1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and…”

1 John 3:18

Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

World English Bible

My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

American Standard Version

My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

Geneva Bible 1599

My litle children, let vs not loue in worde, neither in tongue onely, but in deede and in trueth.

Darby Translation

Children, let us not love with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Young's Literal Translation

My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in word and in truth!

Bible in Basic English

My little children, do not let our love be in word and in tongue, but let it be in act and in good faith.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“My”

1 John 2:1

1 John 2:1 · BSB

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

“let”

Romans 12:9 1 Peter 1:22 Galatians 5:13 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 Ephesians 4:1–3 Matthew 25:41–45

Romans 12:9 · BSB

Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

1 Peter 1:22 · BSB

Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

Galatians 5:13 · BSB

For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · BSB

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Ephesians 4:1–3 · BSB

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

Matthew 25:41–45 · BSB

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Also

2 John 1:1 Ezekiel 33:31

2 John 1:1 · BSB

The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—

Ezekiel 33:31 · BSB

So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

19And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:

Read 1 John 3