English Standard Version
1 John 5:12
12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
- New International Version (NIV)Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
Context of 1 John 5:12
10Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Read all of 1 John 51 John 5:12 word by word
ὁ ἔχων τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει τὴν ζωήν· ὁ μὴ ἔχων τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν ζωὴν οὐκ ἔχει.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 John 5:12
- 1 John 2:23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
- John 1:12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
- John 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
- John 5:24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
- Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Hebrews 3:14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
- 2 John 1:9Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
- Mark 16:16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Commentaries on 1 John 5:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12He that hath the Son hath life - As the eternal life is given In the Son of God, it follows that it cannot be enjoyed without him. No man can have it without having Christ; therefore he that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life. It is in vain to expect eternal glory, if we have not Christ in our heart. The indwelling Christ gives both a title to it, and a meetness for it. This is God's record. Let no man deceive himself here…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12He that hath the Son, hath life - See the notes at John 5:24. John evidently designs to refer to that passage in the verse before us, and to state a principle laid down by the Saviour himself. This is the sense of all the important testimony that had ever been borne by God on the subject of salvation, that he who believes in the Lord Jesus already has the elements of eternal life in his soul, and will certainly obtain salvation. Compare the notes at John…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has found and felt…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12Whoever has the Son has life: Those who have the Son of God living in them have God’s eternal life now. They enjoy the presence of God's Spirit (2:20, 25, 27). They have the guarantee of eternity with God (see Ephesians 1:13–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. the Son ... life--Greek, "THE life." Bengel remarks, The verse has two clauses: in the former the Son is mentioned without the addition "of God," for believers know the Son: in the second clause the addition "of God" is made, that unbelievers may know thereby what a serious thing it is not to have Him. In the former clause "has" bears the emphasis; in the second, life. To have the Son is to be able to say as the bride, "I am my Beloved's, and my…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 5:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 John 5
- 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
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- 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