1 John 2:5

1 John 2:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
• New International Version (NIV)But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:
• English Standard Version (ESV)but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
• New King James Version (NKJV)But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

Context of 1 John 2:5

3By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. 4If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: 6Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. 7Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.

1 John 2:5 word by word

ὃς δ᾽ ἂν τηρῇ αὐτοῦ τὸν λόγον, ἀληθῶς ἐν τούτῳ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ τετελείωται. ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐσμεν.Read the interlinear

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• if anyoneὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• if anyoneἄνan · ifG302
• keepsτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• Hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• has been truly perfectedτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• has been truly perfectedἀληθῶςalēthōs · trulyG230
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• himοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• we knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• we areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for 1 John 2:5

• 1 John 2:3By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
• Psalms 105:45that they might keep His statutes and obey His laws. Hallelujah!
• Psalms 106:3Blessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
• Psalms 119:2Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
• Proverbs 8:32Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
• Proverbs 28:7A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.
• Ezekiel 36:27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
• Luke 11:28But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
• John 14:21Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
• Revelation 12:17And the dragon was enraged at the woman and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
• Revelation 14:12Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
• 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
• James 2:22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
• 1 John 2:27And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
• 1 John 3:24Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

Commentaries on 1 John 2:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5But whoso keepeth his word - Conscientiously observes his doctrine, the spirit and letter of the religion of Christ. Is the love of God perfected - The design of God's love in sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for the sin of man , is accomplished, in that man who receives the doctrine, and applies for the salvation provided for him. This seems to be the meaning of the apostle. That we are in him - That we have entered into his spirit and views…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5But whoso keepeth his word - That is, what he has spoken or commanded, The term “word” here will include all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct. In him verily is the love of God perfected - He professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its completion or filling up by obedience to the will of God. That obedience is the proper carrying out, or the exponent of the love which exists in the heart. Love…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-11Verses 3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-6Obedience is one clear indication that we know Christ and belong to him. If we do not obey Christ, it is obvious that we do not belong to him or love him. As we obey Christ and his commandments, our love for God and our knowledge of him will grow toward completeness and maturity. We will walk as Jesus walked, united with God and showing love for others.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Not merely repeating the proposition, 1Jo 2:3, or asserting the merely opposite alternative to 1Jo 2:4, but expanding the "know Him" of 1Jo 2:3, into "in Him, verily (not as a matter of vain boasting) is the love of (that is towards) God perfected," and "we are in Him." Love here answers to knowledge in 1Jo 2:3. In proportion as we love God, in that same proportion we know Him, and vice versa, until our love and knowledge shall attain their full…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:5

• Assurance
• Holiness
• Love
• Obedience
• Perfection
• Righteous
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Lie
• Stumble
• John, the Epistles of
• in Christ, in Jesus, in the Lord, in him

Commentaries on 1 John 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings