1 John 5

“THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN” Chapter Five John writes of faith in Christ, loving God, and overcoming the world (1 John 5:1-5). He then reviews God’ s witness that gives us certainty regarding eternal life in Christ (1 John 5:6-13), and concludes with teaching on prayer (1 John 5:14-17) and the sure knowledge found in the Son of God (1 John 5:18-21).

POINTS TO PONDER

• The importance of faith, love, and obedience

• The nature of eternal life as a present possession

• Sin which does not lead to death versus sin which does lead to death

REVIEW

1. What are the main points of this chapter?- Faith, love and obedience as children of God - 1 John 5:1-5- The sureness of God’ s testimony - 1 John 5:6-13- Confidence and compassion in prayer - 1 John 5:14-17- Concluding remarks - 1 John 5:18-21

2. To be born of God, what is absolutely necessary? (1 John 5:1)- Believing that Jesus is the Christ

3. How can be sure that they love the children of God? (1 John 5:2)- When they love God and keep His commandments

4. How can one overcome the world? (1 John 5:4-5)- Being born of God and believing that Jesus is the Son of God

5. What three things bore witness concerning Jesus Christ? (1 John 5:6-8)- Water (Jesus’ baptism?), blood (Jesus’ death?), the Holy Spirit

6. What does one receive as they believe in the Son of God? (1 John 5:10)- The witness in himself (cf. John 7:17)

7. What has God give us? Who has this? (1 John 5:11-12)- Eternal life; he who has the Son

8. Why did John write these things in his epistle? (1 John 5:13)- That we might know that we have eternal life, and continue to believe

9. What confidence do we have in prayer? (1 John 5:14-15)- That if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us

10. What is described as the true God and eternal life? (1 John 5:20)- To know Him who is true, and that we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ

1 John 5:1

1 John 5:11 John 5:1 παςG3956 οG3588 THAT πιστευωνG4100 [G5723] οτιG3754 THAT ιησουςG2424 JESUS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS οG3588 THE χριστοςG5547 CHRIST, εκG1537 τουG3588 OF θεουG2316 GOD γεγεννηταιG1080 [G5769] HAS BEEN ; καιG2532 AND παςG3956 οG3588 THAT αγαπωνG25 [G5723] LOVES τονG3588 HIM THAT γεννησανταG1080 [G5660] BEGAT, αγαπαG25 [G5719] [G5725] LOVES καιG2532 ALSO τονG3588 HIM THAT γεγεννημενονG1080 [G5772] HAS BEEN εξG1537 OF αυτουG846 HIM. believeth: 1 John 2:22, 1 John 2:23, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 4:15, Matthew 16:16, John 1:12, John 1:13, John 6:69, Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10 is born: 1 John 5:4, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 4:7 and every: 1 John 2:10, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 4:20, John 15:23, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 1:23 Proverbs 7:2 - Keep Matthew 16:20 - Jesus Matthew 25:40 - Inasmuch Matthew 25:45 - Inasmuch Mark 8:29 - Thou Luke 2:11 - which Luke 7:5 - he loveth Luke 9:20 - The Luke 23:42 - Lord John 3:3 - Except John 3:5 - and of Joh 3:15 - whosoever John 5:24 - He that John 6:29 - This John 8:42 - If John 8:47 - General John 11:27 - Yea John 13:34 - That ye love John 20:31 - these John 21:15 - lovest Acts 20:21 - faith Acts 24:24 - the faith Romans 1:3 - his Son Romans 12:10 - kindly 1 Corinthians 13:13 - faith 1 Corinthians 16:22 - love Galatians 6:10 - especially 1 Thessalonians 4:9 - for ye Titus 1:8 - a lover of good Philemon 1:5 - toward the Lord Philemon 1:16 - a brother Hebrews 13:1 - General 1 John 3:2 - now are we the 1 John 5:5 - but 1 John 5:10 - that believeth on 1 John 5:18 - whosoever 1 John 5:20 - we know1 John 5:1 In the New Testament there is only one original word for either born or begotten which is gennao, hence the connection has to be de­pended upon in each case to deter­mine which is the proper transla­tion. Since the act of begetting is that of the father, it should be the proper translation in passages where the con­nection shows that he is the parent be­ing spoken of. On that ground the word born in this verse should have been translated “ begotten” just as it is in the others. The seed of reproduction is the word of God and it tells us that Jesus is the Christ. Whenever a man believes that truth, he is begotten of the Father. Therefore it says that everyone who loves him who begat (who is the Father) loveth him also who is begotten (and that is the child). All this is logical, for if we love a man we should love his children. That Jesus is the Christ (hoti Iηsous estin ho Christos). The Cerinthian antichrist denies the identity of Jesus and Christ (1 John 2:22). Hence John insists on this form of faith (pisteuτn here in the full sense, stronger than in 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:16, seen also in pistis in 1 John 5:4, where English and Latin fall down in having to use another word for the verb) as he does in 1 John 5:5 and in accord with the purpose of John’s Gospel (John 20:31). Nothing less will satisfy John, not merely intellectual conviction, but full surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. “The Divine Begetting is the antecedent, not the consequent of the believing” (Law). For “is begotten of God” (ek tou theou gegennηtai) see 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 5:4; 1 John 5:18. John appeals here to family relationship and family love. ——————————————————————————– Him that begat (ton gennηsanta).

First aorist active articular participle of gennaτ, to beget, the Father (our heavenly Father). ——————————————————————————– Him also that is begotten of him (ton gegennηmenon ex autou). Perfect passive articular participle of gennaτ, the brother or sister by the same father. So then we prove our love for the common Father by our conduct towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.

1 John 5:2

1 John 5:21 John 5:2 ενG1722 BY τουτωG5129 THIS γινωσκομενG1097 [G5719] WE KNOW οτιG3754 THAT αγαπωμενG25 [G5719] WE LOVE ταG3588 THE τεκναG5043 τουG3588 θεουG2316 OF GOD, οτανG3752 τονG3588 WHEN θεονG2316 GOD αγαπωμενG25 [G5719] WE LOVE καιG2532 AND ταςG3588 εντολαςG1785 αυτουG846 HIS τηρωμενG5083 [G5725] KEEP. 1 John 3:22-24, 1 John 4:21, John 13:34, John 13:35, John 15:17 Leviticus 11:9 - General Deuteronomy 5:10 - love me Deuteronomy 10:12 - love Deuteronomy 11:22 - to love Deuteronomy 14:1 - the children Deuteronomy 26:16 - keep Deuteronomy 30:16 - to love Joshua 22:5 - love Judges 5:31 - them that 1 Kings 3:3 - loved Psalms 97:10 - Ye that Psalms 116:1 - love Ezekiel 18:5 - if Daniel 9:4 - the great Matthew 22:37 - General Matthew 25:40 - Inasmuch John 8:42 - If John 14:15 - General Romans 8:28 - them Romans 12:10 - kindly 1 Corinthians 7:19 - but 1 Corinthians 8:3 - love Philemon 1:5 - toward the Lord 1 Peter 1:22 - unto 1 John 3:10 - the children of God 1 John 3:14 - We know Revelation 12:17 - which1 John 5:2 In 1 John 3:14 it is stated that we know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. But that passage does not deal with the question of how to know that we actually do love the brethren, while the present, verse does tell us how, namely, that we love God and keep his commandments. And so a man’ s mere assertion that he loves the brethren is not to be accepted. He can­not truthfully make the claim unless he has obeyed the commandments, including repentance, baptism and the others which God has given in the Xew Testament. Hereby (en toutτi). John’s usual phrase for the test of the sincerity of our love. “The love of God and the love of the brethren do in fact include each the other” (Westcott). Each is a test of the other. So put 1 John 3:14 with 1 John 5:2. ——————————————————————————– When (hotan). “Whenever” indefinite temporal clause with hotan and the present active subjunctive (the same form agapτmen as the indicative with hoti (that) just before, “whenever we keep on loving God.” ——————————————————————————– And do (kai poiτmen) “and whenever we keep on doing (present active subjunctive of poieτ) his commandments.” See 1 John 1:6 for “doing the truth.”

