1 John 3:20 (GNV)

Passage

For if our heart condemne vs, God is greater then our heart, and knoweth all things.

Nearby Context

1 John 3:18 My litle children, let vs not loue in worde, neither in tongue onely, but in deede and in trueth.

1 John 3:19 For thereby we know that we are of the trueth, and shall before him assure our hearts.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemne vs, God is greater then our heart, and knoweth all things.

1 John 3:21 Beloued, if our heart condemne vs not, then haue we boldnes toward God.

1 John 3:22 And whatsoeuer we aske we receiue of him, because we keepe his commandements, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "all things", "condemn", "heart", "condemne", "greater", and "knoweth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "all things" and "condemn", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "For thereby we know that we are..." into verse 21's "Beloued if our heart condemne vs not...", so "all things" and "condemn" 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 "all things" and "condemn" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.