1 John 3:1-11

A  (1a)  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,

B  (1b-3)  that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

C  (4-6a)  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:

D  (6b)  whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

E  (7)  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

D’  (8a)  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

C’  (8b-9)  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

B’  (10a)  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:

A’  (10b-11)  whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

5 thoughts on “1 John 3:1-11”

  1. v9 is also a mini chiasm…

    A Whosoever is born of God
    B doth not commit sin;
    C for his seed remaineth in him:
    B’ and he cannot sin,
    A’ because he is born of God.

  2. This seems to work for v 7 – 10
    A.(7) Little children, let no man deceive you:

    B.he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

    C.(8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

    D. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

    E.(9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;

    F. for his seed remaineth in him:

    E’. and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

    D’.(10) In this the children of God are manifest,

    C’. and the children of the devil:

    B’. whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God,

    A’. neither he that loveth not his brother.

  3. I have found practically the same chiasm as richardsnelling, except with A and B together, and D in two parts.

  4. I think Verse 2 is a mini chiasm:
    A Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
    B and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
    C but we know that,
    B’ when he shall appear, we shall be like him;
    A’ for we shall see him as he is.

  5. I like what has been presented. Another structure is possible for verses 1-11 which has a four part parallelism in the middle of the chiasm. That approach emphasizes “purifieth himself, even as he is pure” with “doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” To me that is the point of these verses, he is emphasizing the necessity of becoming righteous like Christ.
    A (1a) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,

    B (1b-3) that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

    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.

    C And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

    a (4-6a) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

    b And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:

    c (6b) whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

    d (7) Little children, let no man deceive you:

    C’ he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

    a’ (8a) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

    b ’ (8b-9) For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

    c Whosoever is born of God
    doth not commit sin;
    for his seed remaineth in him:
    and he cannot sin,
    because he is born of God.

    d (10a) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:

    B’ (10b-11) whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

    A’ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

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