1 John 5 18

1 John 5:18 kjv

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

1 John 5:18 nkjv

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

1 John 5:18 niv

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

1 John 5:18 esv

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1 John 5:18 nlt

We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

1 John 5 verses

1 John 5 18 Meaning

1 John 5:18 affirms that a true believer, one who is born of God, does not live a life of habitual sin. The new birth fundamentally changes a person's nature and disposition towards sin, so they do not continue in sin as their practice or way of life. Furthermore, this verse highlights the protective aspect of this new divine life: the one born of God keeps himself guarded from the influences and power of "that wicked one" (Satan), implying divine preservation and the believer's active role in abiding in Christ, preventing Satan from gaining a decisive foothold or claiming them as his own.

1 John 5 18 Context

First John is a letter written by the Apostle John, likely in his old age, to provide assurance to believers regarding their salvation and to warn against false teachings. The context of chapter 5, and particularly verse 18, is heavily focused on the certainty and characteristics of being "born of God." John reiterates themes of belief in Jesus as the Son of God, the importance of keeping His commandments, and the witness of the Spirit, water, and blood. The phrase "we know" appears repeatedly in chapter 5 (verses 2, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20), indicating a strong emphasis on assurance and objective truth in the face of various forms of Gnosticism or proto-Gnosticism that were circulating. These false teachings often denied the full humanity of Christ, minimized the reality of sin, or suggested that spiritual knowledge (gnosis) exempted them from moral responsibility. Against this backdrop, 1 John 5:18 establishes a clear ethical implication of the new birth and God's protective hand over His children.

1 John 5 18 Word analysis

• We know (οἴδαμεν - oidamen): This perfect indicative verb expresses a settled, certain knowledge based on personal experience and divine revelation. It's a hallmark of 1 John, underscoring the epistle's theme of assurance and objective truth for believers, providing certainty against the uncertain claims of false teachers.
• that whosoever is born of God (ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ - hoti pas ho gegennēmenos ek tou Theou):
  • Whosoever is born (πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος - pas ho gegennēmenos): "Whosoever" includes all true believers. "Born" (gegennēmenos) is a perfect passive participle, indicating a state of being that results from a completed action. It signifies a spiritual regeneration that has already taken place and results in a new, ongoing spiritual life and nature, given by God.
  • of God (ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ - ek tou Theou): Emphasizes the divine origin of this new birth, underscoring that salvation and the new nature are God's work.
• sinneth not (οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει - ouch hamartanei):
  • Sinneth (hamartanei) is a present active indicative verb. In this context, it implies continuous action or habitual practice. Therefore, it does not mean a believer achieves sinless perfection, but rather that he or she does not practice or habitually live in sin as an ongoing lifestyle.
  • Not (ouch - a strong negative) emphasizes the profound change wrought by the new birth, making a life of deliberate, unrepentant sin incompatible with being born of God. It highlights a change in spiritual orientation and dominion.
• but he that is begotten of God (ἀλλʼ ὁ γεννηθείς ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ - all' ho gennetheis ek tou Theou):
  • He that is begotten (ho gennetheis) is an aorist passive participle. While gegennēmenos (from "born of God" earlier in the verse) refers to the ongoing state, gennetheis (from "begotten of God" here) can point to the specific act of regeneration or, as commonly understood in critical texts, can refer to Christ as "the one begotten of God."
  • Note on textual variation: The Textus Receptus (KJV basis) uses this phrase, often interpreted as referring to the believer, thus complementing "whosoever is born of God." However, significant critical textual evidence (e.g., modern scholarly editions) reads this as "He who was born of God" (referring to Christ Himself), implying that Christ protects the believer. Given the KJV rendering in the user's request, the analysis here will primarily focus on the believer, while acknowledging this variant.
• keepeth himself (τηρεῖ ἑαυτόν - tērei heauton):
  • Keepeth (tērei) means to guard, protect, preserve. It's present active indicative, denoting ongoing action.
  • Himself (heauton) indicates a reflexive action in the KJV translation. This implies the believer's active responsibility, empowered by the Spirit and the new nature, to guard his own life from sin. This aligns with New Testament commands for believers to be watchful (1 Tim 4:16; Jude 1:21).
  • Alternative textual understanding: If ho gennetheis refers to Christ, then the reading in critical texts is "He (Christ) keeps him" (auton), referring to the believer, thus emphasizing Christ's divine keeping power. However, sticking to the KJV provided text for "keepeth himself" maintains the emphasis on believer responsibility alongside divine empowerment.
• and that wicked one (ὁ πονηρός - ho ponēros): This term unambiguously refers to the devil, Satan, the spiritual adversary. "The wicked one" personifies evil.
• toucheth him not (οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ - ouch haptetai autou):
  • Toucheth (haptetai) signifies to cling to, lay hold of, or grasp in a damaging way. It implies gaining control or doing harm.
  • Him not (ouch... autou) indicates that the wicked one cannot get a decisive grip or fatal hold on a true believer, meaning Satan cannot make a genuine believer his own, condemn him, or pull him away from God's hand permanently. This protection is both God's preserving work and the believer's active guarding of himself, which frustrates the devil's attempts.

