Bible Strands
1 John 2:3
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle John addresses early Christians to provide a measurable standard for verifying genuine relationship with God. He formulates this during a period when believers needed objective markers to distinguish authentic faith from mere verbal claim.
The words — The prepositional phrase ἐν τούτῳ (en toutō) literally means "by this," establishing the immediate proof. The verb ἐγνώκαμεν (egnōkamen) translates to "we have come to know," denoting a settled, experiential recognition rather than abstract knowledge.
The thread — The text explicitly links obedience to commandments with the verification of knowing God, a pattern repeated in John 14:15, John 15:10, and 1 John 5:3. These passages consistently treat commandment-keeping as the necessary evidence of divine connection rather than an optional addendum.
Why it lands — The verse states that knowledge of God is confirmed solely through the act of keeping His commandments. It requires the reader to measure their claimed spiritual status against their actual compliance, demanding a direct assessment of behavioral alignment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
Cross-references
- John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
- John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?
- 1 John 4:13 By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
- John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
- Hebrews 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
- 1 John 3:22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
- Psalms 119:32 I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
- John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”