1 John 3:16 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁶ Here is how we can know what [God’s] genuine love really is: It was [demonstrated by] Jesus laying down His life [on the cross] for us. And [because of that] we [too] should [be willing to] lay down our lives for [the sake of helping] our brothers [and sisters].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁶ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁶ Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Common English Bible

¹⁶ This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ We know the love of God in this way: because he laid down his life for us. And so, we must lay down our lives for our brothers.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁶ In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 3:16 Cross References

Matthew 20:28

Even so, the Son of man did not come to be served [by others] but to be the servant [of others], and to sacrifice His life as a ransom price to purchase many people [i.e., back from Satan].”

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd; and a good shepherd [willingly] dies for the sheep.

John 10:15

just like the Father knows me [intimately] and I know the Father [that way]. And I [am about to] give up my life for the sheep.

John 13:34

I am giving you a new commandment: love one another. Also you should love one another in the same way that I have loved you.

John 3:16

For God loved the world [of sinners] so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that every person who believes in Him would not [have to] be destroyed, but have never ending life.

Acts 20:28

So, pay close attention to your [own] lives, and to all [members] of the flock [i.e., the congregation] of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [i.e., elders, shepherds or pastors]. Provide [spiritual] food for the church of the Lord which He purchased by [shedding] His own blood.

Romans 16:4

They risked their own lives for me, so not only I, but also all the Gentile churches [i.e., people converted from among the Gentiles] are grateful to them [for this].

Romans 5:8

Since we are now made right with God by the blood of Christ [i.e., by His dying on the cross], how much more certain it is that we will be saved from God’s wrath [in the future] by Him!

2 Corinthians 4:12

So then, [the possibility of physical] death is at work in us, while [spiritual] life is at work in you.

Ephesians 5:2

Live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up [to die] for us as an offering and fragrant smelling sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, you should love your wives just as Christ also loved the church, and gave up His life for her,

Philippians 2:17

But even if I am poured out like a drink offering [See Ex. 29:38-41] on the sacrifice and service produced by your faith, I am glad and will rejoice with all of you. [Note: Paul here likens the possible pouring out of his blood to the wine and oil of the Old Testament sacrifice, which is then likened to the Philippians’ faithful service to God].

Philippians 2:30

because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to provide me with what you were not able to.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

And so, since we have such deep affection for you, we were very pleased to share with you, not only the Gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Titus 2:13

while looking forward to the blessed hope [i.e., the hope that produces blessings] and the coming splendor of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:18

You [should] know that you were bought back [from Satan], from your useless way of life, inherited from your forefathers, not with such perishable things as silver and gold,

1 Peter 2:24

Jesus took upon Himself our sins [when] His body was placed upon the cross so that we, [through] dying to [i.e., giving up] the sinful life, would live for righteousness. You were healed [from your sins] by His being brutally treated.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ suffered once for people’s sins [to be forgiven]. [It was the case of] a righteous Man suffering for unrighteous people, so that He could bring you [or, “us”] to God [for salvation]. [Though] He [i.e., Jesus] was put to death physically, He was brought back to life by the Holy Spirit [Note: Some translations say “in spirit”].

1 John 2:6

The person who claims he is continuing to live in [fellowship with] Jesus should also live the way He did.

1 John 2:9

The person who claims to be living in [harmony with] the light [i.e., by obeying God’s truth], and [yet] hates his brother is still [living] in the darkness [of sin].

Revelation 1:5

[It is also] from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness [to the truth], the Firstborn from the dead [i.e., the first One raised never to die again], the Ruler of the kings of the world. May there be honor and power forever and ever to Christ, who loved us and released us from our sins by His blood [Note: Some manuscripts say “washed us” since the two Greek words are spelled almost alike].

Revelation 5:9

And they sang a new song [which went like this]: “You deserve to take the book and break the seals on it, for you were killed and, with your blood, you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and race and nation,