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(Photo by Massimiliano Morosinotto on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)

Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.

In Lesson 88, we are going to study the second part of 1 John 3:8.

Let’s read this part of the verse:

1 John 3:8…because the devil has been sinning from the very start…

Let’s go over the definitions of the words.

Because (3754. hoti) — this word connects the previous part of the verse to this part and gives the reason why the one who practices sin is of the devil.

The (3588. ho, hé, to) devil (1228. diabolos) — means the slanderer or false accuser, specifically referring to Satan.

Has been sinning (264. hamartanó) — means to sin, to miss the mark, or to fail to meet God’s standard.

From (575. apo) — means from, away from, or originating from.

The very start (746. archē) — means the beginning, origin, or commencement.

In other words, the one who continues in sin is of the devil because the devil, who is the slanderer, has been in a continual pattern of missing God’s standard and rebelling against Him from the very beginning.

In the Bible the devil and Satan refer to the same being.

The phrase “has been sinning” emphasizes an ongoing, continual pattern of rebellion that characterizes his activity throughout Scripture, seen in his deception, temptation, accusation, and opposition to God’s truth. This is continuing right now.

“From the very beginning” refers to the origin of his rebellion. It does not suggest that he was created sinful, but that he chose to rebel against God and has remained in that state ever since.

This shows that the devil’s sin is not an occasional failure, but the defining pattern of his existence and activity. From the moment of his rebellion, he has consistently opposed God’s truth and purposes.

Therefore, those who persist in unrepentant sin are aligning themselves with the same rebellious pattern, rather than reflecting the life of God’s children, who walk in obedience, truth, and righteousness.

To better understand John’s point, it is helpful to consider other passages that reveal the devil’s character, his rebellion against God, and his ongoing work of deception and opposition toward God’s people.

* The devil is deceptive.

In Genesis 3:1, Satan tempts Eve through the serpent, introducing doubt by subtly questioning what God has said rather than directly denying it. This reveals his pattern of deception from the beginning, drawing people away from trust and obedience to God’s Word.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

* Satan opposes God’s people and tempts them toward disobedience.

In 1 Chronicles 21:1, Satan incites David to take a cen