Bible Strands
1 John 3:21
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle John addresses fellow believers, writing to them as "Beloved" during a pastoral instruction on Christian assurance. He speaks immediately after noting that God's knowledge surpasses human self-reproach and just before linking bold prayer to kept commandments.
The words — The Greek phrase ἐὰν ἡ καρδὶα ἡμῶν μὴ καταγινώσκῃ ἡμᾶς uses ἐὰν (ean, "if") and καταγινώσκῃ (kataginōskē, "shall condemn") to establish a conditional state of inner acquittal. This structure ties the absence of self-reproach directly to the believer's standing before God.
The thread — The motif of unashamed confidence before God runs through 1 John 2:28 as a call to remain in Christ until His appearing, and through Hebrews 4:16 as an invitation to approach the throne of grace boldly. The condition of an uncondemned heart parallels the integrity of heart demanded in Psalms 101:2.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to identify whether self-condemnation is obstructing their access to God, and to ground their boldness in obedience rather than subjective feeling. It demands a practical commitment to keeping His commandments as the foundation for receiving from Him.
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
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Cross-references
- 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
- Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- Psalms 101:2 I will ponder the way that is blameless—when will You come to me? I will walk in my house with integrity of heart.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
- 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Job 22:26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
- Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- 1 John 4:17 In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
- Job 27:6 I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.