1 John 5:3

1 John 5:31 John 5:3 αυτηG3778 γαρG1063 FOR THIS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS ηG3588 THE αγαπηG26 τουG3588 LOVE θεουG2316 OF GOD, ιναG2443 THAT ταςG3588 εντολαςG1785 αυτουG846 HIS τηρωμενG5083 [G5725] WE SHOULD KEEP; καιG2532 AND αιG3588 εντολαιG1785 αυτουG846 HIS βαρειαιG926 ουκG3756 εισινG1526 [G5748] ARE NOTthis: Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 5:10, Deuteronomy 7:9, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 10:13, Daniel 9:4, Matthew 12:47-50, John 14:15, John 14:21-24, John 15:10, John 15:14, 2 John 1:6 and: Psalms 19:7-11, Psalms 119:45, Psalms 119:47, Psalms 119:48, Psalms 119:103, Psalms 119:104, Psalms 119:127, Psalms 119:128, Psalms 119:140, Proverbs 3:17, Micah 6:8, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 7:12, Romans 7:22, Hebrews 8:10 Genesis 6:22 - General Deuteronomy 6:5 - thou shalt Deuteronomy 11:22 - to love Deuteronomy 26:16 - keep Deuteronomy 30:6 - to love the Lord Deuteronomy 30:16 - to love Joshua 22:5 - love Judges 5:31 - them that Judges 16:15 - when thine 1 Kings 3:3 - loved 1 Kings 12:4 - our yoke 2 Kings 18:6 - kept 2 Chronicles 10:4 - Thy father Psalms 1:2 - But his Psalms 78:7 - keep Psalms 97:10 - Ye that Psalms 116:1 - love Psalms 119:17 - I may live Psalms 119:35 - therein Proverbs 19:16 - keepeth the Matthew 7:24 - whosoever Matthew 11:30 - my yoke Luke 7:47 - she John 12:26 - serve Romans 8:28 - them 1 Corinthians 7:19 - but 1 Corinthians 8:3 - love 1 Thessalonians 1:3 - and labour 1 John 2:3 - if we Revelation 22:14 - Blessed1 John 5:3 Verse 3. Our love for God is proved only by keeping His commandments. Grievous means heavy or burdensome and it certainly should not seem bur­densome to obey the commands of the One whom we love. This (hautη) — that (hina). Explanatory use of hina with hautη, as in John 17:3, to show what “the love of God” (1 John 4:9; 1 John 4:12) in the objective sense is, not mere declamatory boasting (1 John 4:20), but obedience to God’s commands, “that we keep on keeping (present active subjunctive as in 1 John 2:3) his commandments.” This is the supreme test. ——————————————————————————— Are not grievous (bareiai ouk eisin). “Not heavy,” the adjective in Matthew 23:4 with phortia (burdens), with lupoi (wolves) in Acts 20:29, of Paul’s letters in 2 Corinthians 10:10, of the charges against Paul in Acts 25:7. Love for God lightens his commands.

1 John 5:4

1 John 5:41 John 5:4 οτιG3754 BECAUSE πανG3956 ALL τοG3588 THAT γεγεννημενονG1080 [G5772] HAS BEEN εκG1537 τουG3588 OF θεουG2316 GOD νικαG3528 [G5719] τονG3588 THE κοσμονG2889 WORLD; καιG2532 AND αυτηG3778 THIS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS ηG3588 THE νικηG3529 VICTORY ηG3588 WHICH νικησασαG3528 [G5660] τονG3588 THE κοσμονG2889 WORLD, ηG3588 πιστιςG4102 ημωνG2257 OUR FAITHwhatsoever: 1 John 5:1, 1 John 3:9 overcometh: 1 John 5:5, 1 John 2:13-17, 1 John 4:4, John 16:33, Romans 8:35-37, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 12:11, Revelation 15:2 Genesis 6:22 - General Deuteronomy 30:6 - to love the Lord Psalms 119:17 - I may live John 1:13 - were Romans 8:37 - Nay Galatians 1:4 - from Galatians 6:14 - the world Ephesians 2:2 - walked according Ephesians 6:16 - the shield 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - effectually 2 Timothy 4:10 - having James 1:27 - to keep James 2:14 - though 1 Peter 1:3 - hath 1 John 2:15 - Love not 1 John 5:18 - whosoever Revelation 21:6 - freely Revelation 21:8 - the fearful1 John 5:4 The world means the evil practices of mankind. (See the com­ments on 1 John 2:15.) If a man truly loves God of whom he was begotten, the love he has for his Father will induce him to overcome the evil practices of the world. That is because his love is directed by his faith that was produced by the word of God. If a man say (ean tis eipηi). Condition of third class with ean and second aorist active subjunctive. Suppose one say. Cf. 1 John 1:6. ——————————————————————————– For (hoti). The reason why God’s commandments are not heavy is the power that comes with the new birth from God. ——————————————————————————– Whatsoever is begotten of God (pβn to gegennηmenon ek tou theou). Neuter singular perfect passive participle of gennaτ rather than the masculine singular (1 John 5:1) to express sharply the universality of the principle (Rothe) as in John 3:6; John 3:8; John 6:37; John 6:39. ——————————————————————————– Overcometh the world (nikβi ton kosmon).

Present active indicative of nikaτ, a continuous victory because a continuous struggle, “keeps on conquering the world” (“the sum of all the forces antagonistic to the spiritual life,” D. Smith). ——————————————————————————– This is the victory (hautη estin hη nikη).

For this form of expression see 1 John 1:5; John 1:19. Nikη (victory, cf. nikaτ), old word, here alone in N.T., but the later form nikos in Matthew 12:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55; 1 Corinthians 15:57. ——————————————————————————– That overcometh (hη nikηsasa). First aorist active articular participle of nikaτ. The English cannot reproduce the play on the word here. The aorist tense singles out an individual experience when one believed or when one met temptation with victory. Jesus won the victory over the world (John 16:33) and God in us (1 John 4:4) gives us the victory. ——————————————————————————– Even our faith (hη pistis hηmτn).

The only instance of pistis in the Johannine Epistles (not in John’s Gospel, though in the Apocalypse). It is our faith in Jesus Christ as shown by our confession (1 John 5:1) and by our life (1 John 5:2).

1 John 5:5

1 John 5:51 John 5:5 τιςG5101 WHO εστινG2076 [G5748] IS οG3588 HE THAT νικωνG3528 [G5723] τονG3588 THE κοσμονG2889 WORLD, ειG1487 μηG3361 BUT οG3588 HE THAT πιστευωνG4100 [G5723] οτιG3754 THAT ιησουςG2424 JESUS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS οG3588 THE υιοςG5207 τουG3588 SON θεουG2316 OF GOD? but: 1 John 5:1, 1 John 4:15 Genesis 3:15 - it shall Deuteronomy 10:12 - love Matthew 16:16 - Thou John 9:35 - Dost Acts 8:37 - I believe Acts 20:21 - faith Romans 1:3 - his Son Romans 8:37 - Nay 1 Corinthians 15:57 - giveth Galatians 1:4 - from Galatians 6:14 - the world Ephesians 6:16 - the shield 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - effectually 2 Timothy 4:10 - having Hebrews 10:39 - but James 1:27 - to keep James 2:14 - though 1 John 2:13 - because 1 John 2:15 - Love not 1 John 5:4 - overcometh Revelation 2:7 - To him Revelation 2:26 - he Revelation 3:21 - him Revelation 12:11 - they overcame Revelation 21:6 - freely Revelation 21:8 - the fearful1 John 5:5 This is the same as the preceding verse except it states how and when one is born (begotten) of God. That is when he believes in Jesus as the Son of God as was stated in verse 1. And who is he that overcometh? (tis estin de ho nikτn;). Not a mere rhetorical question (1 John 2:22), but an appeal to experience and fact. Note the present active articular participle (nikτn) like nikβi (present active indicative in 1 John 5:4), “the one who keeps on conquering the world.” See 1 Corinthians 15:57 for the same note of victory (nikos) through Christ. See 1 John 5:1 for ho pisteuτn (the one who believes) as here. ——————————————————————————– Jesus is the Son of God (Iηsous estin ho huios tou theou). As in 1 John 5:1 save that here ho huios tou theou in place of Christos and see both in 1 John 2:22-23. Here there is sharp antithesis between “Jesus” (humanity) and “the Son of God” (deity) united in the one personality.

1 John 5:6

1 John 5:61 John 5:6 ουτοςG3778 THIS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS οG3588 HE WHO ελθωνG2064 [G5631] CAME διG1223 BY υδατοςG5204 WATER καιG2532 AND αιματοςG129 BLOOD, ιησουςG2424 JESUS οG3588 THE χριστοςG5547 CHRIST; ουκG3756 NOT ενG1722 τωG3588 BY υδατιG5204 WATER μονονG3440 ONLY, αλλG235 BUT ενG1722 τωG3588 BY υδατιG5204 WATER καιG2532 τωG3588 AND αιματιG129 BLOOD. καιG2532 AND τοG3588 THE πνευμαG4151 SPIRIT εστινG2076 [G5748] IT IS τοG3588 THAT μαρτυρουνG3140 [G5723] BEARS WITNESS, οτιG3754 BECAUSE τοG3588 THE πνευμαG4151 SPIRIT εστινG2076 [G5748] IS ηG3588 THE αληθειαG225 TRUTHis he: John 19:34, John 19:35 by water and: Isaiah 45:3, Isaiah 45:4, Ezekiel 36:25, John 1:31-33, John 3:5, John 4:10, John 4:14, John 7:38, John 7:39, Acts 8:36, Ephesians 5:25-27, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:21 blood: 1 John 1:7, 1 John 4:10, Leviticus 17:11, Zechariah 9:11, Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, John 6:55, Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:4, Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 12:24, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 1:2, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:14 the Spirit that: 1 John 5:7, 1 John 5:8, John 14:17, John 15:26, 1 Timothy 3:16 is truth: John 14:6, John 16:13 Leviticus 14:7 - sprinkle Leviticus 14:29 - General Leviticus 23:28 - General Job 42:8 - my servant Job shall Psalms 117:2 - General Zechariah 13:1 - a fountain John 3:11 - We speak John 5:32 - is another John 8:18 - and John 13:5 - poureth John 16:14 - glorify John 21:24 - we know 1 Corinthians 1:30 - sanctification Ephesians 5:26 - with Hebrews 10:10 - we Hebrews 13:12 - sanctify1 John 5:6 The pronouns this and he refer to Jesus as the Son of God. The verse deals with three items that testified to that claim. He came means his introduction to the world espe­cially into the public ministry. The water refers to his baptism because it was then John the Baptist said he learned that Jesus was the one who was to come after him. The Spirit also is mentioned because he appeared in the form of a dove in connection with the voice of God that acknowledged the Son. The blood was in evidence when Jesus shed it on the cross, thus con­cluding the long blood line that began with Adam and ran down through the ages. (Read Luke chapter 3.) This (houtos). Jesus the Son of God (1 John 5:5). ——————————————————————————– He that came (ho elthτn). Second aorist active articular participle of erchomai, referring to the Incarnation as a definite historic event, the preexistent Son of God “sent from heaven to do God’s will” (Brooke). ——————————————————————————– By water and blood (di’ hudatos kai haimatos). Accompanied by (dia used with the genitive both as instrument and accompaniment, as in Galatians 5:13) water (as at the baptism) and blood (as on the Cross). These two incidents in the Incarnation are singled out because at the baptism Jesus was formally set apart to his Messianic work by the coming of the Holy Spirit upon him and by the Father’s audible witness, and because at the Cross his work reached its culmination (“It is finished,” Jesus said). There are other theories that do not accord with the language and the facts.

It is true that at the Cross both water and blood came out of the side of Jesus when pierced by the soldier, as John bore witness (John 19:34), a complete refutation of the Docetic denial of an actual human body for Jesus and of the Cerinthian distinction between Jesus and Christ. There is thus a threefold witness to the fact of the Incarnation, but he repeats the twofold witness before giving the third.

The repetition of both preposition (en this time rather than dia) and the article (tτi locative case) argues for two separate events with particular emphasis on the blood (“not only” ouk monon, “but” all’) which the Gnostics made light of or even denied. ——————————————————————————– It is the Spirit that beareth witness (to pneuma estin to marturoun). Present active articular participle of martureτ with article with both subject and predicate, and so interchangeable as in 1 John 3:4. The Holy Spirit is the third and the chief witness at the baptism of Jesus and all through his ministry. ——————————————————————————– Because (hoti). Or declarative “that.” Either makes sense. In John 15:26 Jesus spoke of “the Spirit of truth” (whose characteristic is truth). Here John identifies the Spirit with truth as Jesus said of himself (John 14:6) without denying personality for the Holy Spirit.

1 John 5:7

1 John 5:71 John 5:7 οτιG3754 BECAUSE τρειςG5140 THREE εισινG1526 [G5748] THERE ARE οιG3588 WHO μαρτυρουντεςG3140 [G5723] BEAR WITNESS ενG1722 τωG3588 IN ουρανωG3772 HEAVEN, οG3588 THE πατηρG3962 FATHER, οG3588 THE λογοςG3056 WORD, καιG2532 AND τοG3588 THE αγιονG40 HOLY πνευμαG4151 GHOST; καιG2532 AND ουτοιG3778 οιG3588 THESE τρειςG5140 THREE ενG1520 ONE εισινG1526 [G5748] AREbear: 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:11, John 8:13, John 8:14 The Father: Psalms 33:6,*Heb: Isaiah 48:16, Isaiah 48:17, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 3:16, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, Matthew 28:19, John 5:26, John 8:18, John 8:54, John 10:37, John 10:38, John 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Revelation 1:4, Revelation 1:5 the Word: 1 John 1:1, John 1:1, John 1:32-34, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 19:13 the Holy: 1 John 5:6, Matthew 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 2:33, Acts 5:32, Hebrews 2:3, Hebrews 2:4 and these: Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30 Genesis 1:26 - Let us Genesis 41:26 - the dream is one Matthew 18:16 - that in John 14:10 - Believest John 14:26 - Holy Ghost John 17:21 - as Colossians 2:2 - to the Colossians 2:9 - in 1 John 5:8 - there Revelation 1:2 - bare1 John 5:7 Most translations omit this verse on the ground that it is not in the oldest Greek manuscripts. I will make remarks similar to what were said at 1 John 2:23. The passage does not add anything that is different from the other passages on the same subject, nor will anything be lost if it is left out. With these comments I shall proceed with the next verse. For there are three who bear witness (hoti treis eisin hoi marturountes). At this point the Latin Vulgate gives the words in the Textus Receptus, found in no Greek MS. save two late cursives (162 in the Vatican Library of the fifteenth century, 34 of the sixteenth century in Trinity College, Dublin). Jerome did not have it. Cyprian applies the language of the Trinity and Priscillian has it. Erasmus did not have it in his first edition, but rashly offered to insert it if a single Greek MS. had it and 34 was produced with the insertion, as if made to order. The spurious addition is: en tτi ouranτi ho patηr, ho logos kai to hagion pneuma kai houtoi hoi treis hen eisin kai treis eisin hoi marturountes en tηi gηi (in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness in earth). The last clause belongs to 1 John 5:8. The fact and the doctrine of the Trinity do not depend on this spurious addition. Some Latin scribe caught up Cyprian’s exegesis and wrote it on the margin of his text, and so it got into the Vulgate and finally into the Textus Receptus by the stupidity of Erasmus.

