English Standard Version
1 John 2:5
5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
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:
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.
Context of 1 John 2:5
3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 7Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
Read all of 1 John 21 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- whosoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- keepethτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- wordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- himοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- verilyἀληθῶςalēthōs · trulyG230
- isτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
- the loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- know weγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
Cross-references for 1 John 2:5
- 1 John 2:3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
- Psalms 105:45that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!
- Psalms 106:3Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
- Psalms 119:2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
- Proverbs 8:32"And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Proverbs 28:7The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
- Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.
- Ezekiel 36:27And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
- Luke 11:28But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
- John 14:21Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
- Revelation 12:17Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
- Revelation 14:12Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
- 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
- James 2:22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
- 1 John 2:27But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
- 1 John 3:24Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries