1 John 3:5 kjv
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:5 nkjv
And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
1 John 3:5 niv
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
1 John 3:5 esv
You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
1 John 3:5 nlt
And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.
1 John 3 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 53:4 | Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; ... | Christ bore our burdens |
| Isa 53:5 | But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;... | Suffering for our sins |
| Isa 53:6 | ...the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. | God's plan to lay sin on Christ |
| Isa 53:10 | ...He makes Himself an offering for sin... | Christ as a sin offering |
| Isa 53:11 | ...My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. | Justification through His sin-bearing |
| Jn 1:29 | The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" | Christ as the sin-removing Lamb |
| Matt 1:21 | ...you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. | Jesus's name signifies sin-saving |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. | Christ became sin for our righteousness |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Christ's perfect sinlessness (High Priest) |
| Heb 7:26 | For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. | Christ's perfect purity and separation |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience...? | Spotless sacrifice cleansing conscience |
| Heb 9:26 | He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. | Christ appeared to abolish sin by sacrifice |
| Heb 9:28 | ...Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. | Christ bore sins; second coming sin-free |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. | Old Covenant sacrifices insufficient |
| Heb 10:10 | By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. | Christ's one-time perfect offering |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct ...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. | Redemption by Christ's unblemished blood |
| 1 Pet 2:22 | "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; | Christ's absolute sinlessness |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. | Christ bore our sins on the cross |
| Rom 8:3 | For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. | God condemned sin in Christ's flesh |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... | Christ came specifically to save sinners |
| 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 Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. | Blood of Christ cleanses from sin |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. | Christ's purpose: destroy devil's works |
| Jn 8:46 | Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? | Jesus's challenge about His sinlessness |
1 John 3 verses
1 John 3 5 Meaning
1 John 3:5 states a foundational truth about Jesus Christ: that His manifestation in human history had the explicit purpose of abolishing sins. This appearance, which implies His incarnation, life, and atoning death, was for the complete removal of both the guilt and power of sin for those who believe. Crucially, the verse immediately qualifies Christ's ability to perform this work by declaring His absolute and inherent sinlessness, establishing Him as the perfect, blemish-free sacrifice capable of dealing with the profound issue of human sin.
1 John 3 5 Context
First John chapter 3 initiates a profound contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil. Verse 4 has just established that "sin is lawlessness." Verse 5 immediately follows, presenting Christ as the solution to this universal human problem. The chapter will then move to define what it means for one to be born of God (1 Jn 3:6-10) and how this new birth relates to sin and righteousness. Historically, John was writing to believers facing false teachings, possibly Docetism or an early form of Gnosticism, which might have denied the reality of Christ's physical manifestation or downplayed the seriousness of sin. By emphasizing Christ's real "appearance" and His perfect sinlessness, John counters these heresies, affirming the efficacy and necessity of His atoning work for sin. This verse also serves as a theological foundation for the subsequent discussion on Christian practice and righteous living—because Christ has dealt with sin, believers are enabled to walk in newness of life.
1 John 3 5 Word Analysis
- And (καί - kai): A simple conjunction connecting this profound statement directly to the previous verse about sin being lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4). It implies continuity and progression of thought.
- you know (οἴδατε - oidate): This verb is in the perfect tense, indicating a settled, enduring knowledge or understanding. John is not introducing a new concept but appealing to a fundamental truth already well-established and accepted by his readers. It highlights the certainty and communal belief in this fact.
- that He (ἐκεῖνος - ekeinos): Refers emphatically to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, drawing a clear distinction from humanity.
- appeared (ἐφανερώθη - ephanerōthē): Aorist passive indicative of phaneroō, meaning "to make visible, disclose, manifest." This signifies Christ's historical, bodily incarnation and public ministry. It refutes any Gnostic leanings that would deny His true humanity or real appearance in the flesh. It emphasizes His coming into the human sphere for a specific purpose.
- to take away (ἵνα ἄρῃ - hina arē): "ἵνα" is a purpose clause, showing the direct aim and intent of Christ's appearing. "ἄρῃ" is the aorist subjunctive of airō, meaning "to take up, lift, carry away, remove, bear." In this context, it carries the dual sense of removing the guilt and consequences of sin (atonement, expiation) and the power/dominion of sin. It's a comprehensive "taking away."
- sins (τὰς ἁμαρτίας - tas hamartias): Plural form of hamartia, meaning "missing the mark, offense, transgression, wickedness." This includes all forms and acts of human wrongdoing, not just "sin" as an abstract principle. Christ deals with the specific acts of sin.
- and in Him (καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ - kai en autō): "ἐν αὐτῷ" means "in Him" or "within Him." It signifies an inherent quality or characteristic; His very being.
- there is no sin (ἁμαρτία οὐκ ἔστιν - hamartia ouk estin): A strong negative declaration. "οὐκ ἔστιν" translates to "not is," conveying absolute absence. This asserts Christ's perfect, complete sinlessness – morally pure, untainted by any transgression. This quality is crucial for Him to be the effectual sin-bearer. A sinful sacrifice would itself need atonement.
1 John 3 5 Bonus Section
- The dual declaration in 1 John 3:5 — Christ appeared to take away sins and in Him there is no sin — forms a robust theological package. His purity (no sin) makes His purpose (take away sins) effective. One cannot be understood fully without the other.
- The phrase "to take away sins" echoes Old Testament sacrificial language where the "sins" were ceremonially borne away. This points to the fulfillment of the Law's shadow in Christ's reality.
- The active nature of "take away" (ἀίρω) implies Christ's decisive action, not merely a passive example or influence. He is the divine agent against sin.
- This verse provides immense assurance for believers. Knowing that Christ Himself, the perfectly sinless one, has decisively dealt with the very core problem of sin, empowers believers to pursue righteousness, knowing that their past and future are secure in His accomplished work.
1 John 3 5 Commentary
1 John 3:5 concisely articulates a core tenet of Christian theology: the atoning work of Jesus Christ. John presents two interconnected truths: Christ's historical appearance and His perfect sinlessness. His "appearing" signifies His entry into human existence through incarnation, which was essential for His redemptive mission. He did not come as a mere teacher or prophet, but with the divine mandate "to take away sins." This involves both expiation – the removal of the guilt and penalty of sin from the record of believers – and liberation – breaking the power of sin's dominion in their lives. The choice of "take away" implies a comprehensive removal, a burden lifted and abolished.
Crucially, John immediately qualifies Christ for this immense task by stating, "in Him there is no sin." This declaration of Christ's impeccable holiness is paramount. Unlike all humanity who are marred by sin (Rom 3:23), Jesus was utterly pure and without blemish. This distinguishes Him as the unique, perfect Lamb of God (Jn 1:29; 1 Pet 1:19), able to offer a flawless sacrifice sufficient to deal with humanity's sin once and for all. His sinlessness means He did not die for His own transgressions but wholly for ours. This verse therefore lays the indispensable groundwork for understanding Christian salvation, sanctification, and the very nature of God's redemptive plan.