1 John 5 11

1 John 5:11 kjv

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11 nkjv

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:11 niv

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11 esv

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11 nlt

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5 verses

1 John 5 11 Meaning

This verse declares the core of the Christian faith's assurance: the testimony given by God Himself. This testimony reveals that God has, as a completed act, graciously bestowed upon humanity the gift of eternal life. Crucially, it emphasizes that this eternal life is not a standalone concept or attainable through various paths, but is exclusively and inherently found and sustained in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a present possession for the believer, embodying God’s quality of life that begins now and extends into eternity.

1 John 5 11 Context

First John chapter 5 is dedicated to affirming the certainty of Christian belief and the power that comes from believing in the Son of God. The immediate context for verse 11 (1 John 5:6-12) centers on the idea of testimony concerning Jesus Christ. John stresses that God’s testimony about His Son is infinitely more reliable and true than any human testimony (1 Jn 5:9). This testimony is given by the Spirit, water, and blood, all testifying to Jesus's true identity as Christ come in the flesh, and affirming the effectiveness of His atoning work (1 Jn 5:6-8). Verse 11 explicitly states what God’s fundamental testimony is about: the gift of eternal life found solely in His Son. This section combats proto-Gnostic errors prevalent in John’s day, which denied the full humanity or deity of Jesus, thereby undermining the efficacy of His sacrifice and the very basis of eternal life through Him. John reinforces the objective truth of the Gospel against subjective or alternative spiritual claims, reassuring believers of their genuine relationship with God and their possession of eternal life through the Son (1 Jn 5:13).

1 John 5 11 Word analysis

• And (Καί, Kai): This conjunction links the previous discussion of God's testimony (vs. 9-10) directly to the content of that testimony. It's not just "another point," but this is the specific content.
• this (αὕτη, hautē): Refers demonstratively back to the preceding concept – the "testimony" mentioned in verse 9 and 10. It specifies what "this" testimony is.
• is (ἐστιν, estin): Simple declarative present tense, asserting a timeless truth or established reality. This is the testimony.
• the testimony (ἡ μαρτυρία, hē martyria): From martyria, meaning "witness," "evidence," or "testimony." In a legal or judicial sense, it refers to a reliable and definitive statement, in this case, God's own declaration. It is authoritative and truthful.
• that (ὅτι, hoti): Introduces the content or substance of the testimony. It serves as an explicative "that" or "namely."
• God (ὁ Θεός, ho Theos): The supreme Being, the ultimate source of truth and life. Emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the testimony and the gift.
• has given (ἔδωκεν, edōken): Aorist active indicative verb from didōmi, "to give." This signifies a completed action in the past with ongoing validity and effect. God has already given this gift definitively. It's a past act, a settled fact.
• us (ἡμῖν, hēmin): Dative pronoun, referring to believers. The recipients of this divine gift are those who receive His testimony and believe in His Son.
• eternal (αἰώνιον, aiōnion): Pertaining to aiōn, referring to an age, or eternity. It denotes not merely endless duration, but more profoundly, the quality of God's own life, which is without beginning or end, and wholly divine in nature. It signifies participation in God's very being.
• life (ζωήν, zōēn): From zoē, signifying "life" in its truest, highest sense – spiritual, abundant life, not mere biological existence (bios). It's life in communion with God.
• and (καί, kai): Another conjunction, connecting the idea of "eternal life" with its inseparable location and source. It introduces a critical clarification.
• this life (αὕτη ἡ ζωή, hautē hē zoē): Reiterates and specifies that the particular "eternal life" that God has given is precisely the one now described. It emphasizes the direct identification of the life given with the next clause.
• is (ἐστιν, estin): Again, a simple declarative "is," affirming a foundational truth.
• in (ἐν, en): A key preposition, indicating sphere, means, or location. The eternal life is found within, derives from, and exists solely in union with "his Son." It implies intrinsic connection and dependence.
• his Son (τῷ Υἱῷ αὐτοῦ, tō Huiō autou): "His" (αυτοῦ, autou) refers back to God, identifying Jesus as God's unique Son. This highlights the Son's divine identity and His exclusive role as the Mediator and sole repository of this eternal life. No eternal life is outside of Him.

• "And this is the testimony": This phrase points back to God's self-witness, distinguishing it from human testimony. It introduces the absolute truth declared by God concerning salvation.
• "God has given us eternal life": Highlights the nature of eternal life as a divine, sovereign gift, freely bestowed (grace), not earned. It emphasizes the finished work of God in providing salvation for believers.
• "and this life is in his Son": This is the exclusive and defining characteristic of the gift. The eternal life isn't just a generic concept; it is personified and embodied in Jesus Christ. To have the Son is to have life; to be separated from the Son is to be separated from life. It firmly asserts Christ's indispensability.

1 John 5 11 Bonus section

• Present Possession: The phrase "has given us eternal life" and "this life is in his Son" emphasizes that eternal life is not merely a future hope but a present reality for those who believe. It's a quality of existence beginning at faith, characterized by knowing God through His Son (Jn 17:3).
• Divine Initiative: The verse strongly highlights God's sovereignty and grace. He is the active Giver; humanity is the recipient. This underlines that salvation is entirely God's work from beginning to end, from planning to provision.
• The Son's Exclusivity: This verse is polemical against any syncretism or notion that eternal life could be found apart from Jesus Christ. The strong declaration that "this life is in his Son" leaves no room for other mediators or means of obtaining true, spiritual life. It is the definitive counter-argument to all claims of alternative salvific paths.
• Assurance for the Believer: This verse, alongside 1 John 5:13, aims to give believers an unwavering sense of confidence and certainty in their salvation. It's not based on fleeting feelings but on God's sure word and the unchangeable reality of His Son.

1 John 5 11 Commentary

First John 5:11 stands as a beacon of assurance and clarity regarding the nature of salvation. It consolidates previous arguments about the reality of Christ's person and work. The core message is simple yet profound: eternal life is a divine gift, already given, and accessible only through union with God's Son, Jesus Christ. This declaration dispels any notion of eternal life being earned by works, achieved through secret knowledge, or found through alternative spiritual paths. It asserts that God Himself has certified this truth through an unassailable "testimony." For the original audience struggling with false teachers, this verse offered bedrock certainty: their life in God was real because it was centered on the real Jesus, the Son of God. For believers today, it provides deep comfort and confidence: our hope is anchored not in our performance but in God’s definitive act and in the life of Christ within us. It's a statement of present possession – believers have eternal life now, as a dynamic, God-given reality, in His Son.