What is the meaning of 1 John 5?

Introduction to 1 John 5

The final chapter of 1 John serves as a powerful culmination of John’s pastoral message to his “little children” in the faith. This chapter masterfully weaves together the three main themes that have pulsed throughout the letter: authentic faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, genuine love for fellow believers, and deliberate obedience to God’s commandments. Like a skilled composer bringing together the main themes in the finale of a symphony, John demonstrates how these three elements are inseparably intertwined in the life of a true believer.

Context of 1 John 5

Within the immediate context of the epistle, chapter 5 serves as both a conclusion and a climax to John’s arguments against the false teachers who had infiltrated the early believing communities. These false teachers, likely early Gnostics, denied both the full deity and full humanity of Yeshua the Messiah. They also promoted a form of spiritual elitism that undermined the importance of love and practical holiness in the believing community.

In the broader biblical context, 1 John 5 stands as a crucial bridge between the apostolic testimony about Yeshua and the faith of subsequent generations of believers. It addresses one of the most fundamental questions in all of Scripture: How can we be certain about spiritual truth? John’s answer involves a threefold witness: the water (Yeshua’s baptism), the blood (His crucifixion), and the Spirit (the ongoing testimony of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives). This parallels the Old Testament requirement of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15) and provides a foundation for confident faith in Yeshua as the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

• Believes (πιστεύων, pisteuōn) – This present participle in Greek indicates ongoing, active faith rather than a one-time mental assent. The word carries the Hebrew concept of ’emunah’ (אמונה), which implies faithful trust and loyalty, not just intellectual agreement.
• Born (γεγέννηται, gegennētai) – Perfect tense in Greek, indicating a past action with continuing results. This mirrors the Hebrew concept of ‘yalad’ (ילד) when used metaphorically for spiritual transformation, as seen in Psalm 2:7.
• Testimony (μαρτυρία, martyria) – Carries legal connotations in both Greek and Hebrew contexts, referring to formally validated witness testimony. The word connects to the Hebrew ‘edut’ (עדות), emphasizing the legal certainty of God’s revelation.
• Overcomes (νικᾷ, nika) – Present active indicating continuous victory. The Greek word was well-known in the ancient world through the goddess Nike, but John repurposes it to describe the believer’s triumph through the Messiah.
• Eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, zōēn aiōnion) – Combines the Greek concept of qualitative life (zōē) with the Hebrew concept of ‘olam’ (עולם), referring not just to endless duration but to God’s very life nature.
• Confidence (παρρησία, parrēsia) – Originally meant freedom of speech in Greek democracy, but in biblical usage refers to bold, open access to God, reflecting the Hebrew concept of ‘qarov’ (קרוב) or drawing near to God.
• Keep (τηρέω, tēreō) – Implies watchful care and protection, not just obedience. Reflects the Hebrew ‘shamar’ (שמר), as used in Genesis 2:15 regarding Adam’s responsibility in the garden.
• Idols (εἰδώλων, eidōlōn) – While the Greek term refers to physical images, John uses it more broadly to include false concepts of God, reflecting the Hebrew ‘elilim’ (אלילים) which implies worthlessness.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 1: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” – John could have written “Everyone who follows the Christ” but chose “believes” (πιστεύων) to emphasize that genuine faith naturally produces the following. The perfect tense “is born” (γεγέννηται) was chosen over an aorist to stress the permanent nature of true spiritual birth.
• Verse 3: “This is love for God: to keep his commands” – The use of τηρέω (keep) rather than ποιέω (do) emphasizes watchful care rather than mere performance. This echoes the Hebrew distinction between ‘shamar’ and ‘asah’.
• Verse 6: “This is the one who came by water and blood” – The choice of “came” (ἐλθών) in aorist participle emphasizes the historical reality of these events against docetic claims that Christ only “appeared” to come in the flesh.
• Verse 7-8: The threefold witness pattern deliberately echoes both Deuteronomic law and creation patterns, using present participles to emphasize ongoing testimony.
• Verse 13: “I write these things to you who believe” – The present tense participle (τοῖς πιστεύουσιν) emphasizes continuous faith rather than a past moment of belief.
• Verse 18: “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin” – The present tense “does not sin” (οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει) was chosen to indicate habitual action rather than individual acts.
• Verse 21: “Keep yourselves from idols” – The reflexive pronoun emphasizes personal responsibility, while the aorist imperative (φυλάξατε) suggests decisive action.

