1 John — Chapter 5
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1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
2By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.
7For there are three that testify:
8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.
10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
11And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
14And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.
17All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.
18We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.
3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith.
5And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.
7And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
8For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.
9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son.
10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son.
11And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
13These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, [even] unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.
14And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
15and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
16If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and [God] will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.
17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not.
19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21[My] little children, guard yourselves from idols.
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.
2By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.
3For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down,
4because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.
5Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7For there are three that testify,
8the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.
9If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.
10(The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)
11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.
13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
14And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.
16If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.
17All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.
18We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.
19We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.
21Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.
2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
3For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.
5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7For there are three who testify:
8the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.
9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son.
10He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
11The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.
13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
14This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
15And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this.
17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
18We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.
19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Summary
John explains that everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and that loving God means keeping his commandments, which are not burdensome because faith itself is the victory that overcomes the world (vv. 1-5). He points to three witnesses to Christ — the Spirit, the water, and the blood — testifying together that God has given eternal life in his Son, a testimony greater than any human witness (vv. 6-11). John states his purpose directly: he writes so that believers may know they have eternal life (v. 13), and he assures them that God hears prayers asked according to his will, including prayer for a brother caught in sin that does not lead to death (vv. 14-17). He closes with three certainties — that those born of God do not live in habitual sin, that believers belong to God while the world lies under the power of the evil one, and that the Son of God has come and given true understanding of God — ending with a final warning to keep away from idols (vv. 18-21).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers overcoming faith, the threefold witness, assurance, prayer, and the three certainties.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 John -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Faith as the Victory Over the World (v.4) — John says the victory that overcomes the world is nothing other than our faith. Is your faith actually overcoming the world's pressures and values right now, or is the world winning?
- Having the Son Means Having Life (v.12) — John states plainly that whoever has the Son has life, and whoever doesn't, doesn't. Are you living in the present reality of that life, or treating it as something still out of reach?
- Writing So You May Know (v.13) — John says he wrote this letter so believers could know, not merely hope, that they have eternal life. What actually gives you that certainty?
- Confidence in Prayer According to His Will (v.14) — John promises that God hears prayers offered according to his will. How do you work at discerning God's will so you can pray with real confidence instead of guessing?
- Guarding Against Idols (v.21) — John's closing word is a warning to keep yourselves from idols. What competes for the place God alone should hold in your life — money, comfort, approval, control?