1JN 5:18-21

The True God

18We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin, but the One begotten of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. [5:19] We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the evil one. [5:20] Now we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the True One; and we are in the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ. This One is the true God and eternal life. [5:21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

In the world it was spoken into

In the late 1st century, the audience of 1 John would have been familiar with the dualistic worldview common in Jewish and early Christian thought, where the forces of good and evil were in constant conflict. The mention of 'the evil one' would evoke the pervasive belief in Satan as an active, malevolent force opposing God’s purposes. The assertion that those 'born of God' do not continue in sin reflects the early Christian emphasis on moral transformation through divine regeneration, contrasting with the surrounding Greco-Roman culture’s more lenient attitudes toward ethical behavior. The phrase 'the world lies in the evil one' would resonate with the audience’s experience of a society dominated by idolatry, immorality, and imperial cults. The declaration that Jesus Christ is 'the true God' directly challenges the polytheistic and syncretistic practices of the time, offering a stark alternative to the worship of idols. The final exhortation to 'keep yourselves from idols' underscores the community’s need to maintain distinctiveness in a religiously pluralistic environment.

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How other translations render this

1JN 5:18

KJV: We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
BSB: We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
Koinōnos: We know that everyone having been born of God does not sin, but the One begotten of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1JN 5:19

KJV: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
BSB: We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
Koinōnos: We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the evil one.

1JN 5:20

KJV: 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.
BSB: And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Koinōnos: Now we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the True One; and we are in the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ. This One is the true God and eternal life.

1JN 5:21

KJV: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
BSB: Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Koinōnos: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

1JN 5:18

continues to sin;:The phrase translated 'continues to sin' implies an ongoing state or practice of sin, not just an isolated act. It suggests a habitual pattern of behavior.
protects:The word translated 'protects' here carries the sense of guarding or keeping watch over something precious, implying active vigilance and preservation.
evil [one]:The term translated 'evil one' can refer to evil as an abstract force, but in this context, it strongly suggests a personal, malevolent entity, often understood as the devil.

1JN 5:20

understanding:The word translated 'understanding' refers to the faculty of thought and intellect, encompassing both the mind's capacity for comprehension and its intentions or purposes.