3:1
    [kjv]  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
    [bbe]  See what great love the Father has given us in naming us the children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not see who we are, because it did not see who he was.
3:2 
    [kjv]  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
    [bbe]  My loved ones, now we are children of God, and at present it is not clear what we are to be. We are certain that at his revelation we will be like him; for we will see him as he is.
3:3
    [kjv]  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
    [bbe]  And everyone who has this hope in him makes himself holy, even as he is holy.
3:4  
    [kjv]  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
    [bbe]  Everyone who is a sinner goes against the law, for sin is going against the law.
3:5  
    [kjv]  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
    [bbe]  And you have knowledge that he came to take away sin: and in him there is no sin.
3:6 
    [kjv]  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
    [bbe]  Anyone who is in him does no sin; anyone who is a sinner has not seen him and has no knowledge of him.
3:7
    [kjv]  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
    [bbe]  My little children, let no man take you out of the true way: he who does righteousness is upright, even as he is upright;
3:8 
    [kjv]  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
    [bbe]  The sinner is a child of the Evil One; for the Evil One has been a sinner from the first. And the Son of God was seen on earth so that he might put an end to the works of the Evil One.
3:9
    [kjv]  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
    [bbe]  Anyone who is a child of God does no sin, because he still has God's seed in him; he is not able to be a sinner, because God is his Father.
3:10
    [kjv]  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
    [bbe]  In this way it is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the Evil One; anyone who does not do righteousness or who has no love for his brother, is not a child of God.
3:11
    [kjv]  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
    [bbe]  Because this is the word which was given to you from the first, that we are to have love for one another;
3:12  
    [kjv]  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's rig............