The Meaning of 1 John 5:13 Explained

1 John 5:13

KJV: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

YLT: These things I did write to you who are believing in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that life ye have age-during, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God.

Darby: These things have I written to you that ye may know that ye have eternal life who believe on the name of the Son of God.

ASV: These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

These things  have I written  unto you  that believe  on  the name  of the Son  of God;  that  ye may know  that ye  have  eternal  life,  and  that  ye may believe  on  the name  of the Son  of God. 

What does 1 John 5:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The phrase "these things" evidently refers to what John had just written about God"s witness ( 1 John 5:6-12) rather than to his whole epistle. The "these things" in 1 John 2:1 likewise refer to what immediately precedes in 1 John 1:5-10, and the "these things" in 1 John 2:26 refer to what immediately precedes in 1 John 2:18-25. [1] John stated the purpose of the whole epistle in 1 John 1:3-4. [2]
"This assertion [3] is very frequently, and wrongly, taken as a statement of purpose for the entire epistle .... But this is contrary to the writer"s usage." [4]
Our assurance of salvation rests on the testimony of God, His promise ( 1 John 5:12). It does not rest on the presence of spiritual fruit (cf. John 15:8). It rests on God"s Word, not on man"s works. Therefore we can be sure we have eternal life if we have believed on Jesus Christ.
One writer claimed to believe that the Christian"s assurance of salvation rests on both God"s objective promises in Scripture and on the subjective evidence of the believer"s works. [5] However the following quotation from him seems to ground our assurance only on subjective evidence.
"Those who cling to the promise of eternal life but care nothing for Christ"s holiness have nothing to be assured of. Such people do not really believe. Either their professed "faith" in Christ is an utter sham, or they are simply deluded. If they did truly have their hope fixed on Christ, they would purify themselves, just as He is pure ( 1 John 3:3)." [6]
"Those who are willing to look at themselves with complete honesty will find more grounds to doubt their salvation than to be assured of it. Some even teach that this uncertainty is healthy! But this does not reckon with the fact that the apostle John expected his readers to know that they had eternal life. The irony is that once Christian experience is made the grounds for assurance, as some hold First John does, John"s statement in this verse about knowing becomes a complete impossibility!" [7]

Context Summary

1 John 5:13-21 - Ask According To His Will
We know that we have eternal life. The rope is in our hand bearing us onward, but its ends are hidden from view in the past and in the future. We also know that God hears us when we comply with the conditions of true prayer. We know, moreover, that we can become the medium through which the life of God passes to others. Thus the humblest child may have power with God and man.
The Only-Begotten keeps the begotten. Evil can no more touch them than blight could reach the bush in the wilderness that was bathed in the celestial fire. Who would go back to the world? Enumerate and press to heart these four items of positive knowledge; but beware lest what is legitimate and natural in itself may become an idol. Love, knowledge, abiding, conquering-these are the keynotes of this wonderful letter. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 John 5

1  He who loves God loves his children, and keeps his commandments;
3  which to the faithful are not grievous
9  Jesus is the Son of God;
14  and able to hear our prayers

Greek Commentary for 1 John 5:13

I have written [εγραπσα]
Not epistolary aorist, but refers to 1 John 5:1-12 of this Epistle as in 1 John 2:26 to the preceding verses. [source]
That ye may know [ινα ειδητε]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the second perfect active subjunctive of οιδα — oida to know with settled intuitive knowledge. He wishes them to have eternal life in Christ (John 20:31) and to know that they have it, but not with flippant superficiality (1 John 2:3.).Unto you that believe on (τοις πιστευουσιν εις — tois pisteuousin eis). Dative of the articular present active participle of πιστευω — pisteuō and εις — eis as in 1 John 5:10. For this use of ονομα — onoma (name) with πιστευω — pisteuō see 1 John 3:23; John 2:23. [source]
Unto you that believe on [τοις πιστευουσιν εις]
Dative of the articular present active participle of πιστευω — pisteuō and εις — eis as in 1 John 5:10. For this use of ονομα — onoma (name) with πιστευω — pisteuō see 1 John 3:23; John 2:23. [source]
Have I written [ἔγραψα]
Lit., I wrote. John speaks as looking back over his Epistle and recalling the aim with which he wrote. See on 1 John 2:13. [source]
May know [εἰδῆτε]
Not perceive ( γινώσκειν ), but know with settled and absolute knowledge. See on John 2:24. [source]
Ye have eternal life [ζωὴν ἔχετε αἰώνιον]
The Greek order is peculiar, “ye may know that life ye have eternal.” The adjective eternal is added as an after-thought. So Westcott: “that ye have life - yes, eternal life.” [source]
Unto you that believe []
In the A.V., these words follow have I written. The Rev. follows the Greek order. The words, like eternal, above, are added as an after-thought, defining the character of the persons addressed. [source]
On the name [εἰς τὸ ὄνομα]
See on John 2:23; see on John 1:12. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 5:13

