1. IV. Obedience to Christ's Example (3:1-3:24)
    1. B. Our Actions Show What Leader We Obey (3:7-3:15)
      1. ii. Sinfulness hates righteousness (3:12-3:15)
Thematic Relation: As love breathes life, so hate breathes death, and death by nature hates life. Our life is evident in our love.

Some Key Words

Evil (poneros[4190]):
moral evil, malicious, mischievous; of a bad nature; hurtful in effect or influence, vicious.
Marvel (thaumazo[2296]):
to wonder at, to be had in admiration.
Hate (miseo[3404]):
to pursue with hatred, detest
Death (thanatos[2288]):
natural death, spiritual death - separation from God, eternal death and everlasting punishment; death comprising all the miseries arising from sin
Life (zoe[2222]):
the principle of life in spirit and soul, the highest blessedness of the creature; the absolute fullness of life which belongs to God, life devoted to God, blessed.
Know (eido[1492]):
the fullness of knowing, intuitive knowledge.
 

Paraphrase

12 Cain slew Abel because evil hates righteousness, 13 so also the world - which is dead in sins hates those who live in righteousness. 14-15 To love is life, to hate, is to murder and to be dead in sins.

Key Verse

3:14 - This reminds us that we were in death and hatred, until the Lord freed us and took us into life and love.

Thematic Relevance:

 We are given to have eternal life by the love of God, which love empowers us to love those around us. Love is the evidence of our redemption.

Doctrinal Relevance:

 We will be hated in this world. We should be sure it's because we walk in life, not because we're jerks. The commandment against murder applies even to hatred. This is an amplification akin to those Jesus spoke regarding love of neighbor, and about adultery.

Moral Relevance:

 We must, must, must get free from hatred and anger. They lead away from the life and light we seek.

Some Parallel Verses

3:12
Ge 4:18 - Cain killed Abel. Mt 5:37 - duplicity of mind is evil. Ps 38:19-20 - the Godly are hated wrongfully, and their good deeds are responded to with evil deeds. Pr 29:10 - evil men hate the blameless. Jn 8:40-41 - they killed Jesus for speaking the truth.
3:13
Jn 15:18 - the world hates us because it hates God, and especially Jesus, Jn 17:14 - and because we are not tied to the world.
3:14
Jn 5:24 - to truly hear Christ's word and believe God is to have eternal life. Jn 13:35 - we will be known by our love for each other.
3:15
Mt 5:21-23 - Jesus also amplified the commandment against murder to include not only anger, but ridicule as well. Jn 8:44 - to disobey this commandment is to declare our lineage to be from the Devil, Gal 5:20 - murder being a work of the flesh - which is ruled by Satan. Rev 21:8 - which sin is to be punished by the second death.

New Thoughts

Lord, help me. My anger is so quick, and my tongue so sharp. God I need Your help in this, Your Spirit to correct. Please, sweeten my disposition; claim me as Your own. I want Your life in me, not my death. Father, change me once again.