KJV: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
YLT: Ye -- of God ye are, little children, and ye have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.
Darby: Ye are of God, children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
ASV: Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
| τοῦ | - |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Θεοῦ | God |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
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| τεκνία | little children |
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Parse: Noun, Vocative Neuter Plural Root: τεκνίον Sense: a little child. |
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| νενικήκατε | have overcome |
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Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: νικάω Sense: to conquer. |
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| ὅτι | because |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ὅτι Sense: that, because, since. |
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| μείζων | greater |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative Root: μέγας Sense: great. |
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| ὁ | the [One] |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| ἢ | than |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ἤ Sense: either, or, than. |
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| κόσμῳ | world |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: κόσμος Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government. |
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Greek Commentary for 1 John 4:4
Perfect active indicative of νικαω nikaō calm confidence of final victory as in 1 John 2:13; John 16:33. The reference in αυτους autous (them) is to the false prophets in 1 John 4:1. [source]
The reason for the victory lies in God, who abides in them (1 John 3:20, 1 John 3:24; John 14:20; John 15:4.). God is greater than Satan, “he that is in the world” (ο εν τωι κοσμωι ho en tōi kosmōi), the prince of this world (John 12:31; John 14:30), the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), powerful as he seems. [source]
See on 1 John 2:13. [source]
Compare 1 John 3:20. [source]
The Christian society. Compare John 6:56; John 14:20; John 15:4-10; John 17:23, John 17:26; Galatians 2:20(of the individual). [source]
In 1 John 5:19, the world is said to be in the evil one. Compare Ephesians 2:2. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 4:4
The aorist tense, overcame. On the cumulative form of expression, the victory, that which overcame, see on 1 John 4:9. The aorist is to be held here to its strict sense. The victory over the world was, potentially, won when we believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. We overcome the world by being brought into union with Christ. On becoming as He is (1 John 3:17) we become partakers of His victory (John 16:33). “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). [source]
Compare John 16:33. The image is characteristic of Revelation and First Epistle. See Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 21:7; 1 John 2:14; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:5. [source]
Τεκνίον , little child, diminutive of τέκνον childoccurs in John 8:33; 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:21. This particular phrase is found only here (best texts omit my in 1 John 3:18). Used as a term of affection, or possibly with reference to the writer's advanced age. Compare Christ's word, παιδία children(John 21:5) which John also uses (1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:18). In the familiar story of John and the young convert who became a robber, it is related that the aged apostle repaired to the robber's haunt, and that the young man, on seeing him, took to flight. John, forgetful of his age, ran after him, crying: “O my son why dost thou fly from me thy father? Thou, an armed man, - I, an old, defenseless one! Have pity upon me! My son, do not fear! There is still hope of life for thee. I wish myself to take the burden of all before Christ. If it is necessary, I will die for thee, as Christ died for us. Stop! Believe! It is Christ who sends me.” [source]
Neuter singular perfect passive participle of γενναω gennaō rather than the masculine singular (1 John 5:1) to express sharply the universality of the principle (Rothe) as in John 3:6, John 3:8; John 6:37, John 6:39.Overcometh the world (νικαι τον κοσμον nikāi ton kosmon). Present active indicative of νικαω nikaō a continuous victory because a continuous struggle, “keeps on conquering the world” (“the sum of all the forces antagonistic to the spiritual life,” D. Smith).This is the victory For this form of expression see 1 John 1:5; John 1:19. Νικη Nikē (victory, cf. νικαω nikaō), old word, here alone in N.T., but the later form νικος nikos in Matthew 12:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 15:57.That overcometh (η νικησασα hē nikēsasa). First aorist active articular participle of νικαω nikaō The English cannot reproduce the play on the word here. The aorist tense singles out an individual experience when one believed or when one met temptation with victory. Jesus won the victory over the world (John 16:33) and God in us (1 John 4:4) gives us the victory.Even our faith The only instance of πιστις pistis in the Johannine Epistles (not in John‘s Gospel, though in the Apocalypse). It is our faith in Jesus Christ as shown by our confession (1 John 5:1) and by our life (1 John 5:2). [source]
For this form of expression see 1 John 1:5; John 1:19. Νικη Nikē (victory, cf. νικαω nikaō), old word, here alone in N.T., but the later form νικος nikos in Matthew 12:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 15:57.That overcometh (η νικησασα hē nikēsasa). First aorist active articular participle of νικαω nikaō The English cannot reproduce the play on the word here. The aorist tense singles out an individual experience when one believed or when one met temptation with victory. Jesus won the victory over the world (John 16:33) and God in us (1 John 4:4) gives us the victory.Even our faith The only instance of πιστις pistis in the Johannine Epistles (not in John‘s Gospel, though in the Apocalypse). It is our faith in Jesus Christ as shown by our confession (1 John 5:1) and by our life (1 John 5:2). [source]
First aorist active articular participle of νικαω nikaō The English cannot reproduce the play on the word here. The aorist tense singles out an individual experience when one believed or when one met temptation with victory. Jesus won the victory over the world (John 16:33) and God in us (1 John 4:4) gives us the victory. [source]
Dative of the present (continuous victory) active articular participle of νικαω nikaō a common Johannine verb (John 16:33; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4.; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21:7). Faith is dominant in Paul, victory in John, faith is victory (1 John 5:4). So in each promise to these churches. [source]
The Holy Spirit as in Revelation 14:13; Revelation 22:17. Both Christ and the Holy Spirit deliver this message. “The Spirit of Christ in the prophet is the interpreter of Christ‘s voice” (Swete).To him that overcometh (τωι νικωντι tōi nikōnti). Dative of the present (continuous victory) active articular participle of νικαω nikaō a common Johannine verb (John 16:33; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4.; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:21; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21:7). Faith is dominant in Paul, victory in John, faith is victory (1 John 5:4). So in each promise to these churches.I will give Future active of διδωμι didōmi as in Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:23, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 2:28; Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:21; Revelation 6:4; Revelation 11:3; Revelation 21:6.To eat (παγειν phagein). Second aorist active infinitive of εστιω esthiō the tree of life (εκ του χυλου της ζωης ek tou xulou tēs zōēs). Note εκ ek with the ablative with παγειν phagein like our “eat of” (from or part of). From Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22. Again in Revelation 22:2, Revelation 22:14 as here for immortality. This tree is now in the Garden of God. For the water of life see Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:17 (Cf. John 4:10, John 4:13.).Which The χυλον xulon (tree).In the Paradise of God (εν τωι παραδεισωι του τεου en tōi paradeisōi tou theou). Persian word, for which see Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4. The abode of God and the home of the redeemed with Christ, not a mere intermediate state. It was originally a garden of delight and finally heaven itself (Trench), as here. [source]