηναι (gegenēnai) - perfect infinitive of γίνομαι (ginomai), meaning "to be born"
οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει (oukh hamartanei) doeth not commit sin
- οὐχ (oukh) - negation, indicating "not" or "no"
- ἁμαρτάνει (hamartanei) - present tense of ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō), meaning "to sin" or "to commit sin"
ὅτι σπέρμα τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐν αὐτῷ (hoti sperma tou Theou menei en autō) for his seed remaineth in him
- ὅτι (hoti) - conjunction, introducing the explanation
- σπέρμα (sperma) - noun, meaning "seed" or "offspring"
- τοῦ (tou) - genitive article, modifying Θεοῦ (Theou), meaning "of God"
- Θεοῦ (Theou) - genitive case of Θεός (Theos), meaning "God"
- μένει (menei) - present tense of μένω (menō), meaning "to remain" or "to abide"
- ἐν (en) - preposition, indicating "in"
- αὐτῷ (autō) - dative pronoun, meaning "him"
Gaining Insights from 1 John 3:9
In this verse, John emphasizes the transforming power of God's love, highlighting that those who are born of God do not commit sin. The phrase "his seed remaineth in him" suggests that the divine nature of God, received through spiritual rebirth, remains present in the believer. This spiritual rebirth, made possible through faith in Jesus Christ, enables believers to overcome the power of sin and live a life of righteousness.
Conclusion
1 John 3:9 serves as a reminder of the profound impact of God's love on the human heart. As believers, we are called to reflect on the transformative power of God's love, which sets us free from the bondage of sin and enables us to live a life of righteousness. May we continue to meditate on the depths of God's love, as revealed in 1 John 3:9, and strive to embody His character in our daily lives.
