1 John 3:5

And you know that Jesus ¹  was revealed to take away ²  sins, and in him there is no sin.

Isa 53:4-12; Ho 14:2; Mt 1:21; Lu 23:41,47; Joh 1:29; Joh 1:31; Joh 8:46; Joh 14:30; Ro 3:24-26; 2Co 5:21; Eph 5:25-27; 1Ti 1:15; 1Ti 3:16; Tit 2:14; Heb 1:3; Heb 4:15; Heb 7:26; Heb 9:26,28; Heb 9:28; 1Pe 1:20; 1Pe 2:22; 1Pe 2:24; 1Pe 3:18; 1Jo 1:2; 1Jo 1:7; 1Jo 2:1; 1Jo 4:9-14; Re 1:5

¹ tn Grk “that one.” The context makes it clear that this is a reference to Jesus, because the reader is told “he was revealed in order that he might take away sins.” The connection with Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in John 1:29 provides additional confirmation that the previous use of ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos) in 3:3b should also be understood as a reference to Jesus, as 2:6 was.

sn In Johannine thought it is Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

² tn The ἵνα (Jina) clause gives the purpose of Jesus’ self-revelation as he manifested himself to the disciples and to the world during his earthly life and ministry: It was “to take away sins.”