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1 John Chapter 5

New Testament Epistle (General) 21 Verses

What is 1 John 5 about?

Tests of genuine faith — walking in the light, love one another, and assurance of eternal life for those who believe. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
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.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, &c.] Or the Messiah that was prophesied of old, was long promised to the Jews, and whom they expected; there was a person spoken of in the writings of the Old Testament under this character, (<190202>Psalm 2:2 <270925>Daniel 9:25,26); and the Jews looked for him; and Jesus of Nazareth is he, as appears by all the characteristics of the Messiah in prophecy being found upon him: this the Jews deny, but is the grand article of faith embraced by the apostles and followers of Jesus, and is of very great importance; he that denies it is a liar, and he that does not believe…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“WHO ARE THE BRETHREN ESPECIALLY TO BE LOVED (Jo1 4:21); OBEDIENCE, THE TEST OF LOVE, EASY THROUGH FAITH, WHICH OVERCOMES THE WORLD. LAST PORTION OF THE EPISTLE. THE SPIRIT'S WITNESS TO THE BELIEVER'S SPIRITUAL LIFE. TRUTHS REPEATED AT THE CLOSE: FAREWELL WARNING. (1Jo. 5:1-21) Reason why our "brother" (Jo1 4:21) is entitled to such love, namely, because he is "born (begotten) of God": so that if we want to show our love to God, we must show it to God's visible representative. Whosoever--Greek, "Everyone that." He could not be our "Jesus" (God-Saviour) unless He were "the Christ"; for He could not reveal the way…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ - Is the Messiah; the anointed of God. On the meaning of the word Christ, see the notes at Matthew 1:1. Of course, it is meant here that the proposition, that “Jesus is the Christ,” should be believed or received in the true and proper sense, in order to furnish evidence that anyone is born of God. Compare the notes at 1 John 4:3. It cannot be supposed that a mere intellectual acknowledgment of the proposition that Jesus is the Messiah is all that is meant, for that is not the proper meaning of the word believe in the Scriptures. That word, in its just sense, implies…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“The scope and sum of this whole paragraph appears from the conclusion of it, Jo1 5:13, "These things have I written to you who believe, that ye may know that ye who believe have eternal life." So faith is the first and last point with St. John also. Every one who loveth - God that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him - Hath a natural affection to all his brethren. 1 John 5:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“5:1-5 Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God have been born spiritually as children of God (see John 20:31). Such people are empowered by the Spirit of God to love him and others, and by their faith to obey God and overcome the evil temptations of the world. Through faith, they can love God and live in obedience to him.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“believeth: Jo1 2:22, Jo1 2:23, Jo1 4:2, Jo1 4:14, Jo1 4:15; Mat 16:16; Joh 1:12, Joh 1:13, Joh 6:69; Act 8:37; Rom 10:9, Rom 10:10 is born: Jo1 5:4, Jo1 2:29, Jo1 3:9, Jo1 4:7 and every: Jo1 2:10, Jo1 3:14, Jo1 3:17, Jo1 4:20; Joh 15:23; Jam 1:18; Pe1 1:3, Pe1 1:22, Pe1 1:23 1 John 5:2”
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