3a

Grace, mercy, and peace: (Discourse Feature) This seems to have been a standard Christian greeting, since something like it appears in most of the New Testament letters. In translation it should sound like a greeting. It should not be in focus as if it were a teaching or a prayer that John made up.

the Son of the Father: (Translation) In your language it may be necessary to state this in full, “the son of God our father.”

will be with us: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two different views about the grammar of the Greek verb here:

(1) It probably signifies a greeting in the form of a wish, “May grace, mercy and peace…be with us.” (Good News Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version)

(2) It may be signifying a statement. For example, Grace, mercy and peace…will be with us. (Berean Standard Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Living Bible)

3b–c

in truth and love: (Meaning) Here John repeats his theme of truth and love. He means that we may experience God’s grace, mercy and peace as we put into practice the truth we have learned from him and as we love one another. See The Jerusalem Bible.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.