John 5 10

John 5:10 kjv

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

John 5:10 nkjv

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."

John 5:10 niv

and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."

John 5:10 esv

So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed."

John 5:10 nlt

so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, "You can't work on the Sabbath! The law doesn't allow you to carry that sleeping mat!"

John 5 verses

John 5 10 Meaning

First John 5:10 profoundly declares that genuine belief in Jesus, the Son of God, establishes an internal verification of truth within the believer. Conversely, rejecting God's direct testimony concerning His Son is not merely an intellectual disagreement but an accusation that God Himself is deceitful. This highlights the foundational truth that one's standing before God hinges on accepting His divinely given witness about Jesus Christ.

John 5 10 Context

First John 5:10 appears at a pivotal point in the apostle John's argument regarding the certainty of salvation and the reality of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The surrounding verses in chapter 5 build upon the "testimony" (witness) of God. Verses 6-8 refer to the three witnesses—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—all confirming Jesus' true identity and saving work. This forms the backdrop against which God's own, greater testimony is presented. John is contending against false teachings, likely a nascent form of Gnosticism, which might have denied the physical reality of Jesus' life and death or his divine sonship. By asserting the unequivocal truth of God's testimony and the inner assurance it brings, John seeks to fortify believers in their faith and highlight the gravity of rejecting divine revelation.

John 5 10 Word analysis

• He who believes: (ὁ πιστεύων, ho pisteuōn). This uses an active present participle, emphasizing an ongoing, continuous state of belief. It points to someone characterized by faith in Jesus.

• in the Son of God: (τῷ Υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, tō Huiō tou Theou). This is a definitive Christological title affirming Jesus' unique divine relationship with the Father. Faith is directed at His full divine nature.

• has: (ἔχει, echei). Indicates possession or experience. It signifies that this testimony is not external or future, but a present reality and internal possession.

• the testimony: (τὴν μαρτυρίαν, tēn martyrían). Refers to a witness, evidence, or attestation. In this context, it is God's divine revelation concerning His Son.

• in himself: (ἐν ἑαυτῷ, en heautō). Denotes an internal, personal experience. This implies the indwelling Holy Spirit's confirmation within the believer, providing subjective assurance corresponding to God's objective truth.

• he who does not believe God: (ὁ μὴ πιστεύων τῷ Θεῷ, ho mē pisteuōn tō Theō). This is the direct opposite. The particle mē (μή) negates the present participle "believing," showing an active state of disbelief. Crucially, the direct object is "God" (tō Theō), indicating that unbelief in God's Son is fundamentally unbelief in God Himself.

• has made Him a liar: (ψεύστην πεποίηκεν αὐτόν, pseustēn pepoiēken auton). A very strong, almost shocking, statement. By disbelieving God's testimony about Jesus, one functionally labels God a "liar" (ψεύστης, pseustēs). The perfect tense of pepoiēken ("has made") suggests a settled state, a completed action with enduring consequences. This underscores the blasphemous nature of unbelief.

• because he has not believed: (ὅτι οὐ πεπίστευκεν, hoti ou pepisteuken). Provides the reason for calling God a liar. The use of the negative ou (οὐ) confirms the outright denial of the fact. The perfect tense indicates a definitive rejection of faith.

• in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son: (ἐν τῇ μαρτυρίᾳ ἣν μεμαρτύρηκεν ὁ Θεὸς περὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, en tē martyría hēn memarturēken ho Theos peri tou Huiou autou). This repeats the crucial subject of God's direct, personal, and authoritative witness concerning Jesus Christ, underscoring its pivotal importance and divine origin. The perfect tense for "has given testimony" (memarturēken) signifies an enduring and decisive witness.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself": This phrase establishes the immediate, personal, and Spirit-wrought assurance that comes from accepting God's truth about Jesus. It speaks to inner conviction and spiritual regeneration.
  • "he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son": This stark contrast defines unbelief not as intellectual agnosticism but as a direct affront to God's integrity and truthfulness. It emphasizes that rejection of Jesus' divine Sonship is fundamentally a rejection of God's authoritative word and character. The reason is directly linked back to failing to believe God's testimony about His Son, connecting divine Father and divine Son intrinsically.

John 5 10 Bonus section

• The stark contrast in this verse reveals the absolute, non-negotiable nature of the truth about Jesus as God's Son. There is no middle ground between believing God and making Him a liar regarding this central truth.
• This verse supports the concept of assurance of salvation. The "testimony in himself" is not just intellectual assent but a profound spiritual experience that brings conviction and peace.
• John's choice of "the Son of God" (Υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ) emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus, crucial in countering any false doctrines that diminished His deity or denied His unique relationship with the Father.
• The severity of "making Him a liar" stresses the personal and relational aspect of belief. It is not just about a doctrine but about trusting the divine Author of all truth. This has implications for worship and genuine fellowship with God.

John 5 10 Commentary

First John 5:10 offers a concise yet profound statement on the spiritual consequences of belief and unbelief, placing the "testimony of God" at its core. For the believer, faith in the Son of God translates into an experiential and indwelling conviction—an internal "testimony." This inner witness, primarily the Holy Spirit confirming the truth of God's Word within one's spirit (Rom 8:16), is the assurance of salvation and the reality of Christ's identity. This personal conviction is God's validation of the objective truth.

On the other hand, for those who do not believe, their unbelief is painted as a direct and grave insult to God. To refuse God's explicit testimony about His Son, Jesus, is tantamount to declaring that God Himself is deceitful. It implies that God has presented falsehood as truth, a profound accusation given God's immutable character (Heb 6:18; Tit 1:2). John uses this powerful rhetoric to expose the true nature of unbelief: it is not a neutral stance, but an active rejection of God's very word and character. This underscores that faith in Christ is not an option for consideration but an essential response to God's revelation.