1 John 2:11

But if anybody hates another Christian, it’s like they are walking around in the dark, so they can’t see properly. They don’t understand God’s true message, and they don’t live God’s way.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

In Context

10So I’m telling you mob, you have to love other Christians. If you do that, it shows that you are living God’s way. It is like you are living in God’s light, and nothing makes you go wrong.

12Listen, my Christian friends. I’m talking to you now like you are my kids. I know that Jesus died for you, so God let go of all the bad things that you did, and he says that you are not guilty.

Read all of 1 John 2

Cross References

John 12:40He also wrote this in God’s book, “God stopped the people from understanding his message. It’s like he made their eyes blind, and like he made their minds dead. You know, if they understand God’s message properly, they will turn back to God, and he will help them. But they don’t want to do that.”

1 John 1:6So think about this. If somebody says that they are joined up with God, but they keep on doing bad things all the time, that person is lying. They don’t know God, and they don’t live his way. It’s like they are walking in the dark.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 2:8-12

The Law of Love. ( a. d. 80.) 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 John 2:11