And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
And {G2532} every man {G3956} that hath {G2192} this {G5026} hope {G1680} in {G1909} him {G846} purifieth {G48} himself {G1438}, even as {G2531} he {G1565} is {G2076} pure {G53}.
And everyone who has this hope in him continues purifying himself, since God is pure.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
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2 Corinthians 7:1
¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. -
1 John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. -
2 Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. -
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. -
Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: -
Hebrews 7:26
For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; -
Colossians 1:5
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
1 John 3:3 declares a profound truth about the Christian life: that a genuine hope in Christ's future return and our transformation into His likeness compels us to pursue holiness in the present. This verse serves as a powerful bridge between the glorious future promised to believers and their active responsibility in the here and now.
Context
This verse follows directly from 1 John 3:1-2, where the Apostle John marvels at the immense love of God in calling us His children and reveals the magnificent promise that when Christ appears, "we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." The "this hope" in verse 3 refers precisely to this future reality – the hope of glorification and intimate fellowship with Christ. John consistently links true faith and future hope with present ethical conduct, showing that genuine belief is never passive but always transformative, driving believers towards a life of purity.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
This verse calls believers to a life of intentional holiness. Because we know that one day we will stand before a holy God and be made like His Son, our present lives should reflect that future reality. It encourages us to: