1 John5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and such faith enables one to overcome the world by keeping God's commandments, which are not grievous. God's greater witness testifies that eternal life is found in His Son, Jesus Christ, and those who possess the Son possess this life. Believers can approach God with confidence in prayer, knowing He hears petitions made according to His will.
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Faith, Love, and Overcoming the World

1
Whosoever 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. ​
2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ​
4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ​
5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Divine Testimony

6
This 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. ​
7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ​
8
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. ​
9
If 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.
10
He 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. ​
11
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Assurance of Eternal Life

13
These 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. ​

Confidence in Prayer

14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ​
15
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16
If 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. ​
17
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Summary of Christian Knowledge

18
We 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. ​
19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20
And 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. ​

Keep Yourselves from Idols

21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. ​

Study Notes for 1 John 5

Verse 1

John connects belief in Jesus’ messianic identity (Christ) directly to the new birth. True spiritual birth results in love for both God (the Father) and fellow believers (those begotten of Him).

Verse 3

True love for God is defined by obedience to His commands, not mere sentiment. His commands are 'not grievous' (or burdensome) because the Holy Spirit empowers the believer to fulfill them.

Verse 4

Overcoming the world—the system of human values alienated from God—is the characteristic of the spiritually born. This victory is achieved solely through faith in Christ.

Verse 6

The 'water and blood' likely refers to Jesus’ baptism (water) and His crucifixion (blood). John emphasizes that Jesus came fully, affirming both His physical humanity and His atoning death, countering Gnostic denials.

Verse 7

This verse (often called the *Comma Johanneum*) is absent from the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. Most modern translations omit it or include a footnote, recognizing it as a later scribal addition.

Verse 8

The three earthly witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—attest to the full identity and saving work of Christ, providing undeniable assurance.

Verse 10

The believer possesses internal assurance (the witness of the Spirit). To reject God’s testimony concerning His Son is to call God a liar, a serious theological indictment.

Verse 13

This verse explicitly states the primary purpose of 1 John: to confirm the certainty (assurance) of eternal life for those who have already placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

Verse 14

Effective prayer is conditioned on seeking things 'according to his will.' Confidence is based not on the power of the prayer, but on the alignment of the request with God’s purposes.

Verse 16

John distinguishes between categories of sin. The 'sin unto death' likely refers to apostasy or a willful, final rejection of Christ and the Spirit’s testimony (similar to the unforgivable sin).

Verse 18

The phrase 'sinneth not' (present tense) means 'does not live in a continuous state of sin.' The new birth provides protection; the 'wicked one' (Satan) cannot establish spiritual dominion over the true believer.

Verse 20

This verse is a profound summary, explicitly affirming the full deity of Jesus Christ ('This is the true God') and identifying Him as the source and embodiment of eternal life.

Verse 21

This final, abrupt warning relates to the core theme of the letter. Idolatry includes not only physical images but also false teachings (the heresy threatening the church) or anything that replaces Christ as the source of truth.

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