1 John 3:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Apostle confirms by example how great an evil it is to hate one's brother. See, he says, Cain hated his brother and killed him, although he was his own brother. Cain was doing the evil works of his father, the devil. Abel, practicing righteousness, was a son in relation to God. Here the devil is set against God, and evil works against good ones. Therefore Cain, being opposed to his brother, killed him. Such is the explanation according to the course of the discourse. But the Apostle John changed this order for a special reason. After mentioning the devil and saying that those who do evil become his children, it was natural for him to set forth as an example the one who, at the beginning of the world, hastened to become a son of the devil through evil deeds. Having said what was needed about Cain and the lot inherited by those who imitate him, he again returns to love.

If the world hates us, then we know. What do we know? That we have passed from death to life. How do we know this? Because we love the brethren. Let no one ask another man. Let each turn to his own heart. If he finds brotherly love there, he may be calm and assured that he has passed from death to life. He is already at the right hand, and he does not look at the fact that his glory is now hidden. When the Lord comes, then his glory also will be made manifest. It is already in power, but winter still surrounds it. The root is strong, but the branches are still dry. Within is the strong core. Within are the leaves of the tree. Within are the fruits, but they await summer.

Let no one among the members of Christ's body who seem bound by death, no one who even now abides in death, hope to attain the mystery of life. Here John is speaking of the death of the soul. The soul that has sinned will surely die. The life of the body is the soul. The life of the soul is God. At the death of the body, the spirit leaves it. At the death of the soul, God leaves it. The souls of all of us born in this world are dead, because we carry in ourselves original sin from Adam. But the grace of Christ regenerates the faithful, so that their souls may live.

As for us, my brethren, we follow rules alien to the world. We love one another. By the very nature of the matter, we cannot act otherwise. For we have passed from the death of sin to the life of grace. To this life all deeds that bring death are alien. Who will deny that the one who does not love his fellow brother carries within himself the condemnation of death? This truth is evident.

“He abides in death.” By death here is meant that moral condition in which a man is incapable of doing good works. It also means eternal death, as the inevitable consequence of such a condition.

"We know": from the exact and immutable word of Christ Himself (Jn 5:24; see note), and likewise from the witness of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (1 Jn 2:27). Therefore we are undoubtedly assured, without any contradiction. "We have passed from death into life": this is the same saying of the Lord Himself, repeated here by John (Jn 5:24). In that passage of the Gospel the Lord speaks of resurrection and judgment (Jn 5:21-30). He speaks specifically of spiritual resurrection and judgment in the present life, as an image of bodily resurrection and judgment at the end of the world. In the passage under consideration, the Apostle uses and applies this saying only to spiritual and moral resurrection, enlivening, or passage from death into life.

"But we," says the Apostle, using his beloved contrasts from the examples of Cain and the corrupt pagan world, "have passed from death into life," having become Christians, "because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death" (1 Jn 3:14), as though outside Christianity. For he does not live by love, the life-giving and fundamental principle of Christianity. "Everyone who hates his brother," which is the highest degree of lack of love, "is a murderer." Even if he does not actually kill his neighbor, as Cain did, he carries the murderous principle in his heart. He expresses it in hidden anger, in a malicious word, in spiteful indifference, and in everything that sometimes truly brings our neighbor to death.

Deriving the birth of Christians from the incorruptible seed of God, and pointing to the fruit of this spiritual seed in love, the Apostle John could naturally say that love is not only a sign of life, but life itself. It is eternal life, since it has received its beginning from the eternal love of God (v. 16). Conversely, having recognized hatred as the fruit of the devil's seed, the Apostle could naturally say that death is seen in hatred itself, and that hatred itself leads to death, and indeed to eternal death. He explains how hatred leads to eternal death by calling the one who lives by hatred a murderer. One who hates another deprives the hated person of the joy of life. By tempting him through his evil example, he also completely kills him morally.

Why, you ask, can I not complete my prayer without being concerned about how my brother is disposed toward me? Because if you are not concerned for the brother who "has something against you," then you are not concerned for the peace of his spirit or the purity of his heart. Consequently, you are not concerned for his welfare. If you are not concerned for his welfare, then you do not love him. "He who does not love his brother," according to the testimony of the beloved disciple of true love, "abides in death" (1 Jn 3:14). A dead man can do nothing. Therefore, being spiritually dead because you do not love, you cannot perform the spiritual work of prayer as you ought. The same lack of love that does not open your heart to your neighbor also keeps it closed to God. Go and be reconciled with your brother. Place in your heart a spark of pure love. This spark will help your prayer to be set forth like incense before God.

He who loves the brethren according to God passes from death into life. But he who does not have this love remains in death. Thus the widow who lived in pleasures was dead, though she lived an ordinary life. Whoever lives in this way must necessarily be blotted out from the memory of God.