1 John 5 Unique Insights

The chapter contains a fascinating structural parallel to the ancient Jewish concept of the three witnesses in heaven and earth, which was later expanded in some manuscripts into the Johannine Comma. While the expanded reading is not considered original, it reflects an early Christian understanding of the text’s trinitarian implications. The rabbis taught that every divine truth must be established by multiple witnesses, based on Deuteronomy 19:15.

The concept of “sin that leads to death” (verse 16) has parallels in both rabbinical and early Christian writings. The Babylonian Talmud discusses certain sins that are “unto death” (חטא למיתה), generally referring to deliberate, unrepentant rebellion against God. Early church fathers like Tertullian and Origen connected this to the unforgivable sin mentioned in the Gospels.

John’s emphasis on “eternal life” takes on deeper meaning when viewed through the lens of ancient Jewish apocalyptic literature. The Dead Sea Scrolls speak of “eternal life” not merely as endless existence but as participation in the divine nature, similar to John’s usage. This connects to the Jewish concept of ‘devekut’ (דבקות) or cleaving to God.

1 John 5 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter presents some of the strongest affirmations of Yeshua’s deity in the New Testament. The declaration that “Jesus is the Christ” is not merely identifying Him as Messiah but asserting His divine nature, as evidenced by the parallel statement that He is “the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

The three witnesses of water, blood, and Spirit point to key moments in Yeshua’s redemptive work: His baptism (where the Father declared Him Son), His crucifixion (where He completed atonement), and Pentecost (where He sent the Spirit). This threefold testimony establishes both His humanity and deity, countering the false teachers who denied either aspect of His nature.

1 John 5 Scriptural Echoes

The chapter resonates with several key Old Testament themes:

• The concept of divine testimony echoes Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15, where multiple witnesses were required for legal testimony.
• The emphasis on being “born of God” recalls Psalm 2:7 and its messianic implications.
• The warning against idols connects to numerous Old Testament passages, particularly Exodus 20:3-6 and Isaiah 44:9-20.
• The concept of eternal life reflects Daniel 12:2 and its promise of everlasting life.

1 John 5 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith through three lenses: our belief in Yeshua as the divine Messiah, our love for fellow believers, and our obedience to God’s commands. These are not three separate tests but different aspects of the same reality – genuine spiritual life in Christ.

Consider your own faith: Does it express itself in love for others? Does your belief in Yeshua lead to transformation in how you live? The chapter reminds us that true faith is not burdensome but liberating, enabling us to overcome the world’s systems and values through our trust in God.

Take time to reflect on the certainty John emphasizes. In a world of relative truths, we can have confidence in our faith because it rests not on human wisdom but on God’s testimony. This should lead us to bold prayer and confident living, knowing we have eternal life in Yeshua.

Did You Know

• The phrase “born of God” appears more times in 1 John than in any other New Testament book, emphasizing the theme of spiritual regeneration.
• The “sin unto death” mentioned in verse 16 was interpreted by many early church fathers as referring to apostasy or deliberate rejection of Christ after knowing Him.
• The water and blood testimony may reference the water and blood that flowed from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion (John 19:34).
• Ancient Roman courts required a minimum of three witnesses for a valid testimony, making John’s threefold witness particularly meaningful to his Gentile readers.
• The term “overcome” (νικάω) appears 24 times in the New Testament, with John using it more than any other writer.
• The warning against idols at the end of the letter would have particular significance in Ephesus, where John likely wrote this letter, as it was a center of idol worship.
• The phrase “we know” occurs seven times in this chapter alone, emphasizing the theme of Christian certainty.
• The combination of “water and blood” had special significance in Jewish purification rituals, adding depth to John’s use of these symbols.
• The structure of the three witnesses (Spirit, water, and blood) follows the pattern of Hebrew legal requirements for testimony.