1 John 3:4 (GNV)

Passage

Whosoeuer committeth sinne, transgresseth also the Law: for sinne is the transgression of the Lawe.

Nearby Context

1 John 3:2 Dearely beloued, nowe are we the sonnes of God, but yet it is not made manifest what we shall be: and we know that when he shalbe made manifest, we shalbe like him: for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:3 And euery man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himselfe, euen as he is pure.

1 John 3:4 Whosoeuer committeth sinne, transgresseth also the Law: for sinne is the transgression of the Lawe.

1 John 3:5 And ye knowe that hee was made manifest, that he might take away our sinnes, and in him is no sinne.

1 John 3:6 Whosoeuer abideth in him, sinneth not: whosoeuer sinneth, hath not seene him, neither hath knowen him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whosoeuer", "committeth", "sinne", "transgresseth", "transgression", and "lawe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whosoeuer" and "committeth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "And euery man that hath this hope..." into verse 5's "And ye knowe that hee was made...", so "whosoeuer" and "committeth" 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 "whosoeuer" and "committeth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.