1 John 3:18 net — Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.

NET Bible

"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth."

— 1 John 3:18, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

1 John 3:18 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

1 John 3 — Context

15

Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

16

We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.

17

But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?

18

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.

19

And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence,

20

that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.

21

Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,

1 John 3:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 John 3:18 say?
1 John 3:18 in the NET Bible reads: “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.”
Where is 1 John 3:18 in the Bible?
1 John 3:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 John, chapter 3, verse 18.
Who wrote 1 John?
1 John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of 1 John about?
John writes to help believers know they have eternal life. Three tests run through the letter: do you walk in the light, love one another, and confess that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh? Where these are present, assurance follows.
What are the major themes of 1 John?
1 John explores themes including Assurance, Love, Light, Truth vs. Error, Eternal Life. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 John 3:18.
What translation should I read 1 John 3:18 in?
1 John 3:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 John 3:18?
1 John 3:18 reads (NET): “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2