胜过世界的人

每一个信耶稣是基督的人,都是从上帝生的。凡爱生他之上帝的,也爱上帝所生的。 当我们爱上帝,遵行祂的命令时,便知道自己也爱祂的儿女。 因为我们遵行上帝的命令就是爱上帝,祂的命令并不难遵守。 因为凡是从上帝生的人都能胜过世界,使我们得胜的是我们的信心。 谁能胜过世界呢?不就是那些信耶稣是上帝的儿子的人吗?

上帝的见证

耶稣基督是借着水和血来的。祂不单是借着水来的,也是借着水和血来的,并且有圣灵为祂做见证,圣灵就是真理。 这样,做见证的共有三样: 圣灵、水和血。这三者是一致的。 我们既然接受人的见证,就更该接受上帝的见证,因为上帝为祂的儿子做了见证。 10 信上帝儿子的人心里有这见证,不信上帝的人等于把上帝当作撒谎的,因为他不信上帝为祂儿子做的见证。 11 这见证就是:上帝已经把永恒的生命赐给我们,这生命在祂儿子里面。 12 人有上帝的儿子,就有这生命;没有上帝的儿子,就没有这生命。

永恒的生命

13 我把这些事写给你们这些信上帝儿子之名的人,是要你们知道自己有永生。 14 我们若按着上帝的旨意祈求,祂必垂听,这是我们对上帝的信心。 15 我们既然知道上帝垂听我们一切的祈求,就知道我们能得到所求的。

16 若有人看见信徒犯了不至于死的罪,就当为他祷告,上帝必将生命赐给他。有的罪会导致死亡,我并不是说你们要为这样的罪祷告。 17 一切不义的事都是罪,但有的罪不会导致死亡。

18 我们知道从上帝生的不会继续犯罪,因为上帝的儿子保护他,那恶者无法害他。 19 我们知道自己属于上帝,全世界都在那恶者手中。

20 我们知道上帝的儿子已经来了,并且赐给了我们悟性,使我们能认识真神。我们在真神里面,就是在祂儿子耶稣基督里面。祂是真神,也是永生。

21 孩子们啊,你们要远离偶像!

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(A) that Jesus is the Christ(B) is born of God,(C) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(D) This is how we know(E) that we love the children of God:(F) by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(G) And his commands are not burdensome,(H) for everyone born of God(I) overcomes(J) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(K)

This is the one who came by water and blood(L)—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.(M) For there are three(N) that testify: the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony,(O) but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,(P) which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.(Q) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,(R) 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,(S) and this life is in his Son.(T) 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.(U)

Concluding Affirmations

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God(V) so that you may know that you have eternal life.(W) 14 This is the confidence(X) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(Y) 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know(Z) that we have what we asked of him.(AA)

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.(AB) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.(AC) I am not saying that you should pray about that.(AD) 17 All wrongdoing is sin,(AE) and there is sin that does not lead to death.(AF)

18 We know that anyone born of God(AG) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one(AH) cannot harm them.(AI) 19 We know that we are children of God,(AJ) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.(AK) 20 We know also that the Son of God has come(AL) and has given us understanding,(AM) so that we may know him who is true.(AN) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(AO)

21 Dear children,(AP) keep yourselves from idols.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)

Obedience by Faith

Whoever believes that (A)Jesus is the Christ is (B)born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and (C)keep His commandments. (D)For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And (E)His commandments are not burdensome. For (F)whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that (G)has overcome the world—[a]our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but (H)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Certainty of God’s Witness

This is He who came (I)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. (J)And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness [b]in heaven: the Father, (K)the Word, and the Holy Spirit; (L)and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: (M)the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

If we receive (N)the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; (O)for this is the witness of [c]God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God (P)has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God (Q)has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 (R)He who has the Son has [d]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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, [e]and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that (S)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 the petitions that we have asked of Him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and (T)He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. (U)There is sin leading to death. (V)I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 (W)All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Knowing the True—Rejecting the False

18 We know that (X)whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God (Y)keeps[f] [g]himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are of God, and (Z)the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

20 And we know that the (AA)Son of God has come and (AB)has given us an understanding, (AC)that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (AD)This is the true God (AE)and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:4 M your
  2. 1 John 5:7 NU, M omit the words from in heaven (v. 7) through on earth (v. 8). Only 4 or 5 very late mss. contain these words in Greek.
  3. 1 John 5:9 NU God, that
  4. 1 John 5:12 Or the life
  5. 1 John 5:13 NU omits the rest of v. 13.
  6. 1 John 5:18 guards
  7. 1 John 5:18 NU him

Overcoming the World

(A)Everyone who believes that (B)Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and (C)everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (D)By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For (E)this is the love of God, that we (F)keep his commandments. And (G)his commandments are not burdensome. For (H)everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—(I)our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes (J)that Jesus is the Son of God?

Testimony Concerning the Son of God

This is he who came (K)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And (L)the Spirit is the one who testifies, because (M)the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. (N)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God (O)that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God (P)has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God (Q)has made him a liar, (R)because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us (S)eternal life, and (T)this life is in his Son. 12 (U)Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

That You May Know

13 I write (V)these things to you who (W)believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is (X)the confidence that we have toward him, that (Y)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 have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and (Z)God[a] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. (AA)There is sin that leads to death; (AB)I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 (AC)All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that (AD)everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but (AE)he who was born of God (AF)protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and (AG)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and (AH)has given us understanding, so that we may know (AI)him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and (AJ)eternal life. 21 Little children, (AK)keep yourselves from idols.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:16 Greek he