1 John 5:8

1 John 5:81 John 5:8 καιG2532 AND τρειςG5140 THREE εισινG1526 [G5748] THERE ARE οιG3588 WHO μαρτυρουντεςG3140 [G5723] BEAR WITNESS ενG1722 τηG3588 ON γηG1093 EARTH, τοG3588 THE πνευμαG4151 SPIRIT, καιG2532 AND τοG3588 THE υδωρG5204 WATER, καιG2532 AND τοG3588 THE αιμαG129 BLOOD; καιG2532 AND οιG3588 THE τρειςG5140 THREE ειςG1519 TO τοG3588 THE ενG1520 ONE “POINT” εισινG1526 [G5748] ARE. there: 1 John 5:7 the spirit: 1 John 5:6, Matthew 26:26-28, Matthew 28:19, John 15:26, Romans 8:16, Hebrews 6:4 the water: Acts 2:2-4, 2 Corinthians 1:22 the blood: Hebrews 13:12, 1 Peter 3:21 and these: Mark 14:56, Acts 15:15 Ezekiel 16:9 - washed Matthew 18:16 - that in John 19:34 - came 1 John 1:7 - and the1 John 5:8 This verse differs from verse 6 as to date only; each has to do with the threefold testimony for the divinity of Christ. However, verse 6 pertains to the time of His stay on the earth, while this one is continuous and applies to what has been going on since Christ left the earth. The testi­mony of the Spirit is that which is recorded in the New Testament and written by the inspired men. The water is in evidence every time a per­son is baptized, because there is no way to account for the continuation of this plain ordinance other than the fact that it originated in the time of Christ. The blood testifies every time the Lord’ s supper is observed in which is the fruit of the vine, for Paul says (1 Corinthians 11:26). “ As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup. ye do show the Lord’ s death till he come.” Three office in one means they all bear testimony to one fact, namely, Jesus is the divine Son of God. The Spirit and the water and the blood (to pneuma kai to hudτr kai to haima). The same three witnesses of 1 John 5:6-7 repeated with the Spirit first. ——————————————————————————– The three (hoi treis). The resumptive article. ——————————————————————————– Agree in one (eis to hen eisin). “Are for the one thing,” to bring us to faith in Jesus as the Incarnate Son of God, the very purpose for which John wrote his Gospel (John 20:31).

1 John 5:9

1 John 5:91 John 5:9 ειG1487 IF τηνG3588 THE μαρτυριανG3141 τωνG3588 WITNESS ανθρωπωνG444 OF MEN λαμβανομενG2983 [G5719] WE RECEIVE, ηG3588 THE μαρτυριαG3141 τουG3588 WITNESS θεουG2316 OF GOD μειζωνG3187 GREATER εστινG2076 [G5748] IS. οτιG3754 BECAUSE αυτηG3778 THIS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS ηG3588 THE μαρτυριαG3141 τουG3588 WITNESS θεουG2316 OF GOD ηνG3739 WHICH μεμαρτυρηκενG3140 [G5758] HE HAS περιG4012 τουG3588 υιουG5207 αυτουG846 HIS SONwe: 1 John 5:10, John 3:32, John 3:33, John 5:31-36, John 5:39, John 8:17-19, John 10:38, Acts 5:32, Acts 17:31, Hebrews 2:4, Hebrews 6:18 for: Matthew 3:16, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5 Psalms 19:7 - testimony Psalms 78:5 - For he Psalms 81:8 - Hear Psalms 93:5 - Thy Isaiah 8:16 - the testimony John 1:34 - this John 5:36 - I have John 12:17 - bare Acts 11:14 - words Romans 1:9 - the Romans 9:32 - Because 2 Corinthians 1:19 - the Son 1 Peter 5:12 - testifying 1 John 4:14 - we have1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men means that we do receive such witness. It is as if he said “ since we receive such witness,” etc. It is true that human testimony when confirmed is an established rule of mankind in dealing with each other. The apostle is making the point that we should receive the testimony of God. for it is much greater than mere human testi­mony. That which God gives estab­lishes the fact that Jesus is His Son. If we receive (ei lambanomen). Condition of first class with ei and the present active indicative, assumed as true. The conditions for a legally valid witness are laid down in Deuteronomy 19:15 (cf. Matthew 18:16; John 8:17-18; John 10:25; 2 Corinthians 13:1). ——————————————————————————– Greater (meizτn). Comparative of megas, because God is always true. ——————————————————————————– For (hoti). So it applies to this case. ——————————————————————————– That (hoti).

Thus taken in the declarative sense (the fact that) as in John 3:19, though it can be causal (because) or indefinite relative with memarturηken (what he hath testified, perfect active indicative of martureτ, as in John 1:32; John 4:44, etc.), a harsh construction here because of marturia, though some MSS. do read hen to agree with it (cf. 1 John 5:10). See hoti ean in 1 John 3:20 for that idiom. Westcott notes the Trinity in 1 John 5:6-9 : the Son comes, the Spirit witnesses, the Father has witnessed.

1 John 5:10

1 John 5:101 John 5:10 οG3588 HE THAT πιστευωνG4100 [G5723] ειςG1519 ON τονG3588 THE υιονG5207 τουG3588 SON θεουG2316 OF GOD εχειG2192 [G5719] HAS τηνG3588 THE μαρτυριανG3141 WITNESS ενG1722 IN εαυτωG1438 HIMSELF; οG3588 HE THAT μηG3361 πιστευωνG4100 [G5723] τωG3588 NOT θεωG2316 GOD ψευστηνG5583 A LIAR πεποιηκενG4160 [G5758] HAS MADE αυτονG846 HIM. οτιG3754 BECAUSE ουG3756 πεπιστευκενG4100 [G5758] HE HAS NOT ειςG1519 IN τηνG3588 THE μαρτυριανG3141 WITNESS ηνG3739 WHICH μεμαρτυρηκενG3140 [G5758] οG3588 HAS θεοςG2316 GOD περιG4012 τουG3588 υιουG5207 αυτουG846 HIS SON. that believeth on: 1 John 5:1, John 3:16 hath the: Psalms 25:14, Proverbs 3:32, Romans 8:16, Galatians 4:6, Colossians 3:3, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:28 hath made: 1 John 1:10, Numbers 23:19, Job 24:25, Isaiah 53:1, Jeremiah 15:18, John 3:33, John 5:38, Hebrews 3:12 Psalms 78:22 - General Isaiah 7:9 - If ye Jeremiah 5:12 - have belied Habakkuk 2:4 - but Mark 16:16 - that believeth and John 3:18 - he that believeth not John 3:36 - that believeth on John 7:28 - is true John 8:55 - shall John 9:25 - one John 9:35 - Dost John 11:26 - whosoever John 14:1 - ye John 20:31 - these Acts 8:37 - I believe Acts 16:31 - Believe Romans 1:3 - his Son Romans 3:4 - let God Galatians 2:20 - the Son Ephesians 2:8 - through Ephesians 4:21 - as 1 Timothy 4:10 - specially Titus 3:8 - which Hebrews 3:19 - General Hebrews 6:1 - faith Hebrews 6:18 - impossible 1 Peter 5:12 - testifying 1 John 1:3 - with his 1 John 2:15 - Love not 1 John 5:7 - bear 1 John 5:9 - we 1 John 5:11 - this 1 John 5:13 - ye may know 1 John 5:19 - we know Revelation 12:17 - and have Revelation 19:10 - the testimony Revelation 21:8 - the fearful1 John 5:10 Hath the witness in him­self. Not that he produced it by his own mind, but it is testimony that can be received by the mind and hence can be retained there. (See Hebrews 8:10.) Made him a liar. When a man rejects a statement made by another he thereby makes that man out a liar. Otherwise if the other person is not regarded as a liar, there would be no pretext for the first one to disbelieve him. All of this pertains to the decla­ration of God that Christ is his Son. Believeth on (pisteuτn eis). John draws a distinction between “not believing God” (mη pisteuτn tτi theτi) in next clause, the testimony of God about his Son, and surrender to and reliance on the Son as here (eis and the accusative). See the same distinction less clearly drawn in John 6:30-31. See also eis tηn marturian after pepisteuken in this same verse and John 2:23. ——————————————————————————– In him (en hautτi). “In himself,” though the evidence is not decisive between hautτi and autτi. ——————————————————————————– Hath made (pepoiηken). Perfect active indicative of poieτ like memarturηken and pepisteuken, permanent state. ——————————————————————————– A liar (pseustηn). As in 1 John 1:10, which see. ——————————————————————————– Because he hath not believed (hoti ou pepisteuken).

Actual negative reason with negative ou, not the subjective reason as in John 3:18, where we have hoti mη pepisteuken). The subjective negative is regular with ho mη pisteuτn. Relative clause here repeats close of 1 John 5:9.

