Overcoming the World
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.
Jesus is the Son of God
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.
Purpose and Concluding Remarks
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.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Overcoming the World
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is 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. His commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three who testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.
God’s Testimony about His Son
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.
Effective Prayer
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
The True God
18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Overcoming the World
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. a 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. 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: b 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
God’s Testimony about His Son
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.
Effective Prayer
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. c 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.
The True God
18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, d and the evil one e 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. f
Footnotes:
1 a Literally and everyone loving the One having begotten also loves the one having been begotten from Him.
7 b TR and GOC three that testify in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8And there are three that testify on earth:
13 c BYZ and TR include and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God .
18 d Or the one who was born of God protects himself or God protects the one born of Him
18 e Or evil ; similarly in verse 19
21 f BYZ and TR include Amen.
Overcoming the World
1Every one who is believing that Jesus is the Christ, of God he hath been begotten, and every one who is loving Him who did beget, doth love also him who is begotten of Him: 2in this we know that we love the children of God, when we may love God, and His commands may keep; 3for this is the love of God, that His commands we may keep, and His commands are not burdensome; 4because every one who is begotten of God doth overcome the world, and this is the victory that did overcome the world -- our faith;
5who is he who is overcoming the world, if not he who is believing that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This one is he who did come through water and blood -- Jesus the Christ, not in the water only, but in the water and the blood; and the Spirit it is that is testifying, because the Spirit is the truth, 7because three are who are testifying in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these -- the three -- are one; 8and three are who are testifying in the earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are into the one.
Jesus is the Son of God
9If the testimony of men we receive, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that He hath testified concerning His Son. 10He who is believing in the Son of God, hath the testimony in himself; he who is not believing God, a liar hath made Him, because he hath not believed in the testimony that God hath testified concerning His Son; 11and this is the testimony, that life age-during did God give to us, and this -- the life -- is in His Son; 12he who is having the Son, hath the life; he who is not having the Son of God -- the life he hath not.
Purpose and Concluding Remarks
13These things I did write to you who are believing in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that life ye have age-during, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God. 14And this is the boldness that we have toward Him, that if anything we may ask according to his will, He doth hear us, 15and if we have known that He doth hear us, whatever we may ask, we have known that we have the requests that we have requested from Him.
16If any one may see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give to him life to those sinning not unto death; there is sin to death, not concerning it do I speak that he may beseech; 17all unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death.
18We have known that every one who hath been begotten of God doth not sin, but he who was begotten of God doth keep himself, and the evil one doth not touch him; 19we have known that of God we are, and the whole world in the evil doth lie; 20and we have known that the Son of God is come, and hath given us a mind, that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ; this one is the true God and the life age-during!
21Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.
The Favor of God paraphrase
Faith in Jesus and Love for One Another
¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Testimony About the Son of God
⁶ This is the One who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three are in agreement. ⁹ We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. ¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. ¹¹ And this is the 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.
Assurance of Eternal Life
¹³ I write 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 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.
Prayer and Sin
¹⁶ If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
Concluding Affirmations
¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. ¹⁹ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ²⁰ We know also 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 by being in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. ²¹ Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Footnotes:
1.“Born of God” (verse 1) refers to spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ. This new birth brings believers into God’s family, where love for both God and others naturally flows.
2.The “water and blood” (verse 6) refer to key moments in Jesus’ life—His baptism (water) and crucifixion (blood). These two events testify to His identity as the Messiah and Savior.
3.The “three that testify” (verse 7) include the Spirit, the water, and the blood. Together, they confirm Jesus’ divine nature and mission. The Spirit represents the ongoing witness of the Holy Spirit, while the water and blood point to Jesus’ earthly ministry.
4.“Eternal life is in His Son” (verse 11) highlights that eternal life is not merely a future hope but a present reality for those who are united with Jesus. Life in Christ is an ongoing, transforming relationship with God.
5.The “sin that leads to death” (verse 16) is often interpreted as a deliberate, hardened rejection of God’s grace. John does not specify which sin this is, but it is contrasted with sins that believers may commit and repent from, which do not result in spiritual death.
6.“The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (verse 19) refers to the current state of the world, where sin and Satan have significant influence. However, believers are assured that they belong to God and are protected from ultimate harm.
7.The final command to “keep yourselves from idols” (verse 21) is a call to guard against anything that could take the place of God in a believer’s heart. In the ancient world, this referred to physical idols, but today it extends to any form of false worship or misplaced devotion.
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