1 Johnchapter 5

A.Born of God: The Victory That Overcomes the Worldvv. 1-5

1 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. 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 burdensome, 4 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5 Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

B.Water, Blood, and Spirit: The Witness God Gavevv. 6-12

6 This 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. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. 9 Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10 Whoever 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. 11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

C.That You May Know, and Ask With Confidencevv. 13-17

13 I 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. 14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. 16 If 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. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

D.Three Things We Know — Guard Yourselves From Idolsvv. 18-21

18 We 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. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20 And 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. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition What the manuscripts read here: on the Study level

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Chapter summary

'Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God': faith, love, and obedience braided into one.

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'Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God': faith, love, and obedience braided into one. His commandments are not grievous, 'for whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith' (5:4). The witness is threefold (the Spirit, the water, and the blood) and 'he that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life' (5:12). Then the purpose statement, matching John 20:31: 'These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life' (5:13). The letter ends in certainties, and one last command: 'Guard yourselves from idols.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · John — 1 John overview

A. 1–5 Born of God: The Victory That Overcomes the World
B. 6–12 Water, Blood, and Spirit: The Witness God Gave
C. 13–17 That You May Know, and Ask With Confidence
D. 18–21 Three Things We Know — Guard Yourselves From Idols

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

1 John 54 verses
- 1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
- 1 John 5:4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
- 1 John 5:6This 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.
- 1 John 5:16If 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.
- Read 1 John 5 →
John 143 verses
- John 14:9Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
- John 14:13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- John 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
- Read John 14 →
1 John 33 verses
- 1 John 3:4Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
- 1 John 3:9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
- 1 John 3:23And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
- Read 1 John 3 →
John 152 verses
- John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- John 15:26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
- Read John 15 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 John 42 verses
- 1 John 4:4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
- 1 John 4:15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
- Read 1 John 4 →
1 John 22 verses
- 1 John 2:25And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
- 1 John 2:29If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
- Read 1 John 2 →
John 162 verses
- John 16:13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
- John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Read John 16 →
1 Corinthians 102 verses
- 1 Corinthians 10:7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
- Read 1 Corinthians 10 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.