1 John 5

1 Whoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten by 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 For whoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even 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 is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth 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 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.

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 bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.

Indeed three testify:

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

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

9 If 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.

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 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed the testimony that God gave of 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 the testimony, that God hath given to 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 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

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

13 These things have I written to 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. (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 in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth 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 heareth us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired from him.

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

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

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: and there is a sin not to death.

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

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

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

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 hath 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. (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. Amen.

My children, guard yourselves against false ideas of God.