John 5 13

John 5:13 kjv

And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

John 5:13 nkjv

But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

John 5:13 niv

The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

John 5:13 esv

Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

John 5:13 nlt

The man didn't know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.

John 5 verses

John 5 13 Meaning

First John 5:13 declares that the very purpose of this epistle is to assure believers in the name of the Son of God that they possess eternal life. It highlights that the spiritual truth of salvation is not a mere hope but a present, tangible reality for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. This verse serves as a crucial summary and climactic statement of John's core message of certainty and assurance for those united with God through His Son.

John 5 13 Context

First John 5:13 serves as the explicit thesis statement of the entire epistle of 1 John. The chapter itself strongly emphasizes the interconnectedness of belief in Jesus, love for God, obedience to His commandments, and the victory of faith over the world. John transitions from affirming that God's commandments are not burdensome (1 Jn 5:3) because true believers are "born of God" (1 Jn 5:4) and overcome the world through their faith in Christ (1 Jn 5:5). He then reiterates the testimony concerning Jesus as the Son of God, mentioning the Spirit, water, and blood (1 Jn 5:6-8), and highlighting the superior testimony of God Himself (1 Jn 5:9-12). This direct testimony, that "God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1 Jn 5:11), leads directly into the purpose statement of verse 13.

Historically, John's epistle addresses a community grappling with false teachings, often described as early forms of Gnosticism or Docetism, which denied the true humanity of Jesus, His atoning work, or divorced knowledge from ethical living. These heretical views created doubt and uncertainty among believers. In this context, John's central aim is to provide sure grounds for Christian assurance. He counteracts the abstract, elitist "knowledge" (gnosis) of the heretics by providing objective, testable criteria for true fellowship with God: belief in the Incarnate Son (theology), obedience to His commands (ethics), and love for one another (community). Verse 13 synthesizes these elements, directly affirming that the goal of his letter is to instill confidence regarding their eternal state.

John 5 13 Word analysis

• These things (Ταῦτα - Taûta): A demonstrative pronoun, referring collectively to all the teachings, warnings, and affirmations that John has previously written in the letter. This includes the call to walk in light, confess sins, love one another, test the spirits, and maintain belief in Jesus as fully human and fully divine. It signals a culmination and purpose statement for the entire preceding text.
• I have written (ἔγραψα - égrapsa): First person singular, a definite, completed past action by the apostle John. The use of the aorist tense highlights the act of writing as a whole. This is a personal statement of intent, making clear his pastoral concern and theological purpose.
• to you (ὑμῖν - hūmîn): Direct address to the recipients of the letter, identifying them as the specific audience. This is not a general theological treatise but a letter aimed at comforting and establishing specific individuals.
• who believe (τοῖς πιστεύουσιν - toîs pisteúousin): Present participle, active voice, referring to those who are currently, actively believing. It denotes a continuing state or characteristic, rather than a one-time event, emphasizing genuine, ongoing faith. This faith is not passive but an active reliance and trust.
• in the name (εἰς τὸ ὄνομα - eis to ónoma): The phrase "in the name" signifies belief in the person, character, authority, and saving power associated with Jesus. It's not just intellectual assent to a name, but full surrender and trust in all that the name represents – His deity, humanity, redemptive work, and saving office.
• of the Son of God (τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ - toû Huioû toû Theoû): This crucial title emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and unique relationship with the Father. Belief in the "Son of God" affirms Jesus' identity as God incarnate and the divine agent of salvation, directly countering any Gnostic denials of His full divinity or humanity. This foundational belief is central to the epistle.
• that you may know (ἵνα εἰδῆτε - hína eidēte): Purpose clause (ἵνα) followed by the perfect subjunctive of οἶδα (oida), meaning "to know" in a settled, absolute, intuitive sense, rather than γινώσκω (ginōskō), which implies experiential knowing. This indicates objective, firm conviction and settled certainty. The goal is for believers to have clear, unwavering assurance.
• that you have (ὅτι ἔχετε - hóti échete): The present tense of ἔχω (echō), meaning "to have" or "possess," indicates a present, ongoing reality. Eternal life is not just a future hope but a current possession for believers.
• eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον - zōēn aiōnion): This term refers to the quality of life that originates from God, which is perfect and endless. It is not merely a quantity (never-ending existence) but a spiritual quality – the very life of God shared with the believer, commencing at the moment of faith and continuing throughout eternity. It embodies communion with God.

John 5 13 Bonus section

The specific choice of the Greek verb οἶδα (oida) for "know" in this verse, contrasting it with γινώσκω (ginōskō) used elsewhere by John, is significant. While γινώσκω implies an experiential or progressive knowing, οἶδα denotes a settled, objective, and intuitive understanding – a conviction that is firm and unshakeable. John desires believers to possess this absolute certainty concerning their salvation. This absolute knowing counters any Gnostic emphasis on an esoteric, inaccessible "gnosis" by offering a knowledge that is available to all genuine believers, founded on God's clear witness. The entire letter provides the grounds for this οἶδα-knowledge, acting as criteria to test the authenticity of one's faith, thus bolstering assurance, not undermining it. This certainty allows for freedom in fellowship with God and perseverance in a fallen world.

John 5 13 Commentary

First John 5:13 succinctly captures the overarching purpose of John's first epistle: to grant assurance to those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The phrase "These things I have written" refers to the extensive arguments John has laid out regarding true fellowship with God, identified by right belief (orthodoxy) in Christ's full deity and humanity, obedience to God's commands, and fervent love for other believers (orthopraxy). The audience, "you who believe in the name of the Son of God," identifies those whose faith is authentically placed in Jesus' person and saving work. John intends that this "knowledge" (οἴδατε) of possessing eternal life be a settled conviction, not a wavering hope.

This "eternal life" (ζωὴν αἰώνιον) is presented not as a distant future reward but as a present possession for the believer, highlighting the qualitative, divine life already experienced by those in Christ. This understanding combats any doubt fostered by false teachers who might suggest a believer's state of salvation is tenuous or unknowable. John offers a confident affirmation rooted in God's clear testimony about His Son (1 Jn 5:11). The assurance provided by this verse encourages believers to live confidently, exercise bolder prayer (1 Jn 5:14-15), and rest in their secure standing as children of God, recognizing that they belong to God and are protected from the evil one (1 Jn 5:18-19).Examples:

• A person wrestling with spiritual doubt can find peace in knowing that their faith in Jesus means they already have eternal life, not just might have it.
• When faced with false teachings that confuse salvation, this verse reminds believers that the simple truth of belief in Christ as Son of God is the basis for their assurance.