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Verse

John 13:35

ESV By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
NIV By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
NASB By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.'
CSB By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
NLT Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.'
KJV By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
NKJV By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What does John 13:35 mean?

John reiterates this idea in his first letter (1 John 3:14; 4:20). Jesus sets love as the primary outward sign of a person's Christian faith. He is especially referring to love between those who claim to be His followers. Earlier in the evening, Jesus humbly washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:2–5). He explained that this was an example of service for them to follow (John 13:12–17). In the prior verse, Jesus indicated that this command to love falls under that same umbrella: we are to love as Jesus loved (1 John 3:16; Ephesians 5:25). This was phrased as a renewed, re-emphasized command stemming from those He had given before (Matthew 22:36–40).

No aspect of Christian faith can be dismissed, though some are more pressing than others . These include sound doctrine (Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:3–5) and moral behavior (1 John 1:7; Colossians 3:1–10). But the gold standard for living out Christian belief, and the means by which believers are to distinguish themselves from non-believers, is expressed in this verse. As Paul expresses in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, nothing is commendable unless it is done out of love (1 Corinthians 13:1–3). Love must be pursued truthfully and with good judgment (Ephesians 4:15; John 7:24; 1 John 3:18), but it cannot be set aside under any circumstances.
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