But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    But he that doth truth commeth to the light that his dedes might be knowen how that they are wrought in God.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    But he that doeth trueth, commeth to the light, that his deedes might bee made manifest, that they are wrought according to God.

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Cross-references (29)

Passages linked to John 3:21 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth.
  • Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
  • 3 John 1:11 Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.
  • Ephesians 5:9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
  • Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
  • Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
  • 1 John 4:15-16 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
  • 1 John 2:27-29 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
  • Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
  • Psalms 119:80 Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.
  • John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
  • Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
  • 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,
  • John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
  • Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
  • Colossians 1:29 for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
  • Hebrews 13:21 make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
  • 1 John 4:12-13 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
  • Isaiah 26:12 Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.
  • John 15:4-5 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
  • Acts 17:11-12 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
  • Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
  • Hosea 14:8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green cypress tree; from me your fruit is found.”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
  • Isaiah 8:20 Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.
  • 2 Peter 1:5-10 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
  • Revelation 3:1-2 “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.
  • Revelation 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 21. But he who doeth truth This appears to…

21. But he who doeth truth This appears to be an improper and absurd statement, unless you choose to admit that some are upright and true, before they have been renewed by the Spirit of God, which does not at all agree with the uniform doctrine of Scripture; for we know that faith is the root from which the fruits of good works spring. To solve this difficulty, Augustine says, that to do truth means “to acknowledge that we are miserable and destitute of all power of doing good;” and, certainly, it is a true preparation for faith, when a conviction of our poverty compels us to flee to the grace of God. But all this is widely removed from Christ’s meaning, for he intended simply to say that those who act sincerely desire nothing more earnestly than light, that their works may be tried; because, when such a trial has been made, it becomes more evident that, in the sight of God, they speak the truth and are free from all deceit. Now it would be inconclusive reasoning, were we to infer from this, that men have a good conscience before they have faith; for Christ does not say that the elect believe, so as to deserve the praise of good works, but only what unbelievers would do, if they had not a bad conscience.

Christ employed the word truth, because, when we are deceived by the outward lustre of works, we do not consider what is concealed within. Accordingly, he says, that men who are upright and free from hypocrisy willingly go into the presence of God, who alone is the competent Judge of our works. For those works are said to be done in God or according to God, which are approved by Him, and which are good according to His rule. Hence let us learn that we must not judge of works in any other way than by bringing them to the light of the Gospel, because our reason is wholly blind.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain That is, he that leadeth an honest life, and…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Truth here is put for true things. He who…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain After these things,.... After Christ's coming to Jerusalem, at…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain He that practiceth the truth (that is, true religion)…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 21. Wrought in God.] In his presence, and…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Are that doeth truth - He who does right,…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain doeth truth--whose only object in life is to be…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 21. Doeth truth—A most expressive phrase. Right is truth,…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 21. doeth truth] Or, as in 1Jn_1:6, doeth the…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (21) He that doeth truth is opposed to “him…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain But he that doeth the truth who is "of…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 21. He that doeth truth. Truth has to be…

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