1 John 3:14 (LSB)

Passage

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. The one who does not love abides in death.

Nearby Context

1 John 3:12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, brothers, if the world hates you.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. The one who does not love abides in death.

1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:16 By this we have known love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "passed", "death", "life", "love", "brothers", "does", and "abides". 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 "Do not marvel brothers if the world..." into verse 15's "Everyone who hates his brother is a...", 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.