THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF
JOHN

1 John 5

1He that loveth God loveth God's children, and keepeth his commandments. 4A true faith will enable us to overcome the world. 6The witnesses of our faith. 11God hath given to believers eternal life through his Son: 14and will hear and grant their petitions made according to his will. 18God's children are distinguished from the world by abstaining from sin, and by a right knowledge. 21A caution against idolatry.


1WHOSOEVERa1believeth that Jesus is 2the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth 3him that begat loveth 4him also that is begotten of him.

a John 1:12.

1 Namely, with such a faith, as is accompanied with all that which belongs to a true faith, see 1 John 4:2.

2 That is, the true and promised Messiah. See John 20:31.

3 That is, the Father.

4 That is, His children; seeing it is so among men, the apostle shows thereby that, if a person loves God, he must also love all the children of God, who are born of Him.

2By this we know that we love the children of God, 5when we love God, and keep his commandments.

5 For, from the love of God, as the origin and fountain, the love of our neighbor must spring and proceed.

3Forb6this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: andc his commandments are 7not grievous.

b John 14:15; 15:10.

6 That is, hereby we show that we truly love God.

c Mat. 11:29, 30.

7 That is, grievous, troublesome; which is not here said to show that we can here perfectly keep these commandments. See 1 John 1:8; 2:1, but in respect of the regenerate, in whose heart the Holy Spirit so inscribes the commandments of God, that at the same time He stirs up a desire in them to do the same willingly, Rom. 7:22, and that which anyone does willingly, that is not difficult or troublesome to him. See Mat. 11:30.

4For whatsoever is born of God 8overcometh the world: andd this is 9the victory that overcometh the world, even 10our faith.

8 That is, in the spiritual conflict between the Spirit of regeneration and worldly lusts and allurements, whereby we are tempted to turn away from the faith, and the transgression of the commands of God, it keeps the upper hand.

d John 16:33.

9 That is, the cause of our victory, because it embraces Christ through Whom we are able to do all things. Philip. 4:13.

10 Namely, which is accompanied with all that is requisite unto a true faith; for, such a faith cannot exist without the keeping of the commandments of love unto God and the neighbor.

5Whoe is he that overcometh the world, butf he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

e 1 Cor. 15:57.

f 1 John 4:15.

6This is he that came 11by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; 12not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is 13the Spirit that beareth witness, because 14the Spirit is truth.

11 The apostle here has respect to the water and blood which flowed out of the pierced side of Christ, of which John only makes mention, John 19:34, 35, and relates the same again here to show that there is a mystery in it, namely, that from Him flows the water of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are cleansed and regenerated, and that by shedding of His blood on the cross is procured for us reconciliation with God and the forgiveness of our sins. Thereby is fulfilled what was represented by the ceremonies of the Old Testament, which consisted mostly in purifications by water, and shedding the blood of animals which were sacrificed, so that this is the sense: seeing Christ, having come, has actually fulfilled all that which was represented by the ceremonies of the Old Testament, that therefore this is a clear proof, that He is the true Messiah.

12 That is, He has come not only to bring about the benefit of regeneration or of the cleansing of our corrupt nature, but together also the benefit of justification or reconciliation with God, by His Spirit and blood; which two benefits are not separated the one from the other.

13 That is, the Holy Spirit witnesses in the hearts of believers. 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13.

14 That is, the doctrine of the Gospel, that Jesus is the Christ, which doctrine is called Spirit, 2 Cor. 3:6. See the annotations at 2 Cor. 3 on verse 6..

715For there are 16three that bear record 17in heaven, the Father, 18the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and 19these three are 20one.

15 This verse, seeing it contains a very clear testimony of the Holy Trinity, seems to have been left out of some copies by the Arians, but is found in almost all Greek copies, and even by many ancient and worthy teachers also, who lived before the times of the Arians, brought out of them for proof of the Holy Trinity; and the opposition of the witnesses upon earth, verse 8, shows clearly that this verse must be there, as also appears by the 9th verse, where is spoken of this testimony of God.

16 Namely, Persons, and distinct Witnesses.

17 That is, give from heaven an heavenly and Divine testimony hereof, of which may not be doubted. See Mat. 3:16, 17; 17:5; John 3:31; Acts 2:1, etc.

18 That is, the Son of God. See John 1:1.

19 Namely, Persons. See Mat. 3:16, 17; 28:19.

20 Namely, of Essence and nature, Which all Three testify equally and together of this thing. This is a very clear proof and testimony of the Trinity of Persons in the unity of the Divine Essence. See John 10:30.

8And there are 21three that bear witness in earth, 22the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree 23in one.

21 That is, there are also three witnesses on earth, which testify the same.

22 That is, the Spirit of adoption unto children, Who is given to believers in the congregation here upon earth, and the water of regeneration, by which the faithful are assured of their fellowship with the Father and the Son, and the blood of the New Testament, whereby they obtain forgiveness of their sins, and reconciliation with God. Others by the Spirit understand the doctrine of the Gospel, and by the water, the sacrament of Baptism, and by the blood the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, by which three means the faithful in the church here on earth are assured, as by three firm witnesses, of the forgiveness of their sins by Christ, and of eternal life. See also the annotations on verse 6.

23 That is, have respect unto all one thing, and give thereof one kind of testimony, namely, that Jesus is the Savior and the Son of God, verse 5.

