Devine Scripture

1 John 4:15

What does 1 John 4:15 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 4:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 4:15 means

The pathway into abiding fellowship with God is open to “whosoever” confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. Confession is not mere words; it is a heart allegiance to the true identity of Jesus, aligned with apostolic witness and the Spirit’s work. When a person embraces Jesus as the divine Son, God takes up residence in that person, and the person dwells in God. This mutual indwelling is the heart of Christian assurance and life. It shows that salvation is bound to Christ’s person: union with Him brings union with God. Such confession unites truth and relationship, doctrine and communion.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Everyone who says openly that Jesus is the Son of God, has God in him and is in God.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

whoever may confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God in him doth remain, and he in God;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son ofGod,God abides in him, and he inGod.

Context

On the heels of apostolic testimony (v. 14), verse 15 personalizes the response: confession of Jesus as the Son of God leads to mutual abiding. This verse bridges to verse 16, where John speaks of knowing and believing God’s love and again states that God is love. The flow holds together witness, confession, love, and abiding as inseparable marks of true Christianity.

v.14And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

v.15This passage

v.16And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.

Cross references

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

  • 2 John 1:7

    For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

  • 1 John 5:1

    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • 1 John 4:12

    No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:

  • Romans 10:9

    because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:

  • Matthew 10:32

    Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.

  • 1 John 5:5

    And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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