1 John 5:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Whosoever {G3956} believeth {G4100} that {G3754} Jesus {G2424} is {G2076} the Christ {G5547} is born {G1080} of {G1537} God {G2316}: and {G2532} every one {G3956} that loveth {G25} him that begat {G1080} loveth {G25} him also {G2532} that is begotten {G1080} of {G1537} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah has God as his father, and everyone who loves a father loves his offspring too.

Berean Standard Bible

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.

American Standard Version

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First John 5:1 serves as a foundational declaration, succinctly outlining the essential characteristics of a true believer: a saving faith in Jesus Christ and the resulting love for God and for fellow believers. This verse establishes a direct and inseparable link between theological truth—the confession of Jesus as the Messiah—and its practical, observable evidence in the life of a Christian, namely, spiritual regeneration and the active demonstration of divine love.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the concluding section of John's First Epistle, where the apostle summarizes and reinforces his primary themes. Having extensively discussed the nature of God as light and love, the necessity of obedience, and the marks of genuine fellowship with God, John now brings these threads together. Chapters 4 and 5 specifically focus on the command to love one another, rooted in God's love for humanity, and the essential confession of Jesus' identity. Following John's exhortations to test the spirits and to abide in love (as seen in [1 John 4:1-21](/1_john/4-1-21 "1 John 4:1-21 - God is Love")), 1 John 5:1 acts as a definitive statement on the source and evidence of true spiritual life, leading into further discussions on the victory of faith and the certainty of eternal life in Christ.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The First Epistle of John was written in a period when the early church was grappling with various theological challenges, particularly proto-Gnostic heresies. These false teachings often denied the true humanity of Jesus, claiming that the divine "Christ" spirit merely descended upon the man Jesus at His baptism and departed before His crucifixion, thus separating Jesus from the Christ. This denial undermined the reality of the incarnation and the efficacy of Christ's atoning work. John's emphatic declaration, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ," directly counters such doctrines, affirming the unified person of Jesus as the promised Messiah, fully God and fully man. The emphasis on love also served as a counterpoint to the Gnostic tendency towards intellectual elitism and a lack of practical ethical concern.

* **Key Themes:** First John 5:1 encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout the epistle. Firstly, it underscores the **supremacy of Christology**, making the correct understanding and confession of Jesus' identity as the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah) the cornerstone of genuine faith. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **spiritual regeneration** or the "new birth," emphasizing that this transformation is a divine work initiated by God, resulting in a new spiritual lineage. This concept is foundational to Christian experience, as explored by Jesus Himself in [John 3:3-8](/john/3-3-8 "John 3:3-8 - Jesus and Nicodemus on Being Born Again"). Thirdly, the verse inextricably links this new birth to the **manifestation of love**. Genuine love for God, the Father, is demonstrated by love for His children (fellow believers), thereby serving as a vital sign of one's spiritual parentage and the presence of God's nature within. This theme of love as the hallmark of true discipleship is passionately developed throughout John's writings, notably in [John 13:34-35](/john/13-34-35 "John 13:34-35 - The New Commandment") and [1 John 4:7-12](/1_john/4-7-12 "1 John 4:7-12 - God is Love").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Believeth (Greek, _pisteúō'_):** From G4100, meaning "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)." This is not merely intellectual assent but a profound, active, and ongoing trust that commits one's entire being to Jesus. The present participle in the Greek ("whosoever is believing") indicates a continuous state or lifestyle of faith, not a one-time event.
* **Born (Greek, _gennáō'_):** From G1080, meaning "to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate." This verb, used in the perfect passive tense ("is born"), signifies a completed action with ongoing results. It emphasizes that this spiritual birth is a divine work, something God has already accomplished in the believer, resulting in an abiding state of new life. The passive voice ("is born") underscores that this transformation is not self-generated but is entirely God's doing.
* **Loveth (Greek, _agapáō'_):** From G25, meaning "to love (in a social or moral sense)." This refers to *agape* love, a self-sacrificial, volitional love that seeks the highest good of the other, distinct from mere affection or emotional attachment. The present participle again indicates an ongoing, characteristic action, showing that love is a continuous fruit of genuine faith and new birth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ":** This opening clause establishes the foundational criterion for spiritual life. "Whosoever" (G3956, _pâs_) indicates universality – anyone, without exception, who meets this condition. The object of belief is specific: "that Jesus is the Christ." This is the core confession of Christian faith, affirming Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah (G5547, _Christós_), the Anointed One of God, who fulfills all Old Testament prophecies and is truly the Son of God. This belief is not a casual opinion but a deep, transformative conviction that leads to action and a new identity.
* **"is born of God":** This is the immediate and direct consequence of the belief stated in the first clause. To be "born of God" (G1080, _gennáō_, and G1537, _ek_ G2316, _theós_) signifies a radical spiritual regeneration. It is a divine act whereby God imparts new life, changing one's spiritual nature and giving the capacity to understand and respond to divine truth. This new birth is not earned through human effort but is a sovereign work of God, received by faith. It establishes a new spiritual parentage, making the believer a child of God.
* **"and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.":** This second part of the verse presents the essential evidence and outflow of the new birth. If one truly loves "him that begat" (God the Father, the source of the new birth), then that love *must* extend to "him also that is begotten of him" (fellow believers, who are also children of God through the same spiritual birth). This clause highlights the inseparable connection between vertical love (for God) and horizontal love (for fellow Christians). It implies that a lack of love for other believers contradicts a claim to love God, as the divine nature imparted in the new birth is characterized by love.

