1 John 3:14 (KJV)

Passage

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Nearby Context

1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:16 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "passed", "death", "life", "love", "brethren", "loveth", "brother", and "abideth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "passed" and "death", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Marvel not my brethren if the world..." into verse 15's "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer...", so "passed" and "death" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "passed" and "death" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.