1 John 5:11

1 John 5:111 John 5:11 καιG2532 AND αυτηG3778 THIS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS ηG3588 THE μαρτυριαG3141 WITNESS, οτιG3754 THAT ζωηνG2222 LIFE αιωνιονG166 ETERNAL εδωκενG1325 [G5656] GAVE ημινG2254 οG3588 TO US θεοςG2316 GOD; καιG2532 AND αυτηG3778 ηG3588 THIS ζωηG2222 LIFE ενG1722 τωG3588 IN υιωG5207 SON αυτουG846 HIS εστινG2076 [G5748] ISthis: 1 John 5:7, 1 John 5:10, John 1:19, John 1:32-34, John 8:13, John 8:14, John 19:35, 3 John 1:12, Revelation 1:2 God: 1 John 5:13, 1 John 2:25, Matthew 25:46, John 3:15, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 4:4, John 4:36, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:68, John 10:28, John 12:50, John 17:2, John 17:3, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:23, 1 Timothy 1:16, Titus 1:2, Jude 1:21 this: 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:20, 1 John 1:1-3, 1 John 4:9, John 1:4, John 5:21, John 5:26, John 11:25, John 11:26, John 14:6, Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4, Revelation 22:1 Deuteronomy 30:15 - General Psalms 133:3 - even life Proverbs 8:35 - whoso Isaiah 45:17 - an everlasting Matthew 13:46 - one Matthew 19:16 - eternal Matthew 26:63 - the Christ Mark 1:1 - Christ Mark 9:7 - This Mark 12:6 - one Luke 10:42 - one Luke 23:42 - Lord John 5:24 - He that John 5:36 - I have John 5:40 - that Acts 3:15 - Prince Acts 4:12 - is there Acts 5:20 - all Acts 20:21 - Testifying Romans 3:27 - but by Romans 5:15 - and the gift 1 Corinthians 1:6 - the 1 Corinthians 2:1 - the testimony 1 Corinthians 15:45 - a quickening 2 Corinthians 1:20 - all 2 Corinthians 6:15 - or 2 Corinthians 9:15 - his Galatians 3:22 - that Colossians 2:6 - received Colossians 3:11 - but 1 Timothy 1:15 - worthy 1 Timothy 2:6 - to be testified 2 Timothy 1:1 - the promise 2 Timothy 1:8 - the testimony 2 Timothy 3:15 - which James 1:17 - good 1 John 1:2 - the life 1 John 1:3 - with his Revelation 20:15 - whosoever1 John 5:11 Record is from the same word as “ evidence.” John means that in giving to us the evidence of the Son- ship of Christ, we are thereby given assurance that we may have eternal life through Him. That God gave (hoti edτken ho theos). Declarative hoti in apposition with marturia as in 1 John 5:14; John 3:19. Note aorist active indicative edτken (from didτmi) as in 1 John 3:23-24, the great historic fact of the Incarnation (John 3:16), but the perfect dedτken in 1 John 3:1 to emphasize the abiding presence of God’s love. ——————————————————————————– Eternal life (zτηn aiτnion). Anarthrous emphasizing quality, but with the article in 1 John 1:2. ——————————————————————————– In his Son (en tτi huiτi autou). This life and the witness also. This is why Jesus who is life (John 14:6) came to give us abundant life (John 10:10).

1 John 5:12

1 John 5:121 John 5:12 οG3588 HE THAT εχωνG2192 [G5723] HAS τονG3588 THE υιονG5207 SON, εχειG2192 [G5719] τηνG3588 HAS ζωηνG2222 LIFE : οG3588 HE THAT μηG3361 εχωνG2192 [G5723] HAS NOT τονG3588 THE υιονG5207 τουG3588 SON θεουG2316 τηνG3588 OF GOD ζωηνG2222 LIFE ουκG3756 εχειG2192 [G5719] HAS NOTthat hath the: 1 John 2:23, 1 John 2:24, John 1:12, John 3:36, John 5:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 3:14, 2 John 1:9 and he: Mark 16:16, John 3:36 Deuteronomy 30:15 - General Proverbs 8:35 - whoso Matthew 13:46 - one Matthew 25:46 - the righteous Mark 1:1 - Christ Mark 9:7 - This Mark 12:6 - one Luke 10:42 - one John 3:18 - is not John 5:36 - I have John 6:47 - He that John 6:53 - eat John 11:25 - the life John 14:6 - the life John 17:3 - and Jesus Acts 3:15 - Prince Acts 4:12 - is there Acts 5:20 - all Romans 3:27 - but by Romans 6:23 - but the 1 Corinthians 15:45 - a quickening 2 Corinthians 9:15 - his Colossians 2:6 - received Colossians 3:4 - our Colossians 3:11 - but 1 Timothy 1:16 - believe 1 Timothy 2:6 - to be testified 2 Timothy 1:8 - the testimony 2 Timothy 3:15 - which James 1:17 - good 1 John 5:11 - this Revelation 20:15 - whosoever1 John 5:12 The foregoing important truths are summed up in the conclu­sion that to have life one must have the Son by sincere belief in Him as the source of that life. Hath the life (echei tηn zτηn). The life which God gave (1 John 5:11). This is the position of Jesus himself (John 5:24; John 14:6).

1 John 5:13

1 John 5:131 John 5:13 ταυταG5023 THESE THINGS εγραψαG1125 [G5656] I WROTE υμινG5213 TO YOU τοιςG3588 WHO πιστευουσινG4100 [G5723] BELIEVE ειςG1519 ON τοG3588 THE ονομαG3686 NAME τουG3588 OF THE υιουG5207 τουG3588 SON θεουG2316 OF GOD, ιναG2443 THAT ειδητεG1492 [G5762] YE MAY KNOW οτιG3754 THAT ζωηνG2222 LIFE εχετεG2192 [G5719] YE HAVE αιωνιονG166 ETERNAL, καιG2532 AND ιναG2443 THAT πιστευητεG4100 [G5725] YE MAY BELIEVE ειςG1519 ON τοG3588 THE ονομαG3686 NAME τουG3588 OF THE υιουG5207 τουG3588 SON θεουG2316 OF GOD have I: 1 John 1:4, 1 John 2:1, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14, 1 John 2:21, 1 John 2:26, John 20:31, John 21:24, 1 Peter 5:12 believe: 1 John 3:23, John 1:12, John 2:23, John 3:18, Acts 3:16, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:16 ye may know: 1 John 5:10, 1 John 1:1, 1 John 1:2, Romans 8:15-17, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Galatians 4:6, 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Peter 1:11 Proverbs 9:9 - General Proverbs 22:21 - I John 2:11 - and his John 3:15 - eternal John 6:47 - He that John 9:35 - Dost John 10:28 - I give John 11:15 - to John 19:35 - that ye John 20:30 - General Romans 15:15 - I have Galatians 3:22 - to 1 John 3:14 - We know 1 John 5:11 - God 1 John 5:19 - we know1 John 5:13 Written tinto you that be­lieve again sets forth the idea that not all of the apostolic writings are given as new information. The pur­pose for repeating it is stated that ye may know or that they may have their faith for eternal life confirmed. - I have written (egrapsa). Not epistolary aorist, but refers to 1 John 5:1-12 of this Epistle as in 1 John 2:26 to the preceding verses. ——————————————————————————– That ye may know (hina eidηte). Purpose clause with hina and the second perfect active subjunctive of oida, to know with settled intuitive knowledge. He wishes them to have eternal life in Christ (John 20:31) and to know that they have it, but not with flippant superficiality (1 John 2:3 ff.). ——————————————————————————- Unto you that believe on (tois pisteuousin eis). Dative of the articular present active participle of pisteuτ and eis as in 1 John 5:10. For this use of onoma (name) with pisteuτ see 1 John 3:23; John 2:23.

