1 John 3:2

Context

1 John has traditionally been attributed to the apostle John, though scholars hold a range of views on its authorship. The letter was written to believers unsettled by those who had left the community (1 John 2:19). From 2:28 through 3:10, the letter urges its readers to practice righteousness as they look toward the time "when he shall appear." First John 3:1 speaks of the love with which God has called believers his children, and verse 2 speaks of that status as children being brought to completion in the future. Verse 3 then turns to the exhortation that everyone who has this hope purifies himself.

Interpretation

• The "already" and "not yet" reading: Many commentators read this verse within the framework of New Testament eschatology. The status of being children of God has been given "now," yet its full form "doth not yet appear."
• Who is "he"?: Because the one who "shall appear" in 2:28 and "was manifested" in 3:5 is Christ, many interpreters take this verse to refer to Christ's Second Coming as well. Others hold that it refers to God, the subject of the preceding verse. The verb in the Greek text can also be read as "when it (what we shall be) appears." Korean translations generally render it with the personal subject "he."
• Reformed reading: The Reformed tradition explains being "like him" as glorification, the final stage of salvation, in which body and soul are gloriously perfected. It understands this not as believers sharing in the divine essence but as their being fully conformed to the image of Christ.
• Wesleyan reading: The Wesleyan tradition tends to read the verse together with verse 3, emphasizing that future hope drives present sanctification and holiness.
• Catholic and Orthodox readings: The Catholic Church has cited this verse as a proof text for the beatific vision, the blessedness of seeing God directly in heaven. The Eastern Orthodox Church draws on this verse in explaining theosis (deification), or participation in the life of God.

Questions of Application

There is no major dispute among denominations over this verse. Several questions, however, continue to be discussed:

• How far does "we shall be like him" extend?
• Does "we shall see him as he is" mean seeing God, or seeing Christ in his glory?
• How does the Orthodox concept of theosis differ from the Protestant understanding of glorification?

Related Passages

• 1 Corinthians 13:12
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• Colossians 3:4
• Romans 8:19