1 John 5

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.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and everyone who loves a parent loves his child.

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

By this we know that we love God’s children – when we love God and carry out his commands.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,

For to love God is to do what he commands and his commands are not a burden,

4 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. What is the victory by which the world is overcome? Our faith!

5 Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Who can overcome the world but the person 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.

Jesus Christ, the one who came by water and blood – not by water only but by water and blood – and the Spirit testifies to this because the Spirit is truth.

7 For there are three that testify:

Indeed three testify:

8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.

the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree.

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.

We accept human testimony, surely God’s testimony is even stronger! And God’s testimony is the testimony he 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.

The person who believes in the Son of God has that testimony within them. The person who does not believe God has made God a liar, by not believing the testimony 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. (aiōnios g166)

And this is that testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (aiōnios g166)

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever who doesn’t have God’s Son does not have life.

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. (aiōnios g166)

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

We can approach him with this confidence, that whenever we ask anything that is in accordance with his will, he listens to 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.

And if we know he hears us – whatever we ask – we know also that what we ask for is ours.

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.

If anyone sees one of our people committing some sin that is not a sin leading to death, they should ask, 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 unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

We know that those who have been born of God do not keep sinning. God protects his children and the evil one cannot get hold of them.

19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

We know that we are God’s children, though the whole world lies in 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. (aiōnios g166)

We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God – and we are in him who is true, by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

My children, guard yourselves against false ideas of God.