Assurance of Eternal Life and Warnings Against Sin
1 John 5:13-21
1John.5.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ταυτα: PRON,nom,pl,n
- εγραψα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- ινα: CONJ
- ειδητε: VERB,aor,act,sub,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- αιωνιον: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πιστευουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ονομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 20:31 (structural): A purpose statement: the Gospel is written so readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ and by believing have life in his name—parallels 1 John’s explicit intent to assure readers of eternal life.
- John 6:47 (verbal): Jesus declares, 'Whoever believes has eternal life'—a direct verbal and theological parallel linking faith in the Son with possession of eternal life.
- John 3:16 (thematic): Affirms the same theme: whoever believes in the Son receives eternal life; both verses connect belief in Christ with salvation and life.
- 1 John 5:11-12 (verbal): Immediate Johannine parallel within the same letter: 'God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son' / 'whoever has the Son has life'—same claim repeated and developed.
- Romans 6:23 (thematic): Presents eternal life as the gift of God in Christ Jesus; thematically complements 1 John’s assurance that believers possess eternal life through the Son.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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, and so that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
- 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.
1John.5.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- παρρησια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- προς: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- αιτωμεθα: VERB,pres,mid/pass,subj,1,pl
- κατα: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- θελημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ακουει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- John 14:13-14 (verbal): Jesus promises that prayers made in his name will be granted—close verbal and theological parallel to asking 'according to his will' and being heard.
- John 15:7 (thematic): Conditional promise: if believers remain in Christ and his words remain in them, whatever they ask will be done—parallels the covenantal/relational basis for effective prayer.
- 1 John 3:22 (verbal): Same Johannine circle language linking answered prayer to obedience ('because we keep his commandments'), echoing the qualification 'according to his will.'
- 1 John 5:15 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: affirms that knowing God hears us gives assurance that we have what we asked—directly tied to the confidence asserted in 5:14.
- James 4:3 (thematic): Contrasts improper praying motives with prayer that conforms to God's will—explains why some requests are not granted and underscores the importance of asking 'according to his will.'
Alternative generated candidates
- And this is the confidence we have toward him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
- And this is the confidence we have toward him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1John.5.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ακουει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- αιτωμεθα: VERB,pres,mid/pass,subj,1,pl
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- αιτηματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ητηκαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- απ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,3,m
Parallels
- John 14:13-14 (verbal): Jesus promises that whatever is asked in his name he will do, paralleling assurance that God hears and grants requests.
- John 15:7 (verbal): Jesus: if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done—same confidence in prayer and reception.
- John 16:23-24 (verbal): Jesus teaches that asking the Father in his name will result in receiving, echoing assurance of answered prayer.
- 1 John 3:21-22 (verbal): Close Johannine parallel: confidence before God and the promise that if we ask according to his will he hears us and grants our requests.
- Matthew 7:7-11 (thematic): Broader Synoptic theme: persistent asking/knocking and God’s readiness to give good gifts to those who ask.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have made of him.
- And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we possess the requests we have asked from him.
1John.5.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ιδη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- αμαρτανοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,m
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μη: PART
- προς: PREP
- θανατον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αιτησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- δωσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αμαρτανουσιν: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,pl,m
- μη: PART
- προς: PREP
- θανατον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αμαρτια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- προς: PREP
- θανατον·ου: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- περι: PREP
- εκεινης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- ερωτηση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 5:17-18 (structural): Immediate literary continuation clarifies that there is a distinction between sins that do and do not lead to death and affirms God's protection for those born of God.
- James 5:16 (verbal): Calls believers to pray for one another with confession for healing/forgiveness—parallels the injunction to intercede for a brother committing a non‑fatal sin so that he may live.
- 1 John 2:1-2 (thematic): Offers the related assurance of an advocate (Jesus) and atoning sacrifice for sin, supporting the idea of intercession and divine provision for sinners who repent.
- Matthew 12:31-32 (thematic): Jesus' teaching on the unforgivable sin (blasphemy against the Spirit) parallels 1 John’s distinction of a sin ‘leading to death’ that ought not be the object of intercessory prayer.
- Mark 3:28-29 (thematic): Parallel Gospel account of the unforgivable sin; provides the Synoptic background for understanding Johannine reference to a sin that leads to death.
Alternative generated candidates
- If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and God will give him life—for sins not leading to death there is forgiveness. There is a sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
- If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and God will give him life—for those who sin not unto death. There is sin unto death; for that I do not say that one should ask.
1John.5.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πασα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- αδικια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αμαρτια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αμαρτια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
- προς: PREP
- θανατον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 5:16 (structural): Immediate context—mentions 'sin that leads to death' versus 'sin not unto death', forming the contrast Paul/author develops here.
- 1 John 1:8-10 (verbal): Discusses the reality of sin and the need to confess it; shares vocabulary and the pastoral concern about acknowledging sin.
- 1 John 3:4-9 (thematic): Treats the nature of sin, lawlessness, and the contrast between those who 'practice sin' and those 'born of God' who do not continue in sin—related ethical consequence language.
