Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Set on him (ep autw). Resting upon (epi) with locative rather than eiv, looking to, Acts 24:15. That is upon Christ (Brooke), upon God (D. Smith), upon God in Christ (Westcott).
Purifieth himself (agnizei eauton). Present active indicative of agnizw, old verb, from agnov (pure from contamination), used of ceremonial purifications (John 11:55; Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26 as in Exodus 19:10) and then of personal internal cleansing of heart (James 4:8), soul (I Peter 1:22), self (here). Cf. Philippians 2:12 f. the work of both God and man.
As he is pure (kaqwv ekeinov agnov estin). As in I John 2:6; I John 3:9 ekeinov (emphatic demonstrative) refers to Christ. Christ can be termed agnov "in virtue of the perfection of his humanity" (Westcott). Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of God in Christ (Romans 8:29).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 John 3:3:
Acts 21:24
James 4:8
1 Peter 1:22
1 John 1:7
1 John 2:6
1 John 2:25
1 John 3:5
1 John 3:16
1 John 4:17
Revelation 19:7
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