1 John 3:12

Remember that old story in God’s book, about Cain and Abel. They were brothers. Cain belonged to the devil, and he did bad things. But Abel lived God’s way. So Cain hated Abel, and he killed him. But we can’t be like that. We can’t hate people or kill people.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

In Context

11Yes, I’m telling you, we Christians have to love each other. You already know that message. You heard it from the beginning, right from the time you first heard about Jesus.

13Listen, my friends. There are people in this world that are just like Cain. They hate people that live God’s way, so they will hate you too. Don’t be shocked about that.

Read all of 1 John 3

Cross References

Genesis 4:25Adam and Eve slept together again, like a man does with his wife, and they had another son, and they gave him the name Seth. That name means gave. Eve said, “God gave me another son to take the place of Abel, our son that Cain killed.”

1 Samuel 19:4Next morning Jonathan and his father went for a walk in the bush, and they talked about David. Jonathan said good things about David like this, “He didn’t do wrong to you. He did all kinds of good things for you. He did things that helped you. You can’t do wrong to him now.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 3:12-14

Brotherly Love. ( a. d. 80.) 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. The apostle, having intimated that one mark of the devil's children is hatred of the brethren, takes occasion thence, I. To recommend fraternal Christian love, and that from the excellence,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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