1Jo 3:16 | RWP | e4.org | Know we ( εγνωκαμεν ). Perfect active indicative, "we have come to know and still know." See for "hereby" ( εν τουτω ). Love ( την αγαπην ). "The thing called love" (D. Smith). He for us ( εκεινος υπερ ημων ). Εκεινος as in ; , , υπερ here alone in this Epistle, though common in John's Gospel ( , ; , etc.) and in . Laid down his life ( την ψυχην αυτου εθηκεν ). First aorist active indicative of τιθημ , the very idiom used by Jesus of himself in , . We ought ( ημεις οφειλομεν ). Emphatic ημεις again. For οφειλω see . Of course our laying down our lives for the brethren has no atoning value in our cases as in that of Christ, but is a supreme proof of one's love ( .; ), as often happens.

‏ 1 John 3:16

Know we ( εγνωκαμεν ). Perfect active indicative, "we have come to know and still know." See 2:3 for "hereby" ( εν τουτω ).

Love ( την αγαπην ). "The thing called love" (D. Smith).

He for us ( εκεινος υπερ ημων ). Εκεινος as in 2:6; 3:3, 5, υπερ here alone in this Epistle, though common in John's Gospel (10:11, 15; 11:50, etc.) and in 3Jo 1:7.

Laid down his life ( την ψυχην αυτου εθηκεν ). First aorist active indicative of τιθημ, the very idiom used by Jesus of himself in Joh 10:11, 17f.

We ought ( ημεις οφειλομεν ). Emphatic ημεις again. For οφειλω see 2:6. Of course our laying down our lives for the brethren has no atoning value in our cases as in that of Christ, but is a supreme proof of one's love (Joh 13:37f.; 15:13), as often happens.