1 John 3:4

Translations

Modern

Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.

Traditional

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Literal

Everyone who is doing sin also does lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Latin

Omnis qui facit peccatum, et iniquitatem facit: et peccatum est iniquitas.

Original

Greek

English

Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.

Notes

1 John 3:4–10

This section explains what it means to live a pure life (3:3). Being part of God's spiritual family requires living a pure life. A life full of sin shows that someone is not truly God's child. Sin is not suitable for the new nature that comes from spiritual birth.

John encourages Christians to do what is right to show they are united to Christ and his righteousness. Children of God do not make a practice of sinning. However, this is different from the kind of “sinlessness” claimed by the false teachers (see 1:5–10 and corresponding study notes).

Theme notes and profiles

The Limitations of Law

Related verses

1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.
Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Romans 4:15
…because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
Numbers 15:31
He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.”
1 John 3:8–9
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
2 Corinthians 12:21
I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
Daniel 9:11
All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You.
James 2:9–11
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Romans 7:7–13
What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
1 Samuel 15:24
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
2 Chronicles 24:20
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’”
1 Chronicles 10:13
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,

Glossary

First Letter of John Sin

Topics

Bad Influence Breaking the Law Effects of Sin Evildoers Iniquity Is All Sin the Same Law: General Scriptures Concerning Mans Law Obeying Man's Law Pharisees Sin is the Transgression of the Law Sin: The Law is Transgressed by Every Sin: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To, Defining and Illustrating Summary of the Law The Consequences of Sin The Law The Law of God: Sin is a Transgression of What is Sin Wicked (People): Contrasted with Righteous People Willful Sin

1 John 3:4

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