1 John 5 21

1 John 5:21 kjv

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:21 nkjv

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:21 niv

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:21 esv

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:21 nlt

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.

1 John 5 verses

1 John 5 21 Meaning

The concluding verse of John’s first epistle, "Little children, guard yourselves from idols," serves as a vital summation and final admonition. It emphasizes the critical need for believers to actively protect themselves from anything that displaces God’s supreme position in their lives, whether physical images, false doctrines, or worldly attachments and desires that divert allegiance from Christ. It is a direct command to maintain exclusive devotion to the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ, against all forms of spiritual compromise.

1 John 5 21 Context

1 John 5:21 stands as a concluding summary and powerful parting exhortation after John has carefully built his case throughout the epistle regarding the true nature of God, the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the necessity of living righteously, and the assurance of salvation for believers. The entire chapter 5 itself discusses faith, knowing God, eternal life through the Son, the Spirit’s witness, and confidence in prayer. Immediately before verse 21, John reaffirms that believers know God's Son and are in the true God because the Son is the "true God and eternal life" (1 Jn 5:20). Therefore, the command to "guard yourselves from idols" is not an isolated statement but the logical culmination of John's theological discourse, protecting the newly asserted truths. Historically and culturally, this warning likely addresses various forms of early heresy, particularly nascent Gnosticism, which promoted secret knowledge, dualism, and often denigrated the material world or presented other intermediaries besides Christ, implicitly or explicitly creating spiritual "idols" or diversions from the unique saving truth of Jesus. It is also a reminder for believers in a Greco-Roman world filled with idol worship and polytheistic practices.

1 John 5 21 Word analysis

• Little children (Ancient Greek: τεκνία, teknia): An affectionate term used frequently by John, expressing deep paternal concern and intimacy. It suggests both spiritual offspring and implies a need for care, instruction, and protection due to their spiritual infancy or vulnerability. This term softens the sharp warning that follows, grounding it in love rather than harshness.
• guard yourselves (Ancient Greek: φυλάξατε ἑαυτούς, phylaxate heautous): This is an aorist active imperative verb, indicating a definite, urgent, and decisive action required. Phylassō means to guard, watch, keep, or protect. The reflexive pronoun heautous ("yourselves") emphasizes personal, active responsibility. It’s not a passive hope but a proactive, continuous vigilance. The command is personal and universal to all believers.
• from (Ancient Greek: ἀπὸ, apo): A preposition indicating separation or distance. It implies a moving away or remaining apart from the threat.
• idols (Ancient Greek: εἰδώλων, eidōlōn): The plural genitive of eidōlon. In the Hellenistic world, this primarily referred to physical images or statues worshipped as deities. However, the term's biblical usage, especially in the New Testament, extends beyond mere physical objects. In John's context, following his discussion of the "true God" and "eternal life" in Jesus Christ, "idols" likely encompasses anything that:
  • Contradicts the unique truth of God revealed in Jesus: False teachings or philosophies (e.g., proto-Gnosticism that denied Christ's true humanity or deity).
  • Replaces or competes with God for supreme devotion: Worldly desires (Col 3:5), human achievements, philosophies, or anything that draws affection or allegiance away from Christ.
  • Is an untrue or incomplete representation of God: Worshiping an idea or construct of God that is not in line with His self-revelation.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Little children, guard yourselves: This opening phrase conveys profound pastoral concern. The tender address immediately precedes a critical and active command, indicating that the need for vigilance stems from a loving concern for the believer's well-being and eternal destiny. It underscores the urgency of self-preservation in the faith.
• guard yourselves from idols: This phrase represents the definitive closing injunction. It's an active and reflexive command emphasizing personal responsibility in maintaining purity and exclusive devotion. The "idols" here are broad, representing anything that displaces the true God from His rightful position. It signifies a radical separation from anything that could usurp divine authority or devotion, acting as a concise summary of the entire letter's emphasis on true knowledge and allegiance to Jesus Christ.

1 John 5 21 Bonus section

The extreme brevity and suddenness of this concluding command in 1 John 5:21 highlight its critical importance and serves as an emphatic final warning. Unlike the typical benediction or doxology that concludes most epistles, John chooses a sharp, direct, and actionable injunction, demonstrating the gravity of spiritual idolatry in its myriad forms. Its placement immediately after the powerful affirmation of Jesus as "the true God and eternal life" emphasizes that rejection of Jesus or anything else that would usurp His unique position is by definition, idolatry. This single verse summarizes the core struggle of the Christian life: maintaining allegiance to the one true God in a world filled with alluring alternatives and deceptions. It implicitly warns against any deviation, no matter how subtle, from exclusive trust and devotion in God revealed in Jesus Christ.

1 John 5 21 Commentary

The final command in 1 John, "Little children, guard yourselves from idols," is a short yet incredibly potent conclusion. It functions as an ultimate spiritual safeguard for believers after John has painstakingly clarified the truth about Jesus as the Son of God, who is "the true God and eternal life." The "idols" are not limited to pagan statues; they extend to anything that claims the allegiance due solely to God. This includes false doctrines that distort the identity of Christ, human philosophies that replace divine truth, or even intense worldly desires and material pursuits that compete for the heart's supreme devotion. The imperative "guard yourselves" stresses the active, personal responsibility of each believer to be vigilant and discerning in a world replete with temptations to spiritual compromise. It is a concise reminder that true life, pure relationship, and lasting assurance are found only in undistracted devotion to the Father and the Son, away from any substitute or diversion. John’s parting shot serves as a timeless call to purity and singular faith, summarizing the epistle's entire argument for truth, light, and love over falsehood, darkness, and hatred.