“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
My Notes
What Does 1 John 3:1 Mean?
John erupts with wonder: behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us! The word "behold" commands attention. The word "what manner" (potapen) means what kind, what foreign, what exotic quality. This love is unlike anything you have encountered.
The love has produced an identity: we should be called the sons of God. Called — not just treated as, but named. The identity is official, declared, permanent. You are called God's children.
"Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not" — the world's inability to recognize you as God's children is connected to its inability to recognize God. If they could not see the Father in the Son, they will not see the Father in you.
The verse opens 1 John 3 — a chapter about the implications of being God's children. John is overwhelmed by the love, and wants you to be overwhelmed too. Behold. Look at this. Do you see what has been bestowed on you?
Reflection Questions
- 1.What makes this love 'what manner' — what is foreign or unprecedented about it?
- 2.How does being 'called the sons of God' change your sense of identity?
- 3.Why does the world not recognize you — and how is that connected to not recognizing Christ?
- 4.When was the last time you stopped to 'behold' the love God has bestowed on you?
Devotional
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. John cannot get over it. The love is so extraordinary that he has to stop and point at it. Look. See this. Do you understand what has been done to you?
What manner of love. The Greek word means: what kind. What foreign quality. What exotic, unprecedented, unlike-anything-you-have-seen love. This is not ordinary affection. It is a category of love that did not exist before God aimed it at you.
That we should be called the sons of God. Called. Named. Identified. You are not just forgiven sinners. You are children. Sons and daughters of the most powerful being in existence. The identity is bestowed — given, not earned.
The world knoweth us not. The world cannot recognize what you are because it could not recognize who he was. If they missed Jesus, they will miss you. The invisibility of your identity to the world is not a failure. It is a family resemblance.
Behold. John wants you to stop and stare at this love. Not rush past it to the next doctrine. Not skim it on the way to something practical. Behold it. Let it land. What manner of love.
You are a child of God. Not because you qualified. Because love — foreign, exotic, unprecedented love — was bestowed on you.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Behold what manner of love,.... See, take notice, consider, look by faith, with wonder and astonishment, and observe how…
Behold, what manner of love - What love, in “kind” and in “degree.” In kind the most tender and the most ennobling, in…
Behold, what manner of love - Whole volumes might be written upon this and the two following verses, without exhausting…
The apostle, having shown the dignity of Christ's faithful followers, that they are born of him and thereby nearly…
1Jn 2:29 to 1Jn 5:12. God is Love
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture