Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,(A) and everyone who loves the Father[a] also loves the one born of him. This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey[b] his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,(B) because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

The Certainty of God’s Testimony

Who is the one who conquers the world(C) but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?(D) Jesus Christ—he is the one who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water(E) and by blood.(F) And the Spirit is the one who testifies,(G) because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify:[c](H) the Spirit,(I) the water, and the blood(J)—and these three are in agreement. If we accept human testimony, God’s testimony(K) is greater, because it is God’s testimony that he has given about his Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar,(L) because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life.(M) The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name(N) of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Effective Prayer

14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask(O) anything according to his will, he hears us.(P) 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask,(Q) we know that we have what we have asked of him.(R)

16 If anyone sees a fellow believer[d] committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, he should ask, and God will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t lead to death. There is sin[e] that leads to death. I am not saying he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that doesn’t lead to death.

Conclusion

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him,[f](S) and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come(T) and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one.[g] We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ.(U) He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Or loves the one who has given birth
  2. 5:2 Other mss read keep
  3. 5:7–8 A few late Gk mss and some late Vg mss add testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three who bear witness on earth:
  4. 5:16 Lit sees his brother or sister
  5. 5:16 Or is a sin
  6. 5:18 Other mss read himself
  7. 5:20 Other mss read the true God

信心使我们胜过世界

凡信耶稣是基督的,都是从 神生的,凡爱那生他的,也必爱那从他而生的。 我们若爱 神,并且遵行他的命令,就知道我们是爱 神的儿女了。 我们遵守 神的命令,就是爱他了;而且他的命令是不难遵守的, 因为凡从 神生的就胜过世界。使我们胜过世界的,就是我们的信心。 胜过世界的是谁呢?不就是那信耶稣是 神的儿子的吗?

 神为他儿子作的见证

那借着水和血来的就是耶稣基督,不是单用水,而是用水又用血;作见证的是圣灵,因为圣灵就是真理。 原来作见证的有三样, 就是圣灵、水和血,这三样是一致的。 我们若接受人的见证, 神的见证就更强而有力了,因为这是 神为他的儿子作的见证。 10 信 神的儿子的,就有这见证在他心里;不信 神的,就是把 神当作说谎的,因为他不信 神为他儿子所作的见证。 11 这见证就是 神已经把永远的生命赐给我们,这生命是在他儿子里面的。 12 凡有 神儿子的,就有生命;没有 神儿子的,就没有生命。

要照 神的旨意祈求

13 我把这些事写给你们信 神的儿子之名的人,是要你们知道自己有永生。 14 如果我们照着 神的旨意祈求,他必听我们;这就是我们对 神所存的坦然无惧的心。 15 既然我们知道他听我们的祈求,我们就知道,我们无论求甚么,他必赐给我们。

16 如果有人看见弟兄犯了不至于死的罪,他就要祈求, 神必因他的缘故,把生命赐给那些犯了不至于死的罪的人;有至于死的罪,我不说他应当为那罪祈求。 17 一切不义都是罪,但也有不至于死的罪。

18 我们知道凡从 神生的就不犯罪,而且从 神生的那一位也必保守他,连那恶者也不能碰他。 19 我们知道我们是属于 神的,而整个世界是伏在那恶者手下。 20 我们知道 神的儿子已经来了,并且赐给我们悟性,使我们能认识那位真实者。我们也在那位真实者里面,就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这一位就是真神,也是永远的生命。 21 孩子们,你们要保守自己远离偶像。

Chapter 5

Faith Is Victory over the World. [a]Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves [also] the one begotten by him.(A) In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,(B) for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.(C) Who [indeed] is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?(D)

This is the one who came through water and blood,[b] Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.(E) So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord.(F) If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son.(G) 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.(H) 11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.(I) 12 Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

IV. Epilogue[c]

Prayer for Sinners. 13 I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.(J) 14 And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(K) 15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.(L) 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

18 We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. 19 We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20 We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(M) 21 Children, be on your guard against idols.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1–5 Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 Jn 4:7–9) and for God (1 Jn 5:1–2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God’s commands (1 Jn 5:3), is the source of the Christian’s power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 Jn 5:4–5), even as Christ overcame the world (Jn 16:33).
  2. 5:6–12 Water and blood (1 Jn 5:6) refers to Christ’s baptism (Mt 3:16–17) and to the shedding of his blood on the cross (Jn 19:34). The Spirit was present at the baptism (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; Jn 1:32, 34). The testimony to Christ as the Son of God is confirmed by divine witness (1 Jn 5:7–9), greater by far than the two legally required human witnesses (Dt 17:6). To deny this is to deny God’s truth; cf. Jn 8:17–18. The gist of the divine witness or testimony is that eternal life (1 Jn 5:11–12) is given in Christ and nowhere else. To possess the Son is not acceptance of a doctrine but of a person who lives now and provides life.
  3. 5:13–21 As children of God we have confidence in prayer because of our intimate relationship with him (1 Jn 5:14–15). In love, we pray (1 Jn 5:16–17) for those who are in sin, but not in deadly sin (literally, “sin unto death”), probably referring to apostasy or activities brought on under the antichrist; cf. Mk 3:29; Hb 6:4–6; 10:26–31. Even in the latter case, however, prayer, while not enjoined, is not forbidden. The letter concludes with a summary of the themes of the letter (1 Jn 5:18–20). There is a sharp antithesis between the children of God and those belonging to the world and to the evil one. The Son reveals the God of truth; Christians dwell in the true God, in his Son, and have eternal life. The final verse (1 Jn 5:21) voices a perennial warning about idols, any type of rival to God.

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)