1 John 2:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him.

Berean Standard Bible:

But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:

American Standard Version:

but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But^{G1161} whoso^{G3739} keepeth^{{G302}{G5083}} his^{G846} word^{G3056}, in^{G1722} him^{G5129} verily^{G230} is^{G5048} the love^{G26} of God^{G2316} perfected^{G5048}: hereby^{{G1722}{G5129}} know we^{G1097} that^{G3754} we are^{G2070} in^{G1722} him^{G846}.

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Commentary for 1 John 2:5

1 John 2:5 is part of the First Epistle of John, a letter traditionally attributed to the Apostle John, who was one of Jesus' original twelve disciples and a prominent figure in the early Christian community. The epistle is believed to have been written in the late first century to address various theological and practical issues within the early church.

The verse itself encapsulates a key theme in Johannine theology: the relationship between obedience to God's commandments and the experience of God's love. The text suggests that the individual who "keeps his word" – that is, adheres to God's teachings and commandments – is one in whom the "love of God" is brought to completion or perfection. This is not to say that one earns God's love through obedience, but rather that keeping God's word is an expression and outworking of the love that God has already shown to believers.

The historical context of this verse reflects the struggles of the early Christian communities, which were dealing with false teachings, including various forms of Gnosticism and Docetism that denied the full humanity of Jesus. John emphasizes the importance of practical Christian living, which includes love for God and for one another, as a test of genuine faith. By keeping God's word, believers demonstrate their unity with Christ and their abiding in Him, which is a sign of true faith and discipleship.

In summary, 1 John 2:5 conveys that the perfection of God's love within a believer is evidenced by their obedience to God's commandments. This obedience serves as a tangible sign of the believer's union with Christ and assures them of their relationship with God. The verse underscores the importance of a lived faith, reflecting the historical concerns of the early church as it sought to maintain doctrinal purity and a vibrant, loving community in the face of heretical challenges.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G3739
   There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅς
   Transliteration: hós
   Pronunciation: ho
   Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
   
3. Strong's Number: G302
   There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἄν
   Transliteration: án
   Pronunciation: an
   Description: a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty:--(what-, where-, wither-, who-)soever. Usually unexpressed except by the subjunctive or potential mood. Also contracted for ἐάν.
   
4. Strong's Number: G5083
   There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τηρέω
   Transliteration: tēréō
   Pronunciation: tay-reh'-o
   Description: from (a watch; perhaps akin to θεωρέω); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from φυλάσσω, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from κουστωδία, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):--hold fast, keep(- er), (pre-, re-)serve, watch.
   
5. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
6. Strong's Number: G3056
   There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: λόγος
   Transliteration: lógos
   Pronunciation: log'-os
   Description: from λέγω; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
   
7. Strong's Number: G1722
   There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐν
   Transliteration: en
   Pronunciation: en
   Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
   
8. Strong's Number: G5129
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τούτῳ
   Transliteration: toútōi
   Pronunciation: too'-to
   Description: dative case singular masculine or neuter of οὗτος; to (in, with or by) this (person or thing):--here(-by, -in), him, one, the same, there(-in), this.
   
9. Strong's Number: G230
   There are 318 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀληθῶς
   Transliteration: alēthōs
   Pronunciation: al-ay-thoce'
   Description: adverb from ἀληθής; truly:--indeed, surely, of a surety, truly, of a (in) truth, verily, very.
   
10. Strong's Number: G5048
    There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τελειόω
    Transliteration: teleióō
    Pronunciation: tel-i-o'-o
    Description: from τέλειος; to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character):--consecrate, finish, fulfil, make) perfect.
    
11. Strong's Number: G26
    There are 727 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀγάπη
    Transliteration: agápē
    Pronunciation: ag-ah'-pay
    Description: from ἀγαπάω; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:--(feast of) charity(-ably), dear, love.
    
12. Strong's Number: G2316
    There are 1172 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: θεός
    Transliteration: theós
    Pronunciation: theh'-os
    Description: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
    
13. Strong's Number: G1097
    There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γινώσκω
    Transliteration: ginṓskō
    Pronunciation: ghin-oce'-ko
    Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):--allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.
    
14. Strong's Number: G3754
    There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὅτι
    Transliteration: hóti
    Pronunciation: hot'-ee
    Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
    
15. Strong's Number: G2070
    There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐσμέν
    Transliteration: esmén
    Pronunciation: es-men'
    Description: first person plural indicative of εἰμί; we are:--are, be, have our being, X have hope, + (the gospel) was (preached unto) us.