1 John 5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

1Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. Christ means the king God promised to send. Everyone who loves the Father also loves the Father's children.

2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

2Here is how we know we love God's children. We love God, and we do what he tells us.

3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

3Loving God means doing what he tells us. And what he tells us to do is not too heavy to carry.

4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

4Every child of God wins over the world. Our trust in God is what wins.

5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

5Who is it that wins over the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is God's Son.

6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

6Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood. He did not come by water only. He came by water and by blood. God's Spirit tells us this is true, because the Spirit is the truth.

7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

7There are three that tell us this in heaven. They are the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one.

NoteThe words about three telling us this in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, are not found in the oldest copies of this letter. Most modern Bibles do not have them, so verse 7 there simply says there are three that tell us this.

8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

8And there are three that tell us this on earth. They are the Spirit, the water, and the blood. All three say the same thing.

9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

9We believe what people tell us. What God tells us is even better. And God has told us about his Son.

10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

10Whoever believes in God's Son holds that message inside him. Whoever does not believe God is calling God a liar. That is because he will not believe what God said about his Son.

11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

11Here is what God said. God has given us life that never ends, and this life is in his Son.

12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

12Whoever has the Son has this life. Whoever does not have God's Son does not have this life.

13These 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.

13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of God's Son. I wrote so you can know that you have life that never ends. I wrote so you will keep believing in the name of God's Son.

14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

14This is why we can come to God without fear. If we ask for anything that fits what he wants, he hears us.

15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

15And if we know he hears whatever we ask, then we know something more. We know that what we asked him for is already ours.

16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

16Suppose you see a fellow believer doing a wrong that does not lead to death. Then ask God, and God will give that person life. There is a wrong that does lead to death. I am not saying to pray about that one.

NoteThe old English "a sin unto death" means a sin that leads to death. It does not mean a sin done while dying.

17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

17Everything that is not right is sin. But there is sin that does not lead to death.

18We 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.

18We know that a child of God does not keep on sinning. The one born of God keeps himself safe, and the evil one cannot touch him.

NoteThe old English "sinneth not" does not mean a person never does anything wrong. It means the person does not go on sinning as a way of life.

19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

19We know that we belong to God. We also know the whole world is held by the evil one.

20And 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.

20We know that God's Son has come. He has given us the sense to know the one who is true. And we are joined to the one who is true, by being joined to his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and he is life that never ends.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

21Dear children, keep away from idols. Idols are things people make and then treat as God. Amen.