1 John 5 5

1 John 5:5 kjv

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:5 nkjv

Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:5 niv

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5 esv

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:5 nlt

And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5 verses

1 John 5 5 Meaning

The verse proclaims that the true conqueror of the world and its spiritual rebellion against God is uniquely identified as the one who continuously believes that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. This belief is not merely intellectual assent but a profound, Spirit-empowered faith that grasps the divine identity of Jesus Christ. This specific belief is presented as the essential victory, liberating believers from the dominion, values, and allure of the world system.

1 John 5 5 Context

First John chapter 5 concludes the epistle, reinforcing key themes previously developed. Verse 5 is directly linked to verse 4, which states that "everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world" and explicitly identifies "our faith" as the victory. Verse 5 then serves as a clarifying answer, defining the specific content and nature of this "faith." It emphasizes that this conquering faith is precisely the belief in Jesus' unique identity as the Son of God. The surrounding verses in Chapter 5 also discuss the Spirit, water, and blood as witnesses to Jesus' identity (vv. 6-8), further grounding the truth of His Sonship. The historical context of the epistle points to a challenge from false teachers, likely proto-Gnostics or Docetists, who denied the true humanity and/or full divinity of Jesus Christ. John's epistle strongly combats such erroneous teachings by continually affirming both the physical reality of Jesus' coming (1 Jn 1:1-3; 4:2-3) and His supreme divine identity as the Son of God, born of God. Thus, believing in Jesus as the Son of God was the essential point of divergence and the ground of genuine Christian faith and life.

1 John 5 5 Word analysis

• Who is it that overcomes (Τίς ἐστιν ὁ νικῶν - Tis estin ho nikōn): This rhetorical question powerfully emphasizes the exclusivity of the answer. "Nikōn" is a present active participle of nikao, meaning "to conquer," "to overcome," or "to be victorious." The present participle denotes an ongoing state or characteristic – it is the one who is conquering, or habitually conquers, the world. This active conquering is a characteristic of true believers, not a passive event. John uses nikao frequently, particularly echoing the conquering Christ in Jn 16:33 and anticipating the victorious saints in Revelation.

• the world (τὸν κόσμον - ton kosmon): In this context, "kosmos" refers not to the physical creation, but to the ungodly, rebellious system of human society that is alienated from God and stands in opposition to His will and people. It represents the spiritual dominion of darkness, characterized by the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 Jn 2:16). Overcoming the world means freedom from its values, power, and deceptive influences.

• Only he who believes (εἰ μὴ ὁ πιστεύων - ei mē ho pisteuōn): "Ei mē" is a strong exclusive particle, translated as "except," "but only," or "if not." It underlines that there is no other way or no other person who can overcome the world. "Pisteuōn" is a present active participle of pisteuō, "to believe" or "to have faith." Like nikōn, the present participle indicates an ongoing, active, and persistent belief – not just a one-time intellectual acknowledgment, but a continuous trust and reliance. This living faith is the instrument of victory.

• that Jesus is the Son of God (ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ - hoti Iēsous estin ho huios tou Theou): This phrase specifies the content of the victorious faith.

  • Jesus (Iēsous): The historical, incarnate person who lived on earth.
  • Son of God (huios tou Theou): A profoundly significant title in John's writings, indicating Jesus' unique divine nature, co-equality with the Father, and ultimate authority. This declaration counters the prevalent false teachings that separated Jesus (the man) from the Christ (the divine principle), or denied Jesus' true divine Sonship and eternal pre-existence. For John, the victory over the world is intrinsically tied to recognizing and embracing the true, unified divine and human identity of Jesus Christ. It is through union with this "Son of God" that believers share in His victory.

• Words-group Analysis: "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."The structure of the verse is a rhetorical question followed by an exclusive answer, highlighting the singularity of the source of victory. It emphasizes that conquering the world is not achieved through human strength, intellectual prowess, adherence to rituals, or worldly wisdom, but solely through a specific, Christ-centered faith. The power for victory comes from the Son of God Himself, appropriated by persistent faith in His divine person and finished work. This belief brings about spiritual new birth (as implied by 1 Jn 5:1, 4), which then enables the continuous overcoming. The spiritual war is won by declaring allegiance to and trusting in the true identity of the conquering King, Jesus, the Son of God.

1 John 5 5 Bonus section

This verse implies a Trinitarian understanding, as it necessitates the belief in Jesus' unique relationship with God the Father as "Son of God," a concept often revealed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Jn 5:6-8 where the Spirit is a witness to this truth). The confession of Jesus as "the Son of God" was a primary test of authentic Christian faith against early heresies, separating those who followed the true Christ from those who denied His full nature. It assures believers that their faith is not in vain, for it connects them to the victorious King, thereby guaranteeing their own spiritual triumph in Him. The "overcoming" is not a singular event but a continuous process, sustained by persistent reliance on Jesus' divine identity.

1 John 5 5 Commentary

1 John 5:5 crystallizes the source and nature of Christian victory over the world's influence and opposition. It directly addresses the "how" of overcoming mentioned in verse 4 by defining the victorious "faith." The critical element is not just any belief, but the specific, unwavering conviction that Jesus is indeed the eternal Son of God, divine in His essence, and uniquely linked to the Father. This theological truth serves as the bedrock of salvation and spiritual power. When a believer places their trust in Jesus as the Son of God, they are born of God, connected to His divine nature, and indwelled by His Spirit. This new spiritual birth empowers them to reject worldly desires and systems (the "world" in this context) that stand opposed to God. The victory is thus not earned by human effort, but is a divine impartation, received through faith in Jesus' unparalleled identity and authority. This belief grants a new perspective, new affections, and the spiritual strength to live righteously amidst a corrupt world, finding triumph in Him who already conquered it.