[a]He that (A)commiteth sin, is of the [b]devil: for the devil [c]sinneth from the [d]beginning: for this purpose was made manifest that Son of God, that he might loose the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God sinneth not: for his [e]seed remaineth in him, neither can he sin, because he is born of God.

10 [f]In this are the children of God known, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, [g]neither he that loveth not his brother.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:8 An argument taken of contraries: the devil is the author of sin, and therefore he is of the devil, or is ruled by the inspiration of the devil that serve sin: and if he be the devil’s son, then is he not God’s son: for the devil and God are so contrary the one to the other, that even the Son of God was sent to destroy the works of the devil. Therefore on the contrary side, whosoever resists sin, is the Son of God, being born again of his spirit as of new seed, insomuch that of necessity he is now delivered from the slavery of sin.
  2. 1 John 3:8 Resembleth the devil, as the child doth the father, and is governed by his spirit.
  3. 1 John 3:8 He saith not sinned, but sinneth, for he did nothing else but sin.
  4. 1 John 3:8 From the very beginning of the world.
  5. 1 John 3:9 The holy Ghost is so called of the effect he worketh, because by his virtue and mighty working, as it were by seed, we are made new men.
  6. 1 John 3:10 The conclusion, by a wicked life they are known which are governed by the spirit of the Devil, and by a pure life, which are God’s children.
  7. 1 John 3:10 He beginneth to commend charity towards the brethren, as another mark of the Sons of God.

The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,(A) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God(B) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.(C) No one who is born of God(D) will continue to sin,(E) because God’s seed(F) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God(G) are and who the children of the devil(H) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love(I) their brother and sister.(J)

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