10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, namely, the one who does not love his brother.

God is Love, so Love One Another

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and violently murdered his brother. And for what reason[a] did he violently murder him? Because his deeds were evil and the deeds of his brother were righteous.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:12 Literally “on account of what”

10 This is how we know who the children of God(A) are and who the children of the devil(B) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love(C) their brother and sister.(D)

More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard(E) from the beginning:(F) We should love one another.(G) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one(H) and murdered his brother.(I) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.(J)

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