New Testament · Letter

1 John 5

Overcoming the World

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory — our faith. And this is the confidence: if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

King James Version BSB KJV

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1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

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

3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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

7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

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

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

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

11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

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

13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

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

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

16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

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

18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

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

20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Understand This

1 John 5, explained

What 1 John 5 is saying

John connects belief and love: everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and loving the Father means loving His children. Faith overcomes the world, and the victorious faith is specified as believing Jesus is the Son of God. The 'three witnesses'—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—testify to Christ, and God's own testimony about His Son is the ultimate ground of assurance. Eternal life is in the Son; possessing the Son means possessing life. The epistle concludes with assurance about prayer, a warning about sin 'leading to death' versus sin 'not leading to death,' and the final admonition: keep yourselves from idols.

The background behind it

The Johannine Comma (5:7-8, referencing Father, Word, and Spirit) is a well-known textual variant absent from all Greek manuscripts before the sixteenth century and almost certainly a later Trinitarian interpolation. The 'sin leading to death' has been variously interpreted as apostasy, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, or the secessionists' definitive denial of Christ.

Themes running underneath

The epistle's theology of assurance reaches its fullest expression: believers can know they have eternal life. The threefold testimony (Spirit, water, blood) has been interpreted sacramentally, historically (Jesus' baptism and crucifixion), or theologically (the Spirit's ongoing witness to both events). The abrupt concluding command about idols may address the practical reality of pagan worship in Asia Minor or function metaphorically for anything that displaces God.

Why it still matters

John's closing emphasis on confidence is pastoral: believers should pray boldly, knowing God hears them. The distinction between deadly and non-deadly sin maintains both the seriousness of apostasy and the availability of restoration for struggling believers. The final word—keep from idols—is a reminder that the heart's ultimate allegiance remains the fundamental spiritual question.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.