1 John 3:18

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18 in Other Translations

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

18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

18 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love.

18 [My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

18 Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.

18 Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;

18 Dear children, don't just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.

1 John 3:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue
Which though it holds good of love to God, and to Jesus Christ, yet here is to be understood of love to the brethren, as the context shows; and so the Syriac version reads, "let us not love one another in word" that is, without the heart, or with a double heart; speaking one thing with the lip, and designing another thing in the heart; speaking peaceably with the mouth, and with the heart laying wait; or we should not love in this manner "only"; and so the Arabic version of De Dieu adds. It is very lawful, and right to express our love to one another, and to all men in words, to give good words, and use courteous language, and speak in a kind, tender, and affectionate manner, and especially to persons in distress; but this should not be all, it will be of no avail to say to such, be warmed and filled, and give them nothing but these good words, nothing to warm and fill them with; see ( James 2:15 James 2:16 ) ;

but in deed and in truth;
for true love is a laborious and operative grace, hence we read of the work and labour of love; it shows itself by the saints serving one another, in spirituals; as by bearing one another's burdens, forbearing with, and forgiving one another, praying for each other, and building up one another on their most holy faith; exhorting each other to the duties of religion, and not suffering sins upon one another, but admonish in love, and restore with meekness; and in temporals, distributing to the necessities of the saints, ministering: to them of their worldly substance, and supplying their daily wants: and this is loving "in deed", or "in work"; this is actual love, love in fact, and what is apparent and evident: and it is "in truth", when it is in reality, and not in show only; and when it is cordially and heartily done, with cheerfulness, and without grudging.

1 John 3:18 In-Context

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 John 2:1
• 2. Ezekiel 33:31; Romans 12:9