Faith in the Son of God: Overcoming and Eternal Life
1 John 5:1-12
1John.5.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πιστευων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- γεγεννηται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγαπων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- γεννησαντα: VERB,aor,act,part,acc,sg,m
- αγαπα: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- γεγεννημενον: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,sg,m
- εξ: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 1:12-13 (verbal): Belief in Jesus results in becoming children of God / being born of God—the same causal connection between faith in Jesus as Messiah and divine birth found in 1 John 5:1.
- John 3:3-8 (allusion): Jesus' teaching about being 'born again' or 'born of the Spirit' echoes the Johannine concept of being 'born of God' present in 1 John 5:1.
- 1 John 4:7-8 (thematic): Links love of God with love for others; 1 John 5:1 similarly ties believing in Christ and loving the Father with loving those born of God.
- 1 John 3:9 (structural): Also uses the phrase 'born of God' to describe moral transformation (inability to practice sin), complementing 1 John 5:1's identification of those born of God by faith.
- Romans 8:14-17 (thematic): Describes believers as children of God led by the Spirit and sharing filial relationship with the Father—paralleling 1 John 5:1's emphasis on divine sonship resulting from faith.
Alternative generated candidates
- Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the child born of him.
- Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
1John.5.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- γινωσκομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- αγαπωμεν: VERB,pres,act,sub,1,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οταν: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αγαπωμεν: VERB,pres,act,sub,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εντολας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ποιωμεν·: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
Parallels
- John 14:15 (verbal): Jesus: 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments' — directly parallels the link between loving God and obeying his commands.
- John 14:21 (verbal): 'Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me' — restates the same equation of love and keeping commandments.
- 1 John 5:3 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same letter: 'For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments' — explicates the same point.
- 1 John 4:20–21 (thematic): Argues that professing love for God while hating a brother is impossible; loving God's children (brothers) is evidence of loving God.
- 2 John 1:6 (verbal): 'And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments' — a succinct restatement equating love with obedience found in the Johannine letters.
Alternative generated candidates
- By this we know that we love God's children: when we love God and keep his commandments.
- By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments.
1John.5.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αγαπη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εντολας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τηρωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- εντολαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- βαρειαι: ADJ,nom,pl,f
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- 1 John 2:3-6 (structural): Internal Johannine parallel: knowledge of God is demonstrated by keeping his commandments — obedience as the mark of love/knowing God.
- John 14:15 (verbal): Direct saying of Jesus: 'If you love me, keep my commandments' — links love for God with obedience.
- John 15:10 (verbal): Jesus: keeping his commandments results in abiding in his love — echoes the connection between love and non‑burdensome obedience.
- Romans 13:8-10 (thematic): Paul: love fulfills the law and thus summarizes the commandments — relates love to obedience and the moral ease/necessity of the law.
- Matthew 22:37-40 (thematic): Jesus' summary of the law in the commandments to love God and neighbor — frames obedience to God's commands as rooted in love.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome.
- For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome.
1John.5.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γεγεννημενον: VERB,perf,pass,ptc,nom,sg,n
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- νικα: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κοσμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- νικη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- νικησασα: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,f
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κοσμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πιστις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ημων·: PRON,gen,pl
Parallels
- John 16:33 (verbal): Jesus says 'I have overcome the world' (ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θλῖψιν ἔχετε... ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ θάλετε) — same language of victory over the world that 1 John attributes to those born of God.
- Romans 8:37 (thematic): Paul's 'more than conquerors' (ὑπερνικάομεν διὰ τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς) parallels the motif of believers' victory over hostile cosmic powers/world.
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 (verbal): Thanks to God 'who gives us the victory' (τὴν νίκην δίδωσιν ἡμῖν) echoes 1 John’s proclamation that faith is the victory which overcomes the world.
- Revelation 2:7 (thematic): The letters to the churches repeatedly promise rewards to 'the one who conquers' (ὁ νικῶν), reflecting the NT motif that faithful believers overcome the world or its trials.
- 1 John 5:5 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same epistle: 5:5 restates 5:4's claim in explicit faith terms ('Who is it that overcomes the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?').
