Connected in The Word 10-29-25
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1a
The Greek grammar of 1 John 3:1 is really cool! So, let’s look at a couple of things!
“See what kind of love the Father HAS GIVEN us”
The verb δέδωκεν is the Perfect Active Indicative of the verb δίδωμι (give). The Greek grammar here tells us that the Father’s “giving” of His love happened in the past but has a real result/purpose in the present. So, what is the result/purpose of God’s love today? Keep reading!
“that we should be children of God”
ἵνα (so that) - ἵνα introduces a purpose clause. We’re about to hear the purpose of God’s love!
τέκνα θεοῦ κληθῶμεν – This literally says “children of God we would be”.
κληθῶμεν – This is the Aorist Passive Subjunctive form of the verb καλέω (call/name). The Greek grammar here tells us that the act of be being called, or you might even say identified or known as a child of God (by God) is contingent on something. The subjunctive mood often shows up in purpose clauses because it speaks of possibilities.
“and WE ARE”
ἐσμέν – This is the Present Active Indicative of the verb “to be”. John is simply reiterating that our present reality as children of God as the result of God’s love purposely shown to us in Jesus!
So, what does all this mean? God loved you so that YOU COULD BE HIS CHILD! Without the love of God given to us in and through Jesus, we could never be children of God.
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