9Ifg we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is 24greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified 25of his Son.

g John 5:37.

24 That is, more credible, and therefore must also be more firmly embraced.

25 Namely, of Jesus Christ, that He is the true and only Savior.

10Heh that believeth on the Son of God 26hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God 27hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

h John 3:36; Rom. 8:16; Gal. 4:6.

26 That is, by the Holy Spirit, Who wrought faith in him, convinced and assured hereof in his heart. John 3:33.

27 See 1 John 1:10.

11And this is 28the record, that God hath given 29to us eternal life, andi this life 30is in his Son.

28 Namely, whereof I speak.

29 Namely, who truly believe in Christ, John 3:36.

i John 1:4.

30 Namely, as in a fountain, out of Whose fullness we receive it, John 1:16; for, the Son has merited life for us, has the power to give us the same, and gives it also to all who believe in Him. See John 6:47, 48, 51; 17:2.

12He that 31hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

31 That is, has received Him by true faith, John 1:12, who has the beginnings of eternal life already in this life, and has a certain hope that he shall also perfectly possess the same hereafter. See John 5:24; 8:51.

13Thesej 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 32may believe on the name of the Son of God.

j John 20:31.

32 That is, may increase in faith more and more, and persevere therein.

14And this is 33the confidence that we have 34in him, that, ifk we ask any thing according to his will, he 35heareth us:

33 That is, bold confidence; as Heb. 4:16; 1 John 2:28; 3:21.

34 Namely, God, as he speaks in 1 John 3:21.

k Jer. 29:12; Mat. 7:8; 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 14:13; 15:7; 16:24; James 1:5; 1 John 3:22.

35 Or, answereth.

15And if we know that he hear us, 36whatsoever we ask, we know that we 37have 38the petitions that we desired of him.

36 Namely, according to His will, as verse 14.

37 Or, obtain, that is, shall certainly have.

38 That is, for the things which we pray.

16If any man see 39his brother sin 40a sin which is not unto death, he 41shall ask, and 42he shall give him 43life for them that sin not unto death. Therel is 44a sin unto death: I do not say 45that he shall pray for it.

39 That is, his fellow Christian.

40 That is, a sin whereupon eternal death does not certainly follow, that is, which is not unpardonable.

41 Namely, for his brother, that God will forgive him that sin.

42 Namely, God shall forgive him his sins, and so give him life. Or, he, namely, who prays unto God for the sin of his brother, shall by his prayer bring the same to pass with God. See 1 Tim. 4:16; James 5:20.

43 That is, deliver him from death, which he had deserved by his sin.

l Num. 15:30; 1 Sam. 2:25; Mat. 12:31; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10; Heb. 6:4; 10:26; 2 Peter 2:20.

44 That is, which certainly brings death with it, which is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, when anyone denies the truth of the christian doctrine, whereby he was enlightened and convinced by the Holy Spirit, and maliciously blasphemes and persecutes the same. See Mat. 12:31, and the annotations at Mat. 12 on verse 31.

45 Namely, forasmuch as God will not forgive such sinners this sin, but gives them up to their impenitence, even to the end, by reason that they reject and withstand the means unto repentance, which is Christ’s sacrifice, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

17Allm unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin 46not unto death.

m 1 John 3:4.

46 This is not to be understood that there is any sin so trivial, that it does not deserve death, how small so ever this may be; for, this is contrary to Deut. 27:26; James 2:10; but that it does not necessarily bring death with it, but may be forgiven, if the sinner shows a sincere grief and sorrow for it.

18Wen know that whosoever is born of God 47sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God 48keepeth himself, and that 49wicked one 50toucheth him not.

n 1 John 3:9.

47 Namely, unto death; nor in the manner that sin has dominion over him. See 1 John 3:9.

48 Namely, that he does not lapse into this sin.

49 That is, the devil, who seeks to bring him to this sin, Mat. 6:13.

50 Or, catcheth him not, that is, has no hold on him to draw him into this sin.

19And we know that 51we are of God, and 52the whole world lieth 53in wickedness.

51 Namely, who believe in Christ.

52 That is, all other men, who are not regenerate nor do believe.

53 That is, in sin and under the power of the devil.

20And we know that the Son of God is come, ando hath given us 54an understanding, that we may know him 55that is true, and 56we are in him that is true, 57even in his Son Jesus Christ. 58Thisp is the true God, and 59eternal life.

o Luke 24:45.

54 That is, the right and saving knowledge of the true God, in which consists eternal life, John 17:3. Or, given us understanding, that we may know the true one.

55 That is, the true and living God, the Father of our Savior Jesus Christ.

56 That is, we have communion with Him by faith, 1 John 1:3.

57 Others insert here the word and, as in 1 John 1:3, and by this true One understand the Father also, as in the foregoing.

58 Namely, Jesus Christ. See John 17:3.

p Isa. 9:6; 44:6; 54:5; John 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:16.

59 That is, the Author, the One Who has merited and Giver of eternal life, John 1:4; 10:28; 14:6.

21Little children, 60keep yourselves 61from idols. Amen.

60 That is, take heed and be careful that you defile not yourselves with any idolatry.

61 That is, false gods, or, images which are misused unto idolatry, that you do not yield to this any honor or worship, seeing it can by no means exist with the christian religion and true worship of God.