John 3:15 Have eternal life []
A characteristic phrase of John for live forever. See John 3:16, John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:54; 1 John 3:15; 1 John 5:12. The interview with Nicodemus closes with John 3:15; and the succeeding words are John's. This appears from the following facts: 1. The past tenses loved and gave, in John 3:16, better suit the later point of view from which John writes, after the atoning death of Christ was an accomplished historic fact, than the drift of the present discourse of Jesus before the full revelation of that work. 2. It is in John's manner to throw in explanatory comments of his own (John 1:16-18; John 12:37-41), and to do so abruptly. See John 1:15, John 1:16, and on and, John 1:16. 3. John 3:19is in the same line of thought with John 1:9-11in the Prologue; and the tone of that verse is historic, carrying the sense of past rejection, as loved darkness; were evil. 4. The phrase believe on the name is not used elsewhere by our Lord, but by John (John 1:12; John 2:23; 1 John 5:13). 5. The phrase only-begotten son is not elsewhere used by Jesus of himself, but in every case by the Evangelist (John 1:14, John 1:18; 1 John 4:9). 6. The phrase to do truth (John 3:21) occurs elsewhere only in 1 John 1:6. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 John 1:7 Of Jesus Christ His Son []
Omit Christ. The human name, Jesus, shows that His blood is available for man. The divine name, His Son, shows that it is efficacious. I shall be rendering a service to students of John's Epistles by giving, in a condensed form, Canon Westcott's note, classifying the several names of our Lord and their uses in the Epistles. The name in John, as in the Bible elsewhere, has two distinct, but closely connected meanings. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
1. The Revelation of the Divine Being by a special title. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
2. The whole sum of the manifold revelations gathered up so as to form one supreme revelation. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The latter sense is illustrated in 3 John 1:7, where “the name” absolutely includes the essential elements of the Christian creed, the complete revelation of Christ's work in relation to God and man. Compare John 20:31; Acts 5:41. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
In 1 John 2:12, the term is more limited, referring to Christ as He lived on earth and gave Himself for “the brethren.” In 1 John 3:23; 1 John 5:13, the exact sense is defined by what follows. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Actual Names Used. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(I.) His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 5:20. The divine antecedent is differently described in each case, and the difference colors the phrase. In 1 John 1:2-3, the Father (compare 1John href="/desk/?q=1jo+3:23&sr=1">1 John 3:23, God. In 1 John 5:20, He that is true. Thus the sonship of Christ is regarded in relation to God as Father, as God, and as satisfying the divine ideal which man is able to form. The whole phrase, His Son Jesus Christ, includes the two elements of the confessions which John makes prominent. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
1. Jesus is the Son of God (John 4:15; John 5:5). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
2. Jesus is the Christ (John 2:22; John 5:1). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The constituents of the compressed phrase are all used separately by John. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(1.) Jesus. 1 John 2:22; 1 John 5:1; 1 John 4:3(where the correct reading omits Christ). The thought is that of the Lord in His perfect historic humanity. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(2.) Christ. 2 John 1:9. Pointing to the preparation made under the old covenant. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(3). Jesus Christ. 1 John 2:1; 1 John 5:6; 2 John 1:7. Combining the ideas of true humanity and messianic position. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
In 1 John 4:15, the reading is doubtful: Jesus or Jesus Christ. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
On 1 John 4:2, see note. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(4.) The Son. 1 John 2:22, 1 John 2:23, 1 John 2:24; 1 John 4:14; 1 John 5:12. The absolute relation of Sonship to Fatherhood. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(5.) The Son of God. 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20. Compare His Son (1 John 4:10; 1 John 5:9), where the immediate antecedent is ὁ Θεός Godand 1 John 5:18, He that was begotten of God. Combination of the ideas of Christ's divine dignity and divine sonship. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(6.) Jesus His (God's) Son. 1 John 1:7. Two truths. The blood of Christ is available and efficacious. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(7). His (God's) Son, His only Son. 1 John 4:9. The uniqueness of the gift is the manifestation of love. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The Son in various forms is eminently characteristic of the First and Second Epistles, in which it occurs more times than in all Paul's Epistles. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Κύριος Lordis not found in the Epistles (omit from 2 John 1:3), but occurs in the Gospel, and often in Revelation. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The expression, the blood of Jesus His Son, is chosen with a profound insight. Though Ignatius uses the phrase blood of God yet the word blood is inappropriate to the Son conceived in His divine nature. The word Jesus brings out His human nature, in which He assumed a real body of flesh and blood, which blood was shed for us.Cleanseth ( καθαρίζει )See on Mark 7:19. Not only forgives but removes. Compare Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:13sq.; Hebrews 9:22sq.; Ephesians 5:26sq.; Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:3. Compare also 1 John 1:9, where, forgive ( ἀφῇ ) and cleanse ( καθαρίσῃ ) occur, with an obvious difference of meaning. Note the present tense cleanseth. The cleansing is present and continuous. Alexander (Bishop of Derry) cites a striking passage from Victor Hugo (“Le Parricide”). The usurper Canute, who has had a share in his father's death, expiring after a virtuous and glorious reign, walks towards the light of heaven. But first he cuts with his sword a shroud of snow from the top of Mt. Savo. As he advances towards heaven, a cloud forms, and drop by drop his shroud is soaked with a rain of blood.All sin ( πάσης ἁμαρτίας )The principle of sin in all its forms and manifestations; not the separate manifestations. Compare all joy (James 1:2); all patience (2 Corinthians 7:12); all wisdom (Ephesians 1:8); all diligence (2 Peter 1:5). [source]