1 John 5 18 Bonus section

The reconciliation of 1 John 5:18 with 1 John 1:8 ("If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves") is paramount for proper understanding. The distinction lies in the type of sin and its practice. Chapter 1 addresses sinful acts or occasional failures (aorist tense for "sin" can denote this), common to all humans, including believers, highlighting the need for confession. Chapter 3 and 5 (using present tense for "sin") address a habitual pattern of living in sin or practicing sin as a lifestyle. One implies an occasional failure in action, the other a continuing disposition or characteristic. A child of God cannot embrace a life defined by sin without compromising their true spiritual state. Their regenerated nature produces a yearning for righteousness and an aversion to sin's dominion, proving the genuineness of their divine birth. This transformation is evidence of having "overcome the world" through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Jn 5:4).

1 John 5 18 Commentary

1 John 5:18 stands as a profound statement on the transformed life of a true believer. The core message is twofold: a negative assertion against the practice of sin and a positive affirmation of divine protection. "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not" does not teach sinless perfection, which contradicts other parts of John's own letter (1 Jn 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves..."). Instead, the Greek present tense ("sinneth") indicates a non-habitual, non-practicing of sin. A genuinely born-again individual, by virtue of their new nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit, cannot maintain a lifestyle of rebellion against God without being convicted or exposed as a false convert. Their nature and spiritual orientation have shifted; sin becomes an aberration, not a natural course. The believer will still fall, but they will repent, confess, and strive to overcome sin, unlike the unregenerate who might habitually practice it without remorse.

The latter part of the verse, "but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not," reinforces this. In the KJV's rendering of "keepeth himself," it highlights the believer's personal vigilance, an active guarding of their heart, mind, and walk in Christ. This self-keeping is not by human strength alone, but enabled by the new nature and the power of the Spirit within them. This active guarding is crucial to prevent Satan, "that wicked one," from gaining a hold. The promise that Satan "toucheth him not" means the devil cannot gain a permanent or damning grip, possess them (if truly born of God), or condemn them. While Satan can tempt, harass, and afflict, he cannot ultimately snatch a genuine believer out of God's hand (Jn 10:28; Rom 8:38-39). The verse implies a partnership in preservation: God’s keeping power enables the believer to keep themselves from falling back into the dominion of sin and Satan.

Examples for practical usage:

• A Christian who once lived in constant lying finds themselves now deeply uncomfortable with deception, actively striving for truth. This new disposition reflects "sinneth not."
• When tempted to indulge in old destructive habits, a believer recalls their new identity in Christ and actively chooses to walk away, aligning with "keepeth himself."
• Facing spiritual attack or temptation to despair, the believer relies on the conviction that Satan's accusations and power ultimately cannot prevail against those whom God protects, illustrating "that wicked one toucheth him not."