Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse

1 John 3:8

ESV Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
NIV The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
NASB the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
CSB The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works.
NLT But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
KJV He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
NKJV He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

What does 1 John 3:8 mean?

Again as in verses 6—7, John emphasizes that those who live in consistent, habitual sin have no fellowship with Christ. In fact, John clearly states that all sin is from the Devil; it can never be from a relationship with Christ. All sin, in all forms, is from Satan. This verse is frequently interpreted as a warning to unbelievers, whose lives are marked with habitual, unrepentant sin. The specific context, however, is to Christians. As Paul does in Romans and Galatians, John seems to be refuting the claim that the gospel gives Christians a license to sin.

Christians are not supposed to submit to our sin natures. John points out that Jesus appeared to destroy the Devil's works. This teaching closely reflects Hebrews 2:14: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." Believers are to resist the devil (James 4:7), who will eventually receive his proper judgment (Revelation 20:10).
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