1 John 5:14

1 John 5:141 John 5:14 καιG2532 AND αυτηG3778 THIS εστινG2076 [G5748] IS ηG3588 THE παρρησιαG3954 ηνG3739 WHICH εχομενG2192 [G5719] WE HAVE προςG4314 TOWARDS αυτονG846 HIM, οτιG3754 THAT εανG1437 IF τιG5100 αιτωμεθαG154 [G5735] WE MAY ASK καταG2596 TO τοG3588 θελημαG2307 αυτουG846 HIS WILL, ακουειG191 [G5719] HE HEARS ημωνG2257 US this: 1 John 3:21, Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 10:35 in him: or, concerning him if: 1 John 3:22, Jeremiah 29:12, Jeremiah 29:13, Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 7:7-11, Matthew 21:22, John 14:13, John 15:7, John 16:24, James 1:5, James 1:6, James 4:3, James 5:16 he: Job 34:28, Psalms 31:22, Psalms 34:17, Psalms 69:33, Proverbs 15:29, John 9:31, John 11:42 Exodus 33:17 - I will do Numbers 14:19 - and as thou 1 Kings 3:5 - Ask what 1 Kings 3:12 - I have done 1 Kings 9:3 - I have heard 2 Kings 19:20 - I have heard 1 Chronicles 17:25 - found 2 Chronicles 1:7 - Ask 2 Chronicles 7:12 - I have heard Job 22:27 - make thy Psalms 5:1 - Give Psalms 20:4 - General Psalms 37:4 - and Psalms 65:2 - thou Proverbs 10:24 - the desire Isaiah 30:19 - he will Isaiah 38:5 - I have heard Isaiah 65:24 - General Ezekiel 36:37 - I will yet Micah 7:7 - my God Matthew 18:19 - That if Mark 11:24 - What Luke 11:9 - Ask John 16:23 - Whatsoever Acts 12:12 - where Romans 8:27 - according Romans 12:12 - continuing 2 Corinthians 6:13 - be Titus 1:4 - our James 5:15 - if he1 John 5:14 The proviso according to his will is important and shows that we are not at liberty to make just any kind of wild request and expect God to grant it. Toward him (pros auton). Fellowship with (pros, face to face) Christ. For boldness see 1 John 2:28. ——————————————————————————– That (hoti). Declarative again, as in 1 John 5:11. ——————————————————————————– If we ask anything (ean ti aitτmetha). Condition of third class with ean and present middle (indirect) subjunctive (personal interest as in James 4:3, though the point is not to be pressed too far, for see Matthew 20:20; Matthew 20:22; John 16:24; John 16:26). ——————————————————————————- According to his will (kata to thelηma autou). This is the secret in all prayer, even in the case of Jesus himself.

For the phrase see 1 Peter 4:19; Galatians 1:4; Ephes. 1:5, 11. ——————————————————————————– He heareth us (akouei hηmτn). Even when God does not give us what we ask, in particular then (Hebrews 5:7-8).

1 John 5:15

1 John 5:151 John 5:15 καιG2532 AND εανG1437 IF οιδαμενG1492 [G5758] WE KNOW οτιG3754 THAT ακουειG191 [G5719] HE HEARS ημωνG2257 US, οG3739 ανG302 αιτωμεθαG154 [G5735] WE MAY ASK, οιδαμενG1492 [G5758] WE KNOW οτιG3754 THAT εχομενG2192 [G5719] WE HAVE ταG3588 THE αιτηματαG155 αG3739 WHICH ητηκαμενG154 [G5758] WE HAVE ASKED παρG3844 FROM αυτουG846 HIMif: Proverbs 15:29, Jeremiah 15:12, Jeremiah 15:13 we know: Mark 11:24, Luke 11:9, Luke 11:10 Genesis 18:32 - Oh Exodus 33:17 - I will do 1 Samuel 1:27 - and the Lord 1 Kings 3:5 - Ask what 1 Kings 3:12 - I have done 2 Kings 19:20 - I have heard 1 Chronicles 17:25 - found 2 Chronicles 1:7 - Ask 2 Chronicles 7:12 - I have heard Job 22:27 - make thy Psalms 5:1 - Give Psalms 20:4 - General Psalms 37:4 - and Psalms 65:2 - thou Psalms 145:19 - fulfil Proverbs 10:24 - the desire Isaiah 30:19 - he will Isaiah 38:5 - I have heard Isaiah 65:24 - General Micah 7:7 - my God Matthew 7:7 - and it Matthew 21:22 - General Acts 12:12 - where Romans 8:27 - according Romans 12:12 - continuing 2 Corinthians 6:13 - be James 1:5 - let 2 John 1:6 - this is love1 John 5:15 This verse explains what it means to be heard for our prayers. When we have the petitions (granted) then we know that they were scrip­tural or God would not have granted them. And if we know (kai ean oidamen). Condition of first class with ean (usually ei) and the perfect active indicative, assumed as true. See 1 Thessalonians 3:8; Acts 8:31 for the indicative with ean as in the papyri. “An amplification of the second limitation” (D. Smith). ——————————————————————————– Whatsoever we ask (ho ean aitτmetha). Indefinite relative clause with modal ean (= an) and the present middle (as for ourselves) subjunctive of aiteτ. This clause, like hηmτn, is also the object of akouei. ——————————————————————————– We know that we have (oidamen hoti echomen).

Repetition of oidamen, the confidence of possession by anticipation. ——————————————————————————– The petitions (ta aitηmata). Old word, from aiteτ, requests, here only in John, elsewhere in N.T. Luke 23:24; Philippians 4:6. We have the answer already as in Mark 11:24. ——————————————————————————– We have asked (ηitηkamen). Perfect active indicative of aiteτ, the asking abiding.

1 John 5:16

1 John 5:161 John 5:16 εανG1437 IF τιςG5100 ANYONE ιδηG1492 [G5632] SHOULD SEE τονG3588 αδελφονG80 αυτουG846 HIS BROTHER αμαρτανονταG264 [G5723] SINNING αμαρτιανG266 A SIN μηG3361 NOT προςG4314 TO θανατονG2288 DEATH, αιτησειG154 [G5692] HE SHALL ASK, καιG2532 AND δωσειG1325 [G5692] HE SHALL GIVE αυτωG846 HIM ζωηνG2222 LIFE τοιςG3588 FOR THOSE THAT αμαρτανουσινG264 [G5723] SIN μηG3361 NOT προςG4314 TO θανατονG2288 DEATH. εστινG2076 [G5748] THERE IS αμαρτιαG266 A SIN προςG4314 TO θανατονG2288 DEATH; ουG3756 NOT περιG4012 εκεινηςG1565 THAT λεγωG3004 [G5719] DO I SAY ιναG2443 THAT ερωτησηG2065 [G5661] HE SHOULD BESEECHhe shall ask: Genesis 20:7, Genesis 20:17, Exodus 32:10-14, Exodus 32:31, Exodus 32:32, Exodus 34:9, Numbers 12:13, Numbers 14:11-21, Deuteronomy 9:18-20, 2 Chronicles 30:18-20, Job 42:7-9, Psalms 106:23, Ezekiel 22:30, Amos 7:1-3, James 5:14, James 5:15 There: Numbers 15:30, Numbers 16:26-32, 1 Samuel 2:25, Jeremiah 15:1, Jeremiah 15:2, Matthew 12:31, Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:28-30, Luke 12:10, 2 Timothy 4:14, Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20-22 I do not: Jeremiah 7:16, Jeremiah 11:14, Jeremiah 14:11, Jeremiah 18:18-21, John 17:9 Genesis 2:17 - surely Genesis 18:32 - Oh Exodus 23:21 - he will not Numbers 11:2 - prayed 1 Samuel 12:19 - Pray for thy 1 Samuel 16:1 - seeing Nehemiah 6:14 - think thou Ezekiel 18:24 - when Matthew 5:22 - his brother Matthew 12:45 - and the Luke 11:26 - and the 1 Corinthians 5:5 - that Galatians 6:1 - restore 2 Timothy 2:25 - if Hebrews 10:39 - we are 1 John 5:17 - and1 John 5:16 Sin unto death. Not that the man has reached the state of eter­nal death but is healed unto it; his conduct is in that direction. The con­dition described in Hebrews 6:4-6 is a clear case of this kind of sin; let the reader see the comments at that place. Paul says it is impossible for another person to renew that kind of sinner to repentance. It would therefore be in­consistent to engage in a prayer ser­vice with a brother who has gone so far in deliberate sin that he could not be induced to repent by anyone else. John says he would not ask anyone to pray for such a brother.

The kind of sin that is not unto death would be like that mentioned in Galatians 6:1 where the brethren are told to work for the restoration of the one over­taken. He shall ask sounds as if John means for the brother discovering sin in another to do the praying for him, when Peter told Simon to pray for himself. That it true but it is also true that brethren can pray together on be­half of the erring one. Then if he re­pents the Lord will grant him life (forgiveness) for his sins. (See James 5:15-16.) The pronouns may be a little confusing the way they are used. The first he means the man who sees his brother sin, and the second he means the Lord from whom all for­giveness must come. (See Ephesians 4:32 as to the source of forgiveness.) If any man see (ean tis idηi). Third-class condition with ean and second aorist active subjunctive of eidon (horaτ). ——————————————————————————– Sinning a sin (hamartanonta hamartian). Present active predicate (supplementary) participle agreeing with adelphon and with cognate accusative hamartian. ——————————————————————————– Not unto death (mη pros thanaton). Repeated again with hamartanousin and in contrast with hamartia pros thanaton (sin unto death). Most sins are not mortal sins, but clearly John conceives of a sin that is deadly enough to be called “unto death.” This distinction is common in the rabbinic writings and in Numbers 18:22 the LXX has labein hamartian thanatηphoron “to incur a death-bearing sin” as many crimes then and now bear the death penalty. There is a distinction in Hebrews 10:26 between sinning wilfully after full knowledge and sins of ignorance (Hebrews 5:2).

