And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
What does 1 John 5:20 mean?
All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions; that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked one.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside 1 John 5:18-21 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on 1 John 5:20
This is the true God, and eternal life. And we know that the Son of God is come - We know this by the evidence that John had referred to in this Epistle, 1 John 1:1-4 ; 1 John 5:6-8 . And hath given us an understanding - Not an "understanding" considered as a faculty of the mind, for religion gives us no new faculties; but he has so instructed us that we do understand the great truths referred to. Compare the notes at Luke 24:45 .
Key words
- the true God
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the true God.
- understanding
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understanding. Compare the notes at Luke 24:45 .
- meant
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meant., he did refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. (1) the grammatical construction favors it.
Context in 1 John 5
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1 John 5 belongs to the closing movement of the book, especially the section often described as assurance and final warning. First John is a profound epistle of light, truth, love, assurance, obedience, and confession of the incarnate Son. Read this chapter with the wider themes of love, truth, and assurance in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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A guided collection of passages on God’s love, neighbor-love, steadfast covenant love, and the shape of love in Christian life.
Verses on the fear of the Lord, wise speech, practical judgment, teachability, and the difference between biblical wisdom and mere cleverness.
Passages on peace with God, peace in the heart, peace in community, and the biblical difference between true peace and false reassurance.
Bible verses about eternal life
Core passages on everlasting life, union with Christ, resurrection hope, judgment, and the promise of life beyond death.
Passages on the nature of truth, honesty, deception, the word of God as truth, and Jesus' claim to be the truth.