The Letters · New Testament
1 John 5
1 John 5: faith that overcomes, the witness, and knowing that you have life
General context
Believing that Jesus is the Christ marks someone born of God, and loving the one who begat carries loving the one begotten. Loving the children of God is known by loving God and keeping his commandments, which are not grievous, since whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory is faith. The one who overcomes is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. He is described as coming by water and blood, not by water only, with the Spirit bearing witness because the Spirit is truth. Three are said to bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost, and three to bear witness in earth, the spirit, the water and the blood. If the witness of men is received, God's is greater, and whoever believes on the Son has the witness in himself while whoever does not makes God a liar. The record is that God has given eternal life in his Son, so whoever has the Son has life and whoever does not has not. The writer states his purpose: these things are written so that believers may know they have eternal life. Confidence in prayer follows, that asking according to his will is heard. A case is then given about a brother seen sinning a sin not unto death, who is to be asked for and given life, with the note that there is a sin unto death about which the writer does not say a man should pray, and that all unrighteousness is sin. Three statements beginning We know close the letter, and the last line tells the little children to keep themselves from idols.
Cited passages: 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 5:6, 1 John 5:7, 1 John 5:8, 1 John 5:9, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 5:15, 1 John 5:16, 1 John 5:17, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 5:19, 1 John 5:20, 1 John 5:21
1 John 5 (KJV)
1Whosoever 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.
2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5Who 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 by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9If 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.
10He 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.
11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13These 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.
14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16If 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.
17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18We 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.
19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20And 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.
21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
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Historical context
The letter states its purpose here rather than at the start: "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". It still gives no writer's name, no recipients by name and no place, and it ends without a greeting or a travel note, only the instruction about idols. Two things are named without being explained. One is the coming "by water and blood", which the letter insists was "not by water only" without saying what either stands for or what anyone had claimed instead. The other is "a sin unto death", distinguished from a sin not unto death, with no definition of either and with the writer declining to say that prayer should be made about the first. The idols of the last verse are not described, and no practice or place is named. Verses 7 and 8 as printed set three witnesses in heaven beside three in earth.
Cited passages: 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:6, 1 John 5:16, 1 John 5:17, 1 John 5:21, 1 John 5:7, 1 John 5:8
Literary context
The chapter is built out of testimony and certainty. Witness and record are repeated through verses 6 to 11 until the case is closed, and the argument moves from lesser to greater, "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater". Then comes a flat two part sentence that divides everyone: "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." The ending is a series of three declarations beginning We know, at verses 18, 19 and 20, each stating something as settled after a letter full of tests. Set against that confidence is the one thing the writer will not settle, the sin unto death, which he names and then steps back from. The final line is unlike everything before it, a short practical warning about idols with no argument attached, which leaves the letter stopping rather than concluding.
Cited passages: 1 John 5:9, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 5:19, 1 John 5:20, 1 John 5:16, 1 John 5:21
Key moments
- Faith as the victory (1 John 5:4). Overcoming the world is tied to what a person believes.
- Water and blood (1 John 5:6). The coming is described in terms the letter does not explain.
- Three bearing record (1 John 5:7). Witnesses in heaven are set beside witnesses on earth.
- Having the Son is having life (1 John 5:12). A single sentence divides everyone into two groups.
- Why this was written (1 John 5:13). The letter states its purpose near the end rather than the start.
- A sin unto death (1 John 5:16). One case is named and left without explanation.
- Keep from idols (1 John 5:21). The letter ends on a short practical warning.
For reflection
The letter names a sin unto death and then refuses to say more about it, in a chapter otherwise full of things the writer says he knows. What does that one withheld answer do to the rest?
