1 John 2:25 kjv

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

1 John 2:25 nkjv

And this is the promise that He has promised us?eternal life.

1 John 2:25 niv

And this is what he promised us?eternal life.

1 John 2:25 esv

And this is the promise that he made to us ? eternal life.

1 John 2:25 nlt

And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

1 John 2 verses

1 John 2 25 Meaning

1 John 2:25 unequivocally declares the specific divine pledge that God has made to believers: the gift of eternal life. This promise is not conditional on human merit but rests on God's character and His Son, Jesus Christ, emphasizing its certainty and ultimate fulfillment for those who abide in Him.

1 John 2 25 Context

1 John 2:25 stands within a crucial section of John’s letter (1 John 2:18-27) that addresses the rise of "antichrists" or false teachers. These deceivers were denying the true humanity and deity of Jesus Christ, asserting that Christ had not come in the flesh or denying that Jesus was the Christ (proto-Gnostic views). John assures his readers, the true believers, that they possess the "anointing" (referring to the Holy Spirit) which enables them to discern truth from error. Those who abide in the Son, and thus in the Father, possess this spiritual knowledge and receive the ultimate promise. Verse 25 succinctly states the content of this promise, providing certainty and encouragement amidst the spiritual conflict. It highlights that the outcome of discerning truth and abiding in Christ is not mere intellectual assent, but the profound gift of eternal life.

1 John 2 25 Word Analysis

• And (Καί - Kai): A simple conjunction, connecting this promise directly to the preceding discussion, particularly the idea of abiding in Christ and the Father (v. 24) and the assurance provided by the anointing (v. 20, 27). It shows continuity in John's argument.
• this (αὕτη - hautē): Demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to the specific promise that follows, giving it immediate emphasis and identification. It underscores the precise nature of what God has guaranteed.
• is the promise (ἐστὶν ἡ ἐπαγγελία - estin hē epangelia):
  • ἐστὶν (estin): "is," signifying certainty and factual declaration. It states a present reality regarding the divine pledge.
  • ἡ ἐπαγγελία (hē epangelia): "the promise." This noun (from epangelomai, "to announce, promise, engage oneself") denotes a formal, definite declaration or assurance, a divine pledge. It carries the weight of God's covenantal faithfulness, meaning something formally announced and pledged. It implies a divinely initiated act.
• that he hath promised (ὃς αὐτὸς ἐπηγγείλατο - hos autos epēggeilato):
  • ὃς (hos): "which" or "that," referring back to "the promise."
  • αὐτὸς (autos): "He Himself" (God the Father, implicitly through Jesus Christ). Emphasizes the divine initiator, the source of the promise. It underscores the ultimate authority and reliability of the source.
  • ἐπηγγείλατο (epēggeilato): "He has promised." Aorist middle indicative verb, suggesting a definite act completed in the past but with continuing results. This past action ensures the present certainty and future fulfillment of the promise. It's not a future promise but one already definitively made.
• us (ἡμῖν - hēmin): The recipients of the promise. This refers to all believers who have truly received the Anointing (the Holy Spirit) and abide in Christ, contrasting them with the false teachers. It confirms the promise's personal relevance to John's audience.
• even (τὴν - tēn): This definite article functions to clarify and introduce the exact content of the promise. It acts as an epexegetical "namely" or "that is."
• eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον - zōēn aiōnion):
  • ζωὴν (zōēn): "life." More than mere biological existence (which is bios), this is zoē, divine, spiritual life—the inherent life of God, active, vibrant, and indestructible. It speaks of vitality, blessing, and genuine living.
  • αἰώνιον (aiōnion): "eternal," "everlasting." This adjective does not merely signify endless duration, though it includes that. Crucially, it speaks of the quality or nature of that life – it is the life characteristic of God Himself, a life free from decay, corruption, and the effects of sin, beginning now and extending infinitely into the future. It is life in fellowship with God.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "And this is the promise that he hath promised us": This phrasing creates a powerful sense of divine certainty and faithfulness. The repetition of "promise" (noun and verb from the same root) serves for emphasis, cementing the unshakeable nature of God's word. It highlights God's initiative and commitment.
  • "even eternal life": This is the ultimate gift, the grand scope of God's saving work. It is the core benefit of the Christian faith, encompassing present communion with God and future blessedness in His presence. It speaks of the full inheritance of the children of God.

1 John 2 25 Bonus Section

• The emphasis on "promise" here echoes Old Testament covenant theology, where God’s covenantal promises to Israel (e.g., Abrahamic covenant) were guaranteed by His divine nature and faithfulness. In the New Covenant, the promise is encapsulated in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, making eternal life available.
• Eternal life is a present possession (e.g., Jn 5:24) for those who believe, yet also a future inheritance (e.g., Titus 1:2) to be fully experienced in the consummation. John portrays it as a continuum, breaking into the present moment.
• This promise acts as a counterbalance to the ephemeral allure of the world (1 Jn 2:15-17). While worldly desires pass away, the life God promises endures forever, motivating believers to prioritize abiding in Him.
• The certainty of this promise implies the unreliability and temporal nature of anything offered by "antichrists" or false teaching, which can only lead to death. True life is found solely through acknowledging the Father and the Son.

1 John 2 25 Commentary

1 John 2:25 serves as a beacon of assurance for those who are genuinely in Christ, contrasting the temporal deception of false teachers with the eternal truth of God's provision. John anchors the certainty of the promise of "eternal life" not in human performance, but in the unwavering character of God who "has promised." The choice of epangelia (promise) emphasizes its divine origin and definitive nature; it's a pledge already secured, a completed act by God Himself.

"Eternal life" ( zoēn aiōnion ) is paramount in John's writings. It is not merely a quantity of endless years, but supremely, a quality of existence—the very life of God. This life begins at belief, offering present communion with God, spiritual vitality, and deliverance from sin's domain. It guarantees an ongoing, unfading relationship with the Creator, culminating in full blessedness beyond the confines of earthly existence. Amidst theological controversies about Christ's nature, this verse reminds believers of the precious reality and goal of their faith—not just correct doctrine, but participation in divine life itself, irrevocably given by God. It affirms the believers' identity as children of God, securing their ultimate inheritance and future in Him.