1 John 1:5 kjv
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 nkjv
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 niv
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 esv
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 nlt
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.
1 John 1 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? | God as source of light and deliverance. |
| Ps 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. | God is the source of life and truth. |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | God's word illuminates and guides. |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness... | Contrasting light/darkness with morality. |
| Isa 60:19 | The sun shall be no more your light by day... but the Lord will be your everlasting light... | God as ultimate and eternal light. |
| Hab 1:13 | You are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong; why do you idly look at traitors...? | God's absolute holiness and inability to tolerate evil. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the Lord do not change..." | God's unchangeable nature, including His purity. |
| Jn 1:4-5 | In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. | Jesus is the embodiment of God's light. |
| Jn 1:9 | The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. | Christ as the universal light. |
| Jn 3:19 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light... | Revelation of God's truth exposes sin. |
| Jn 8:12 | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness..." | Christ as the ultimate revelation of God's light. |
| Jn 12:46 | "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." | Purpose of Christ's coming to dispel darkness. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | Believers are called out of darkness into God's light. |
| Jas 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. | God as the unchanging source of all good, distinct from darkness. |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | ...who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light... | God's transcendent, pure being. |
| 1 Jn 1:6 | If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. | Immediate implication: Light demands light walking. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. | Consequence: Fellowship and cleansing when walking in light. |
| 1 Jn 2:8-10 | ...for the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light... | Moral implications of walking in light (love). |
| Eph 5:8 | For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. | Believers transformed from darkness to light. |
| Col 1:12-13 | ...who has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. | God's redemptive work is moving from darkness to light. |
| Rev 21:23 | And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. | Future state where God's light is sufficient. |
| Ps 5:4 | For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. | God's absolute incompatibility with evil. |
1 John 1 verses
1 John 1 5 Meaning
This verse states a core truth about God's nature, presented as the definitive message received directly from Jesus Christ by the apostles and subsequently proclaimed. It asserts unequivocally that God is light, signifying His absolute purity, holiness, truth, and goodness. The emphatic declaration "in him is no darkness at all" further underlines His complete lack of evil, falsehood, sin, or any moral imperfection. This fundamental truth about God's character serves as the basis for understanding the Christian walk and fellowship.
1 John 1 5 Context
First John is a letter written to a community of believers, likely in Ephesus or the surrounding region, grappling with early forms of Gnostic or Docetic heresy. These heresies challenged the true humanity of Christ, promoting a spiritual elitism based on secret knowledge and often denying the reality of sin. John’s primary purpose is to reassure true believers of their fellowship with God, encourage moral living, combat false teachings, and promote genuine love among the brethren.
Verse 1:5 serves as the theological foundation for the ethical demands that follow. Chapter 1 emphasizes the apostles' firsthand witness to Christ, establishing the authoritative nature of their message (vv. 1-4). This foundational declaration about God's absolute nature as "light" (v. 5) directly contrasts with any heretical claims that might suggest God tolerates sin, is unknowable, or is somehow associated with spiritual darkness or the material world (often viewed as evil by Gnostics). It sets the stage for the crucial "if we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie" (v. 6), directly linking God's nature to the required lifestyle of believers.
1 John 1 5 Word analysis
- This: Refers to the profound truth immediately following.
- is: Establishes identity; not an attribute, but essential being.
- the message (Greek: angelia - ἀγγελία): Not merely information, but an authoritative declaration, an announcement. This specific angelia carries ultimate importance as it comes from God.
- we have heard: Emphasizes direct, apostolic testimony. The apostles' message is not conjecture or human philosophy, but a revelation received from Christ Himself.
- from him: Refers to Jesus Christ, the source of this divine revelation. It highlights the divine authority and truthfulness of the message, distinguishing it from human doctrines.
- and proclaim (Greek: anangellō - ἀναγγέλλομεν): To report back, declare, announce. It signifies the public and authoritative spreading of the message heard. This proclamation is active, deliberate, and accessible to all, contrary to the secret knowledge claims of heretics.
- to you: The message is explicitly delivered to the Christian community, intending their understanding and belief.
- that God: The absolute and sovereign Deity.
- is light (Greek: phōs - φῶς): A fundamental declaration of God's nature, not just one of His attributes.
- Purity & Holiness: God is free from all evil, moral impurity, and sin.
- Truth & Revelation: God is the source of all truth, illuminating what is true and real, dispelling spiritual darkness, ignorance, and deception.
- Life: In God there is spiritual life (Jn 1:4).
- Goodness: He is the fount of all good.
- This counters dualistic ideas where a god of darkness might exist, or a less perfect deity (like the Gnostic Demiurge).
- and in him: Refers to God's very being, essence, and character.
- is no darkness (Greek: skotia - σκοτία): "Darkness" signifies:
- Evil/Sin: Moral corruption and rebellion against God.
- Falsehood/Deception: Absence of truth, spiritual blindness.
- Ignorance: Lack of divine knowledge and understanding.
- Judgment/Death: The consequence of separation from God.
- at all (Greek: oude mia - οὐδὲ μία): An emphatic negation, meaning "not even one particle," "not in any way," or "absolutely no." It leaves no room for ambiguity or exception. God's light is total and pure, without any taint or admixture of darkness whatsoever.
1 John 1 5 Bonus section
The emphatic phrase "no darkness at all" (οὐδὲ μία σκοτία) is significant in ancient philosophical and religious discourse where some systems, particularly dualistic ones, posited opposing divine principles of light and darkness. John's statement unequivocally asserts God's singularity as the source of pure good, actively refuting any notion of a co-existent, equally powerful dark principle or a morally ambiguous deity. This absolute purity of God also highlights His immutability; His nature as light means He cannot change or vary, consistent with passages like James 1:17 which describes God as "the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." This has profound implications for understanding divine trustworthiness and consistency.
1 John 1 5 Commentary
1 John 1:5 is an axiom, a fundamental truth that serves as the cornerstone of John's ethical argument in the epistle. The declaration "God is light" is not merely descriptive but definitional; it defines His very essence, distinct from His attributes, though all His attributes flow from this truth. His being is pure truth, perfect holiness, and absolute moral righteousness. The addition "and in him is no darkness at all" is an emphatic reinforcement, leaving no possibility for any shade of evil, deceit, or imperfection to reside within Him. This uncompromising statement directly confronts any false teaching that would obscure God's character, introduce moral compromise, or suggest that the divine could tolerate or contain evil. Knowing that God is absolutely light necessitates that those who claim fellowship with Him must "walk in the light," aligning their lives with His purity and truth, thereby acknowledging sin when they fail, seeking His cleansing, and living in love. This sets the unbreakable condition for genuine fellowship with God and with fellow believers.