- Romans 6:23 (thematic): Links sin with death ('wages of sin is death'), paralleling the Johannine concept of a sin that is 'unto death' and consequences of sin.
- Matthew 12:31-32 (allusion): Speaks of an unforgivable/blasphemous sin against the Spirit—commonly compared with Johannine 'sin unto death' as a category of particularly serious sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- All wrongdoing is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
- All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin not unto death.
1John.5.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- γεγεννημενος: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουχ: PART,neg
- αμαρτανει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αλλ᾽ο: CONJ
- γεννηθεις: PART,aor,pass,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τηρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πονηρος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ουχ: PART,neg
- απτεται: VERB,pres,mp,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 3:9 (verbal): Directly parallels the claim that 'no one born of God sins' and explains that the divine seed in believers prevents habitual sinning.
- 1 John 2:29 (thematic): Links being 'born of God' with practicing righteousness—supporting the idea that birth from God results in moral preservation.
- John 10:28-29 (structural): Jesus' promise that no one can snatch his sheep from the Father echoes the assurance that the one born of God is kept/protected from the evil one.
- Romans 6:14 (verbal): 'For sin will have no dominion over you' corresponds to the Johannine claim that the one born of God does not continue in sin.
- John 17:15 (allusion): Jesus' prayer 'keep them from the evil one' parallels the statement that the evil one does not touch the one born of God—both emphasize divine protection from evil.
Alternative generated candidates
- We know that everyone born of God does not continue in sin; the One born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
- We know that everyone born of God does not continue in sin; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
1John.5.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κοσμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ολος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πονηρω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- κειται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 17:16 (thematic): Jesus’ prayer that his followers ‘are not of the world’ parallels 1 John’s stress that believers are from God and thus distinct from the world.
- John 15:19 (thematic): Jesus’ contrast—if you were of the world the world would love its own—echoes the Johannine theme that followers of God stand apart from the world’s loyalties.
- 1 John 4:4 (verbal): The assurance that ‘He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world’ parallels the present verse’s juxtaposition of believers (from God) and the world lying under evil’s power.
- Ephesians 2:2 (verbal): Paul’s description of people living ‘in the power of the ruler of the kingdom of the air’ closely parallels the idea that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
- 1 John 2:15-16 (thematic): The command not to love the world and its values reflects the same Johannine concern that Christians belong to God rather than to a world under evil influence.
Alternative generated candidates
- We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.
- We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1John.5.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- δε: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ηκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- δεδωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- διανοιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- γινωσκωμεν: VERB,pres,act,sub,1,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αληθινον·και: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αληθινω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- υιω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αληθινος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ζωη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αιωνιος: ADJ,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- John 17:3 (verbal): Both texts link knowledge of God with eternal life and use the formula 'the true God' / 'eternal life' (Jn 17:3: 'this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent').
- John 1:1,14 (thematic): Affirms the deity and incarnation of the Word (the Son of God) — background for 1 John’s claim that Jesus (the Son) is truly God and brings life.
- Titus 2:13 (verbal): Uses a similar Christological title—'our great God and Savior Jesus Christ'—paralleling 1 John’s emphatic identification of Jesus as 'the true God and eternal life.'
- 1 John 2:20,27 (thematic): Speaks of an imparted anointing/understanding so believers 'know' the truth — directly parallels 5:20’s claim that the Son has given us understanding to know the true One.
- John 6:68-69 (thematic): Peter’s confession ('Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God') echoes 1 John’s coupling of knowing Jesus with eternal life and recognizing his unique divine identity.
Alternative generated candidates
- And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know the true One; and we are in the true One—in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
- And we know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding, that we may know the true One; and we are in the true One— in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
1John.5.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τεκνια: NOUN,voc,pl,n
- φυλαξατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- εαυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ειδωλων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 10:14 (verbal): Paul issues the direct exhortation 'flee from idolatry,' closely echoing John's imperative to keep oneself from idols—both are pastoral commands to avoid participation in idol worship.
- 1 John 2:15-16 (thematic): Earlier in the same epistle John warns against loving the world and its desires (including false worship), framing the same anti-idolatry concern that culminates in the final admonition to 'keep yourselves from idols.'
- Exodus 20:3-5 (allusion): The Decalogue's prohibition of other gods and graven images is the foundational command behind New Testament warnings; John's counsel reflects this long-standing covenantal ban on idols.
- Acts 15:20, 29 (thematic): The Jerusalem council's injunction that Gentile believers abstain from things sacrificed to idols connects to the practical outworking of avoiding idols in communal life, paralleling John's personal admonition.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): The psalmic polemic against lifeless idols that cannot speak or act undergirds the biblical critique of idolatry and supports John's warning to keep oneself away from such objects of false trust.
Alternative generated candidates
- Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
- Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
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. And this is the confidence we have before him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should pray, and God will give him life—those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray about that.
Every wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
We know that everyone born of God does not continue in sin. The one born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.
We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know the true One; and we are in the true One— in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.