Jesus spoke of the unpardonable sin (Mark 3:29; Matthew 12:32; Luke 12:10), which was attributing to the devil the manifest work of the Holy Spirit. It is possible that John has this idea in mind when he applies it to those who reject Jesus Christ as God’s Son and set themselves up as antichrists. ——————————————————————————– Concerning this (peri ekeinηs). This sin unto death. That he should make request (hina erτtηsηi). Sub-final use of hina with the first aorist active subjunctive of erτtaτ, used here as in John 17:15; John 17:20 (and often) for request rather than for question. John does not forbid praying for such cases; he simply does not command prayer for them.

He leaves them to God.

1 John 5:17

1 John 5:171 John 5:17 πασαG3956 EVERY αδικιαG93 αμαρτιαG266 SIN εστινG2076 [G5748] IS; καιG2532 AND εστινG2076 [G5748] THERE IS αμαρτιαG266 A SIN ουG3756 NOT προςG4314 TO θανατονG2288 DEATH. all: 1 John 3:4, Deuteronomy 5:32, Deuteronomy 12:32 and: 1 John 5:16, Isaiah 1:18, Ezekiel 18:26-32, Romans 5:20, Romans 5:21, James 1:15, James 4:7-10 Matthew 12:45 - and the1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin. (See the comments at 1 John 3:4.) John makes this statement that it might not seem he is underestimating the seriousness of any sin. He wishes only to show that not all sins are as fatal as others: that there is such a sin not unto death. All unrighteousness is sin (pβsa adikia hamartia estin). Unrighteousness is one manifestation of sin as lawlessness (1 John 3:4) is another (Brooke). The world today takes sin too lightly, even jokingly as a mere animal inheritance. Sin is a terrible reality, but there is no cause for despair. Sin not unto death can be overcome in Christ.

1 John 5:18

1 John 5:181 John 5:18 οιδαμενG1492 [G5758] WE KNOW οτιG3754 THAT παςG3956 ANYONE οG3588 THAT γεγεννημενοςG1080 [G5772] HAS BEEN εκG1537 τουG3588 OF θεουG2316 GOD ουχG3756 NOT αμαρτανειG264 [G5719] SINS, αλλG235 BUT οG3588 HE THAT γεννηθειςG1080 [G5685] WAS εκG1537 τουG3588 OF θεουG2316 GOD τηρειG5083 [G5719] KEEPS εαυτονG1438 HIMSELF, καιG2532 AND οG3588 THE πονηροςG4190 WICKED “ONE” ουχG3756 απτεταιG680 [G5731] DOES NOT TOUCH αυτουG846 HIMwhosoever: 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 4:6, John 1:13, John 3:2-5, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23 keepeth: 1 John 5:21, 1 John 3:3, Psalms 17:4, Psalms 18:23, Psalms 39:1, Psalms 119:101, Proverbs 4:23, John 15:4, John 15:7, John 15:9, Acts 11:23, James 1:27, Jude 1:21, Jude 1:24, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 3:8-10 wicked: 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14, 1 John 3:12 Leviticus 11:37 - sowing seed Leviticus 22:25 - because Rth 2:9 - touch thee Psalms 37:40 - from Psalms 97:10 - delivereth Psalms 119:3 - General Proverbs 22:5 - he Zephaniah 3:13 - not Matthew 6:13 - deliver Matthew 13:19 - the wicked Matthew 24:24 - insomuch John 3:3 - Except John 10:28 - they John 17:15 - keep 2 Thessalonians 2:8 - that 1 Peter 1:3 - hath 1 John 3:6 - whosoever 1 John 5:19 - in wickedness1 John 5:18 See the comments at verse 1 John 5:1 for the meaning of born and be­gotten. For the verse in general see the comments on 1 John 3:9. Sinneth not (ouch hamartanei). Lineal present active indicative, “does not keep on sinning,” as he has already shown in 1 John 3:4-10. ——————————————————————————– He that was begotten of God (ho gennηtheis ek tou theou). First aorist passive articular participle referring to Christ, if the reading of A B is correct (tηrei auton, not tηrei heauton). It is Christ who keeps the one begotten of God (gegennηmenos ek tou theou as in 1 John 3:9 and so different from ho gennηtheis here). It is a difficult phrase, but this is probably the idea. Jesus (John 18:37) uses gegennηmai of himself and uses also tηreτ of keeping the disciples (John 17:12; John 17:15; Revelation 3:10). ——————————————————————————– The evil one (ho ponηros).

Masculine and personal as in 1 John 2:13, not neuter, and probably Satan as in Matthew 6:13, not just any evil man. ——————————————————————————– Touchest him not (ouch haptetai autou). Present middle indicative of haptτ, elsewhere in John only John 20:17. It means to lay hold of or to grasp rather than a mere superficial touch (thigganτ, both in Colossians 2:21). Here the idea is to touch to harm. The devil cannot snatch such a man from Christ (John 6:38-39).

1 John 5:19

1 John 5:191 John 5:19 οιδαμενG1492 [G5758] WE KNOW οτιG3754 THAT εκG1537 τουG3588 OF θεουG2316 GOD εσμενG2070 [G5748] WE ARE, καιG2532 AND οG3588 THE κοσμοςG2889 WORLD ολοςG3650 WHOLE ενG1722 IN τωG3588 THE πονηρωG4190 WICKED “ONE” κειταιG2749 [G5736] LIESwe know: 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:4-6, Romans 8:16, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Timothy 1:12 and the: 1 John 4:4, 1 John 4:5, John 15:18, John 15:19, Romans 1:28-32, Romans 3:9-18, Galatians 1:4, Titus 3:3, James 4:4 in wickedness: 1 John 5:18, John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:7, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:7, Revelation 20:8 Genesis 8:21 - the imagination Isaiah 26:18 - the inhabitants Isaiah 35:7 - in the Daniel 3:7 - all the people Matthew 6:13 - deliver Matthew 7:13 - for Matthew 11:27 - neither Matthew 12:26 - his John 8:23 - ye are of Joh 17:9 - pray for John 17:11 - but John 17:14 - they John 17:25 - the world Acts 19:27 - whom Acts 26:18 - and from Romans 12:2 - be not 1 Corinthians 2:12 - not 1 Corinthians 5:10 - for 1 Corinthians 11:32 - condemned 2 Corinthians 5:14 - then Colossians 2:20 - living Titus 2:12 - this 1 John 2:2 - for the 1 John 2:3 - hereby 1 John 3:8 - He that 1 John 3:10 - is Revelation 9:11 - they had Revelation 16:14 - the whole1 John 5:19 We means those who have been begotten of God. Whole world lieth in wickedness. World means the inhabitants of the earth as it does in 1 John 2:15. The italicized words mean the same as “ all that is in the world” in 1 John 2:16, which ex­plains why the said to lie in wickedness. We know (oidamen). As in 1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 5:15; 1 John 5:19-20. He has “ye know” in 1 John 2:20; 1 John 3:5; 1 John 3:15. ——————————————————————————- Of God (ek tou theou). See 1 John 3:10; 1 John 4:6 for this idiom. ——————————————————————————- Lieth in the evil one (en tτi ponηrτi keitai). Present middle indicative of the defective verb keimai, to lie, as in Luke 2:12. Ponηrτi is masculine, like ho ponηros in 1 John 5:18. This is a terrible picture of the Graeco-Roman world of the first century A.D., which is confirmed by Paul in Romans 1, 2 and by Horace, Seneca, Juvenal, Tacitus.

