1 John 5:1
What does 1 John 5:1 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 5:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 5:1 means
John teaches that confessing Jesus as the Christ is not mere opinion; it reveals new birth. Faith is the mark of being “begotten of God.” If God is our Father, then His other children become our family. True love for the Father necessarily includes love for His sons and daughters. This opposes any claim to love God while despising Christians. It also contradicts elitist attitudes that divide believers. The verse ties doctrine and love together: right belief about Jesus’ identity produces a new nature that expresses itself in family affection. Those who receive the Son receive life from God and are drawn into a community of love.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Everyone who has faith that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God: and everyone who has love for the Father has love for his child.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Every one who is believing that Jesus is the Christ, of God he hath been begotten, and every one who is loving Him who did beget, doth love also him who is begotten of Him:
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Every one that believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten ofGod; and every one that loves him that has begotten loves also him that is begotten of him.
Context
Verse 1 opens the chapter’s final synthesis of the letter’s tests: faith, love, and obedience. After affirming that faith in Jesus the Christ marks new birth and implies love for fellow believers, John will, in verses 2–3, explain how love for God shows itself—by keeping His commandments. Verses 4–5 will then add that new birth brings victory over the world through faith. This foundation prepares for the section on divine testimony about Jesus (verses 6–12), leading to assurance (verse 13) and bold prayer (verses 14–15), before closing with discernment about sin and idols (verses 16–21).
v.1This passage
v.2Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.
- 1 John 3:17
But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
- 1 John 2:22
Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.
- 1 John 2:29
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him.
- 1 John 4:14
And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
- 1 Peter 1:3
Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
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