1 John 3:23 We should believe [πιστευσωμεν]
(πιστευσωμεν — pisteusōmen first aorist active subjunctive according to B K L, though Aleph A C read the present subjunctive πιστευωμεν — pisteuōmen) either in a crisis (aorist) or the continuous tenor (present) of our lives. The “name” of Jesus Christ here stands for all that he is, “a compressed creed” (Westcott) as in 1 John 1:3. Note dative ονοματι — onomati here with πιστευω — pisteuō as in 1 John 5:10, though εις ονομα — eis onoma (on the name) in 1 John 5:13; John 1:12; John 2:23; John 3:18. [source]
1 John 3:23 That [ινα]
Subfinal use of ινα — hina in apposition with εντολη — entolē (commandment) and explanatory of it, as in John 15:12 See Christ‘s summary of the commandments (Mark 12:28-31; Matthew 22:34-40).So these two points here (1) We should believe (πιστευσωμεν — pisteusōmen first aorist active subjunctive according to B K L, though Aleph A C read the present subjunctive πιστευωμεν — pisteuōmen) either in a crisis (aorist) or the continuous tenor (present) of our lives. The “name” of Jesus Christ here stands for all that he is, “a compressed creed” (Westcott) as in 1 John 1:3. Note dative ονοματι — onomati here with πιστευω — pisteuō as in 1 John 5:10, though εις ονομα — eis onoma (on the name) in 1 John 5:13; John 1:12; John 2:23; John 3:18.But (2) we should love one another” There are frequent points of contact between this Epistle and the words of Jesus in John 13-17. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 John 5:13 mean?

These things have I written to you so that you may know that life you have eternal to those believing in the name of the Son - of God and that you may believe on name of God
Ταῦτα ἔγραψα ὑμῖν ἵνα εἰδῆτε ὅτι ζωὴν ἔχετε αἰώνιον τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ⧼καὶ ἵνα πιστεύητε εἰς ὄνομα θεοῦ⧽

Ταῦτα  These  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔγραψα  have  I  written 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
εἰδῆτε  you  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ζωὴν  life 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ζωή  
Sense: life.
ἔχετε  you  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
αἰώνιον  eternal 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: αἰώνιος  
Sense: without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be.
τοῖς  to  those 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστεύουσιν  believing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ὄνομα  name 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Υἱοῦ  Son 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
πιστεύητε  you  may  believe 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ὄνομα  name 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
θεοῦ⧽  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.