1.8 KiB
Connecting Statement:
Here John probably means that believers' ability to love God and each other sincerely (See: 1 John 3:18) is a sign that their new life has indeed originated from the truth about Christ.
we are from the truth
"we belong to the truth" or AT: "we are living according the way Jesus taught us"
we assure our hearts
The word "heart" here refers to feelings. AT: "we do not feel guilty" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
if our hearts condemn us
Here "hearts" is a metonym for people's thoughts or consciences. Here "hearts condemn us" is a metaphor for feeling guilty. AT: "if we know that we have sinned and as a result feel guilty" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
God is greater than our hearts
Here "hearts" is metonym for people's thoughts or consciences. For God to be "greater than our hearts" means that God knows more than a person. Therefore he can judge things better than a person can. The effect of this truth is probably that God is more merciful than our consciences would suppose. AT: "God knows more than we do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
Beloved, if
"You people whom I love, if" or "Dear friends, if." See how you translated this in 1 John 2:7.
do the things that are pleasing before him
God's opinion is spoken of as if it depends on what he sees happen in front of himself. AT: "we do what pleases him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)