1 John 5:13 kjv
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 nkjv
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 niv
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13 esv
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13 nlt
I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
1 John 5 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Assurance & Knowing God | ||
| Jn 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son… have eternal life. | Faith brings eternal life, not perishing. |
| Jn 5:24 | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word… has eternal life… | Believers have eternal life presently. |
| Jn 6:40 | For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks… and believes… should have eternal life… | Faith in the Son secures eternal life. |
| Jn 6:47 | Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. | Direct statement of present possession. |
| Jn 17:3 | And this is eternal life, that they know You… and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. | Eternal life is knowing God and Christ. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation… | New identity and reality in Christ. |
| Rom 8:16 | The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… | Internal assurance by the Holy Spirit. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am sure that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God… | Unbreakable security in God's love. |
| Heb 10:22 | let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith… | Encouragement for confident faith. |
| Ti 1:2 | in hope of eternal life, which God… promised long ago… | Eternal life promised by God who cannot lie. |
| 1 Jn 1:2 | the life was made manifest… eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest… | Christ as the manifestation of eternal life. |
| 1 Jn 2:25 | And this is the promise that He made to us—eternal life. | Direct statement of God's promise. |
| The Son of God & Belief in His Name | ||
| Jn 1:12 | But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave… to become children of God… | Believing in His name brings spiritual birth. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name… | Salvation is uniquely through Christ's name. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name… | Exaltation and authority of Jesus' name. |
| Jn 20:31 | But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. | John's gospel written for belief and life. |
| 1 Jn 4:15 | Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him… | Confession of Jesus' deity connects us to God. |
| 1 Jn 5:1 | Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God… | Faith in Jesus' identity leads to new birth. |
| 1 Jn 5:5 | Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? | Belief in the Son of God gives victory. |
| Purpose of Writing & Confidence | ||
| 1 Jn 1:3 | that you also may have fellowship with us… | John's desire for fellowship with believers. |
| 1 Jn 2:1 | My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin… | John's writing for holy living. |
| 1 Jn 2:26 | I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. | John warns against false teachings. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us… | Confidence in prayer related to knowing God's will and power. |
1 John 5 verses
1 John 5 13 Meaning
This verse definitively states the purpose of John's writing: to assure those who place their trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that they already possess eternal life. It is not a hope for future possession, but a present reality, grounded in genuine faith. The epistle seeks to establish and confirm this confident assurance of salvation, providing believers with certainty and joy in their relationship with God.
1 John 5 13 Context
First John is a letter from the Apostle John written to various churches, likely in Asia Minor, to counteract specific false teachings prevalent at the time, particularly early forms of Gnosticism or docetism which denied the true humanity and/or deity of Jesus Christ. These heretical views also undermined the certainty of salvation and Christian ethics. The epistle is structured around key tests of genuine faith: righteousness (obedience), love for fellow believers, and sound doctrine concerning Jesus Christ. The recurrent theme is fellowship with God, knowing one's salvation, and discerning true believers from deceivers. Chapter 5 specifically emphasizes belief in Jesus as the Son of God as the core of faith, overcoming the world, and possessing eternal life, culminating in verses 11-12 which declare God's testimony about His Son and that eternal life is in Him. Verse 13, therefore, serves as a concluding purpose statement, reinforcing the primary aim of the entire letter: to provide full assurance to believers.
1 John 5 13 Word analysis
- These things: (Greek: ταῦτα, tauta) Refers to the preceding message, doctrine, and proofs throughout the entire letter of 1 John. This includes the call to righteousness, love, confession of Christ's full deity and humanity, overcoming the world, and reliance on the witness of the Spirit, water, and blood concerning Jesus.
- I have written: (ἔγραψα, egrapsa) An aorist verb, indicating a completed action, reinforcing the letter's content as a divine and authoritative message for the readers. It highlights the apostle's pastoral concern and instructional intent.
- to you who believe: (τοῖς πιστεύουσιν, tois pisteuousin) Directly addresses genuine Christians. The present participle emphasizes their ongoing state of faith—it's not a past decision but a continuing reliance and trust in Christ.
- in the name: (εἰς τὸ ὄνομα, eis to onoma) More than intellectual acknowledgment. "Name" represents the entire person, authority, character, power, and reputation of the one named. To believe in the name of the Son of God means to place complete trust in all that Jesus is and all that He accomplished, identifying with Him and submitting to His Lordship.
- of the Son of God: (τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Huiou tou Theou) A pivotal theological designation for Jesus Christ, asserting His unique divine identity and intimate relationship with God the Father. This counteracted heresies that diminished His deity or denied His unique Sonship.
- that you may know: (ἵνα εἰδῆτε, hina eidēte) A purpose clause, using oida, which signifies a full, certain, intuitive, and experiential knowledge, distinct from merely gaining intellectual understanding (ginosko). John wants believers to have definite assurance and confidence, not just hope or possibility. This knowing combats doubt and the uncertainty promoted by false teachers.
- that you have: (ὅτι ἔχετε, hoti echete) The present tense emphasizes present possession. Believers don't just will have or might have eternal life; they presently possess it as a living reality.
- eternal life: (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, zōēn aiōnion) This is not merely unending existence but a distinct quality of life—the very life of God, characterized by fellowship with Him, joy, peace, and spiritual vitality, which begins at conversion and extends through eternity. It's participation in the divine nature.
- and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God: This phrase is present in some ancient manuscripts (e.g., KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV Study Bible note) but absent in others (e.g., Critical Greek Texts behind modern translations like NIV, ESV). If included, it adds a second purpose: not only to grant assurance of salvation, but also to encourage perseverance and growth in that foundational faith. It underscores the active, ongoing nature of belief. Whether original or not, the theological point of enduring faith is consistent with John’s teaching elsewhere.
1 John 5 13 Bonus section
The concept of "knowing" one has eternal life in 1 John directly counters the Gnostic emphasis on secret, experiential knowledge (gnosis) for a select few. John provides clear, observable "tests" (righteousness, love, true Christology) through which all believers can gain true oida (certainty). The entire letter serves as a pastoral remedy for spiritual insecurity fostered by false teachers who either denied the humanity of Christ (and thus His ability to suffer and redeem) or claimed a higher knowledge beyond ordinary faith. By emphasizing "eternal life" as a present possession, John combats the notion that salvation is an ethereal, unattainable ideal, grounding it in the historical reality of Jesus Christ. The consistent use of "eternal life" throughout John's Gospel and Epistles underscores its importance not just as an endless lifespan, but as participation in the very life and quality of God.
1 John 5 13 Commentary
1 John 5:13 succinctly encapsulates the primary pastoral objective of the Apostle John in writing this powerful epistle. He did not write for vague spiritual insight or merely ethical instruction, but specifically so that those who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, might have a settled, certain knowledge of their present possession of eternal life. This assurance is a gift, a fruit of genuine faith, intended to remove doubt and bolster confidence in their salvation. It addresses a fundamental human desire for certainty regarding one's ultimate destiny and relationship with the divine. This knowledge provides a solid foundation for Christian living, fueling love, obedience, and prayerful confidence, allowing believers to live fearlessly, not just hoping for salvation but knowing it as a current reality, established by God's own testimony concerning His Son.