Devine Scripture

1 John 1:6

What does 1 John 1:6 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 1:6 means

If someone claims to share life with God yet makes a practice of living in darkness, their claim is false. To “walk” is to conduct one’s life; darkness here means moral and spiritual falsehood opposed to God’s character. John is not saying believers never stumble, but he rejects the idea that true fellowship can coexist with a pattern of unrepentant darkness. To “do not the truth” shows that truth is not only believed but lived. Integrity demands that profession and practice align; otherwise, we exchange reality for pretense. John’s test protects the church from empty talk that denies the transformative nature of communion with the God who is light.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

If we say we are joined to him, and are walking still in the dark, our words are false and our acts are untrue:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

if we may say--`we have fellowship with Him,' and in the darkness may walk--we lie, and do not the truth;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practise the truth.

Context

This is the first of several testing statements that flow from verse 5’s declaration about God’s light. John starts with the negative case to warn against hypocrisy and self-deception. The next verse will offer the positive counterpart, describing what walking in the light actually produces: mutual fellowship and cleansing through Jesus’ blood. The contrast helps readers discern genuine Christian life from false claims that were troubling the churches.

v.5And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

v.6This passage

v.7but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 8:12

    Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.

  • 1 John 1:8

    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14

    Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

  • James 2:18

    Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.

  • 1 John 1:10

    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

  • John 12:46

    I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.

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