#### Literary Devices
John employs several significant literary devices in this concise verse. The primary device is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synthetic Parallelism**, where the second part of the verse ("and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him") elaborates upon and completes the thought introduced in the first part ("Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God"). The act of believing leads to being born of God, and this new birth, in turn, produces love for God and, consequently, love for God's children. Another prominent device is **Metaphor**, specifically "born of God," which vividly illustrates the radical, supernatural transformation that occurs when one truly believes in Jesus. This metaphor emphasizes a new spiritual lineage and nature, akin to a physical birth. Furthermore, the verse carries a strong **Didactic Tone**, characteristic of John's epistle, serving as a clear instruction and criterion for discerning genuine faith and spiritual life within the community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
First John 5:1 stands as a theological cornerstone, linking the objective truth of Christ's identity with the subjective reality of spiritual transformation and its ethical outworking. It underscores that genuine faith in Jesus as the Messiah is not merely an intellectual exercise but the very gateway to a new life, initiated by God Himself. This new birth fundamentally reorients one's relationship with God (as Father) and with fellow believers (as siblings), making love the unavoidable and demonstrable fruit of true regeneration. The verse thus establishes a vital test for assurance: if one truly believes in Jesus as the Christ, they are born of God, and this divine parentage will inevitably manifest as love for God and for all who share in this spiritual family.

* [John 1:12-13](/john/1-12-13 "John 1:12-13 - Becoming Children of God")
* [Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Children of God Through Faith")
* [1 John 4:7-8](/1_john/4-7-8 "1 John 4:7-8 - Love is from God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
First John 5:1 offers profound assurance and a clear challenge for believers today. It reminds us that the bedrock of our spiritual life is a genuine, saving faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, our Lord and Savior. This belief is not a mere intellectual assent but a transformative trust that results in a radical spiritual rebirth, making us children of God. The most tangible evidence of this new identity and our love for God is our love for fellow believers. This verse calls us to examine the authenticity of our faith by observing its fruit: does our belief in Christ translate into a heartfelt love for His family? It encourages us to embrace our identity as God's children, living out the family resemblance through acts of sacrificial love, forgiveness, and unity within the Christian community. This love is not optional but is the natural outflow of the divine nature imparted through the new birth, providing both comfort in our assurance and a compelling witness to the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Do I truly believe that Jesus is the Christ, not just intellectually, but with a trusting, transformative faith that shapes my life?**
* **In what ways do I experience and express the reality of being "born of God" in my daily life?**
* **How does my love for God manifest in my relationships with other believers? Are there areas where my love for God's children needs to grow?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean to "believe that Jesus is the Christ"?**

Answer: To "believe that Jesus is the Christ" means to fully acknowledge and trust that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah (the Anointed One) foretold in the Old Testament, the Son of God, and the Savior of humanity. This belief encompasses His divine nature, His earthly life, His atoning death, and His resurrection. It's not merely an intellectual agreement but a personal commitment and trust in Him as Lord, leading to a transformed life. This core confession is central to the Christian faith, as seen in passages like [Matthew 16:16](/matthew/16-16 "Matthew 16:16 - Peter's Confession") and [Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief for Salvation").

**How does "being born of God" relate to salvation?**

Answer: "Being born of God" is synonymous with spiritual regeneration or new birth, which is an essential aspect of salvation. It signifies a divine act where God imparts new spiritual life to a person who believes in Jesus Christ. This transformation changes one's spiritual nature, enabling them to understand and obey God, and establishes them as a child of God. It is the spiritual reality that accompanies justification by faith and leads to sanctification. Jesus Himself emphasized the necessity of this new birth in His conversation with Nicodemus in [John 3:3-7](/john/3-3-7 "John 3:3-7 - You Must Be Born Again").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
First John 5:1 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is not merely the object of our belief, but the very source and embodiment of the new birth and the love it produces. It is through His perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross, and glorious resurrection that humanity can be reconciled to God and receive the spiritual regeneration described as "born of God." As the "Christ" (the Anointed One), Jesus perfectly fulfilled God's redemptive plan, making it possible for us to be adopted into God's family and share in His divine nature (as highlighted in [2 Peter 1:4](/2_peter/1-4 "2 Peter 1:4 - Partakers of the Divine Nature")). The love that flows from those "born of God" is a reflection of the very love of God, perfectly displayed in Christ's willingness to lay down His life for us (as seen in [John 15:13](/john/15-13 "John 15:13 - Greater Love Has No One Than This")). Thus, Jesus is the one who "begat" us spiritually through His finished work, and He is the ultimate example of the love we are now called to extend to all who are "begotten of Him." He is the cornerstone of our faith, the author of our new birth, and the model for our love, making this verse profoundly Christ-centered.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 8:42

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

1 John 2:29

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 4:7

¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 Peter 1:22

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.