Alternative generated candidates
- For everyone born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith.
- For everyone born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith.
1John.5.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- δε: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- νικων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κοσμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πιστευων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 5:4 (verbal): Direct immediate parallel: identifies faith as the victory that overcomes the world—closely echoes the language and idea that belief in Jesus constitutes overcoming.
- John 20:31 (verbal): John’s stated purpose for his Gospel is to lead readers to 'believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,' which matches the confession of Jesus’ identity cited as decisive in 1 John 5:5.
- John 16:33 (thematic): Jesus’ declaration 'I have overcome the world' frames the New Testament theme of victory over the world, linked in John and 1 John to faith in Christ as the basis for overcoming.
- Romans 8:37 (thematic): Paul’s claim that believers are 'more than conquerors' through Christ parallels 1 John’s motif that believers (those who trust Jesus) overcome the world.
- Acts 16:31 (thematic): The call to 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved' connects belief in Jesus’ identity with deliverance/victory—echoing 1 John’s link between faith that Jesus is God’s Son and overcoming the world.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
- Who is it that overcomes the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1John.5.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουτος: DEM,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ελθων: PART,aor,act,nom,sg,m
- δι᾽υδατος: PREP
- και: CONJ
- αιματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Χριστος·ουκ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- υδατι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- μονον: ADV
- αλλ᾽εν: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- υδατι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αιματι·και: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μαρτυρουν: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,n
- οτι: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αληθεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- John 19:34 (verbal): John records that when Jesus was pierced, “blood and water” flowed from his side; this is the likely historical image behind 1 John’s language that Jesus came by water and blood.
- John 3:5 (verbal): Jesus says one must be born of “water and the Spirit”; this verbal pairing of water and Spirit echoes 1 John’s coupling of water and blood and its linking of water with the Spirit’s testimony.
- John 15:26 (thematic): Jesus promises the Spirit of truth who “will testify” about him; 1 John 5:6 likewise assigns to the Spirit the role of witness and identifies the Spirit with truth.
- 1 John 5:8 (structural): The immediately following verse in the same letter names the three witnesses—Spirit, water, and blood—providing the fuller rhetorical and theological context for v.6’s claim.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): Paul’s statement that “the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit” parallels 1 John’s emphasis on the Spirit as the inward/highest witness to Jesus and truth.
Alternative generated candidates
- It is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is truth.
- This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
1John.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαρτυρουντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 19:15 (thematic): The Mosaic law requiring two or three witnesses to establish a matter provides the Old Testament background for the Johannine appeal to multiple witnesses.
- Matthew 18:16 (verbal): Jesus cites the requirement that a charge be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses—an explicit New Testament reflection of the same legal/confirmatory principle.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 (quotation): Paul explicitly cites the Deuteronomic rule that ‘every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses,’ showing early Christian use of the witness motif.
- John 5:31-37 (thematic): Jesus enumerates multiple witnesses (John the Baptist, his works, the Father, Scripture) to his identity—paralleling the Johannine emphasis on corroborating testimony.
Alternative generated candidates
- For there are three that testify:
- For there are three that testify:
1John.5.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- υδωρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αιμα: NOUN,nom,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τρεις: NUM,acc,pl,f
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- John 19:34 (verbal): When Jesus was pierced on the cross blood and water flowed from his side — the concrete image behind 1 John’s pairing of “water and blood.”
- John 3:5 (verbal): Jesus says one must be ‘born of water and the Spirit,’ linking water and Spirit as markers of new life, which echoes 1 John’s trio (water, blood, Spirit).
- Matthew 3:16 (thematic): At Jesus’ baptism water and the Spirit appear together, associating water and Spirit in the public inauguration of Jesus’ ministry — background for 1 John’s witness motif.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): ‘The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit’ parallels 1 John’s claim that the Spirit bears witness, emphasizing the Spirit’s testimonial role.
- 1 John 5:6 (structural): Immediate context: v.6 identifies ‘he that came by water and blood’ and links water, blood, and the Spirit as witnesses; v.8 echoes and summarizes that argument.