1 John 5:20

1 John 5:201 John 5:20 οιδαμενG1492 [G5758] δεG1161 AND WE KNOW οτιG3754 THAT οG3588 THE υιοςG5207 τουG3588 SON θεουG2316 OF GOD ηκειG2240 [G5719] IS COME, καιG2532 AND δεδωκενG1325 [G5758] HAS GIVEN ημινG2254 US διανοιανG1271 AN ιναG2443 THAT γινωσκωμενG1097 [G5725] WE MIGHT KNOW τονG3588 HIM THAT “IS” αληθινονG228 TRUE; καιG2532 AND εσμενG2070 [G5748] WE ARE ενG1722 IN τωG3588 HIM THAT “IS” αληθινωG228 TRUE, ενG1722 IN τωG3588 υιωG5207 αυτουG846 HIS SON ιησουG2424 JESUS χριστωG5547 CHRIST. ουτοςG3778 HE εστινG2076 [G5748] IS οG3588 THE αληθινοςG228 TRUE θεοςG2316 GOD, καιG2532 ηG3588 AND ζωηG2222 LIFE αιωνιοςG166 ETERNALwe know: 1 John 5:1, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:14 and hath: Matthew 13:11, Luke 21:15, Luke 24:45, John 17:3, John 17:14, John 17:25, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 1:17-19, Ephesians 3:18, Colossians 2:2, Colossians 2:3 him that: John 14:6, John 17:3, Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:14, Revelation 6:10, Revelation 15:3, Revelation 19:11 and we: 1 John 2:6, 1 John 2:24, 1 John 4:16, John 10:30, John 14:20, John 14:23, John 15:4, John 17:20-23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 3:9 This is: 1 John 5:11-13, 1 John 1:1-3, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 45:14, Isaiah 45:15, Isaiah 45:21-25, Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 23:6, John 1:1-3, John 14:9, John 20:28, Acts 20:28, Romans 9:5, 1 Timothy 3:16, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8 Exodus 20:3 - General Exodus 20:23 - General Deuteronomy 4:35 - none else 1 Samuel 17:26 - defy 2 Chronicles 15:3 - true God Ezra 8:16 - men of understanding Psalms 9:10 - know Psalms 85:11 - Truth Psalms 100:3 - Know Psalms 119:73 - give me Psalms 119:144 - give me Proverbs 2:5 - find Proverbs 9:10 - the knowledge Isaiah 35:7 - in the Isaiah 40:9 - Behold Isaiah 43:11 - General Jeremiah 9:24 - knoweth Jeremiah 31:34 - for they Ezekiel 20:42 - ye shall Ezekiel 36:11 - and ye Ezekiel 39:22 - know Daniel 11:32 - the people Daniel 12:10 - but the wise Hosea 2:20 - and Matthew 11:27 - neither Matthew 13:19 - and understandeth Matthew 13:23 - good Matthew 13:51 - Have Matthew 16:16 - Thou Matthew 16:17 - but Matthew 19:16 - eternal Matthew 22:16 - true Mark 4:11 - Unto you Mark 9:7 - This Luke 10:22 - and no John 1:9 - the true John 1:18 - he hath John 1:34 - this John 3:15 - eternal John 4:10 - and who John 4:14 - shall be John 4:15 - give John 6:32 - the true John 6:55 - meat John 6:69 - we believe John 8:19 - Ye neither John 8:23 - ye are of Joh 9:35 - Dost John 10:6 - they understood not John 10:14 - am John 11:27 - which John 12:45 - General John 12:50 - his John 15:19 - because John 16:3 - because John 16:14 - for John 17:6 - have manifested John 18:37 - Every John 20:31 - these Acts 3:15 - Prince Acts 17:23 - To Romans 1:3 - his Son Romans 1:25 - the truth Romans 3:4 - let God Romans 3:11 - none that understandeth Romans 16:7 - were Romans 16:26 - everlasting 1 Corinthians 2:12 - that 1 Corinthians 2:14 - neither 2 Corinthians 1:18 - as 2 Corinthians 1:19 - the Son 2 Corinthians 6:16 - what 2 Corinthians 12:1 - visions Galatians 1:4 - from Galatians 2:20 - the Son Galatians 4:9 - ye have Ephesians 4:13 - the knowledge Ephesians 4:21 - as Philippians 3:8 - the excellency Colossians 1:9 - spiritual Colossians 1:10 - increasing Colossians 2:6 - received Colossians 2:9 - in Colossians 3:11 - and 2 Timothy 2:7 - and Titus 1:2 - eternal Hebrews 5:9 - eternal Hebrews 8:11 - for all Hebrews 9:11 - Christ 2 Peter 1:2 - the knowledge 1 John 2:5 - hereby 1 John 2:13 - because 1 John 2:25 - General 1 John 3:14 - We know 1 John 5:19 - we know Revelation 22:9 - See1 John 5:20 The word know is fre­quently used by inspired writers to mean a strong assurance, not that it is intended to take the place of faith. It is true that the apostle John could use the word in its technical sense concerning Christ. That is because he was with Him in person during all of his personal ministry. He also knew that Christ had given him the (inspired) understanding which he prom­ised, for just before leaving this world Jesus told his apostles he would send the Spirit upon them which would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). The true God is said in contrast with the false ones that were wor­shiped by many people. He also is the source of eternal life in that He gave his only begotten Son into the world for that purpose. Is come (hηkei). Present active indicative, but the root has a perfect sense, “has come.” See exηlthon kai hηkτ in John 8:42. ——————————————————————————– An understanding (dianoian). Here alone in John’s writings, but in Paul (Ephes. 4:18) and Peter (1 Peter 1:13). John does not use gnτsis (knowledge) and nous (mind) only in Revelation 13:18; Revelation 17:9. ——————————————————————————– That we know (hina ginτskomen). Result clause with hina and the present active indicative, as is common with hina and the future indicative (John 7:3). It is possible that here o was pronounced τ as a subjunctive, but many old MSS. have hina ginτskousin (plainly indicative) in John 17:3, and in many other places in the N.T. the present indicative with hina occurs as a variant reading as in John 5:20. ——————————————————————————– Him that is true (ton alηthinon).

That is, God. Cf. 1 John 1:8. ——————————————————————————– In him that is true (en tτi alηthinτi). In God in contrast with the world “in the evil one” (1 John 5:19). See John 17:3. ——————————————————————————– Even in his Son Jesus Christ (en tτi huiτi autou Iηsou Christτi). The autou refers clearly to en tτi alηthinτi (God). Hence this clause is not in apposition with the preceding, but an explanation as to how we are “in the True One” by being “in his Son Jesus Christ.” ——————————————————————————– This (houtos).

Grammatically houtos may refer to Jesus Christ or to “the True One.” It is a bit tautological to refer it to God, but that is probably correct, God in Christ, at any rate. God is eternal life (John 5:26) and he gives it to us through Christ.

1 John 5:21

1 John 5:211 John 5:21 τεκνιαG5040 LITTLE , φυλαξατεG5442 [G5657] KEEP εαυτουςG1438 αποG575 τωνG3588 FROM ειδωλωνG1497 IDOLS. αμηνG281 AMENLittle: 1 John 2:1 keep: Exodus 20:3, Exodus 20:4, 1 Corinthians 10:7, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Revelation 9:20, Revelation 13:14, Revelation 13:15, Revelation 14:11 Amen: Matthew 6:13 Exodus 20:23 - General Leviticus 19:4 - General Deuteronomy 4:35 - none else Deuteronomy 5:7 - General Deuteronomy 6:14 - not go Deuteronomy 11:16 - your heart Deuteronomy 13:8 - consent Joshua 6:18 - in any wise Psalms 85:11 - Truth Psalms 119:144 - give me Isaiah 40:9 - Behold Isaiah 43:11 - General Mark 10:24 - Children John 13:33 - Little Acts 1:13 - Peter Acts 15:29 - if ye Galatians 4:19 - little 2 Peter 1:2 - the knowledge 1 John 5:18 - keepeth Revelation 19:10 - I fell1 John 5:21 Little children is explained at 1 John 2:1. Even the best of dis­ciples need to be cautioned against evils that we would not ordinarily ex­pect them to commit. John tells his readers to keep themselves from idols which is one of such warnings. Paul told the brethren in Corinth to “ flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). Yourselves (heauta). Neuter plural reflexive because of teknia. The active voice phulassete with the reflexive accents the need of effort on their part. Idolatry was everywhere and the peril was great. See Acts 7:41 : 1 Thessalonians 1:9 for this word.