Alternative generated candidates
- the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
- the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
1John.5.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- μαρτυριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- λαμβανομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μαρτυρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μειζων: ADJ,comp,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μαρτυρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- μεμαρτυρηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- περι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 5:31-37 (thematic): Jesus contrasts human testimony with the Father's witness, insisting that the Father's testimony about the Son is authoritative—directly parallels 1 John’s claim that God's testimony about his Son is greater than human testimony.
- John 8:18 (verbal): Jesus: 'I am one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me' — a close verbal/thematic parallel about divine versus human testimony concerning the Son.
- Romans 3:4 (verbal): Paul’s maxim 'Let God be true though every man be a liar' echoes the idea that God's testimony overrides human testimony and is decisive for truth about God’s revelation.
- Deuteronomy 19:15 (structural): OT legal principle about the role and weight of testimony ('by the mouth of two or three witnesses') supplies background for NT discussions about what counts as valid testimony and who may legitimately witness.
- 1 John 5:11-12 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same letter: the 'testimony of God' is spelled out—God has given us eternal life in his Son—making explicit what the divine testimony affirms.
Alternative generated candidates
- If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that he has borne witness concerning his Son.
- If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that he has borne witness concerning his Son.
1John.5.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πιστευων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- μαρτυριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- αυτω·ο: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μη: PART
- πιστευων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ψευστην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πεποιηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- πεπιστευκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- μαρτυριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- μεμαρτυρηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- περι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 5:9 (structural): Immediate context: contrasts human testimony with God’s greater testimony about his Son, preparing the claim that unbelief makes one a liar.
- John 3:33 (verbal): Speaks of receiving testimony and affirming God’s truth—parallels the idea of accepting or rejecting God’s testimony about the Son.
- Romans 3:4 (allusion): Declares ‘let God be true and every man a liar,’ echoing the charge that not believing God amounts to calling him a liar.
- John 8:18 (thematic): Jesus and the Father bear witness about the Son—parallels the claim that God has borne testimony concerning his Son.
- 1 John 4:2–3 (thematic): Gives a criterion for recognizing God’s Spirit/testimony about Jesus (confession of the Son), related to accepting God’s witness about the Son.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.
- Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony within himself; whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.
1John.5.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μαρτυρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αιωνιον: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- και: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ζωη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- υιω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 3:16 (thematic): Both passages link God’s gift to believers with eternal life—God’s giving (of the Son in John; of life in 1 John) as the basis for eternal life.
- John 6:47 (verbal): Jesus’ declaration that ‘whoever believes has eternal life’ echoes 1 John’s assertion that eternal life is granted and located in the Son.
- John 10:28 (thematic): Jesus’ promise ‘I give them eternal life’ parallels 1 John’s claim that God has given eternal life, now found in his Son.
- Romans 6:23 (verbal): Paul states that the gift of God is eternal life ‘in Christ Jesus our Lord,’ closely matching 1 John’s language of eternal life being given by God and existing in the Son.
- 1 John 5:20 (structural): Immediately related verse within the same letter: it identifies the Son as the true God and eternal life, directly restating and expanding the claim of 5:11.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1John.5.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ζωην·ο: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μη: PART
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 5:11 (structural): Immediate context: the preceding verse states the testimony that God gave us eternal life and that this life is in his Son, which 5:12 restates in terms of possession of the Son equating to possession of life.
- John 3:36 (verbal): Explicitly links possession/faith in the Son with having eternal life and contrasts not having the Son/faith with not having life—close verbal and theological parallel.
- John 5:24 (verbal): Jesus declares that whoever hears and believes has eternal life and has passed from death to life, echoing the notion of present possession of life through relation to the Son.
- John 6:47 (verbal): Concise Johannine statement that 'whoever believes has eternal life,' paralleling 1 John’s claim that having the Son = having life through faith.
- Romans 6:23 (thematic): Contrasts death as the wage of sin with eternal life as God's gift in Christ Jesus, underscoring the theme that true life is found only in Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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 does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and everyone who loves the Father loves the child born of him.
By this we know that we love God's children: when we love God and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome.
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And the victory that overcomes the world is our faith.
Who is it who overcomes the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.
For there are three who bear witness,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that he has borne witness concerning his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.