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 know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, to walk just as He walked. 7Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which 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

• but whoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• but whoeverἄνan · ifG302
• followsτηρέωtēreō · to keep: observeG5083
• His wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• has trulyἀληθῶςalēthōs · trulyG230
• been perfectedτελειόωteleioō · to perfectG5048
• By thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• we knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097

Cross-references for 1 John 2:5

• 1 John 2:3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
• Psalms 105:45And that they might keep His statutes And comply with His laws; Praise the Lord!
• Psalms 106:3How blessed are those who maintain justice, Who practice righteousness at all times!
• Psalms 119:2Blessed are those who comply with His testimonies, And seek Him with all their heart.
• Proverbs 8:32“Now then, sons, listen to me, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
• Proverbs 28:7He who keeps the Law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5One who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure.
• Ezekiel 36:27And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances.
• Luke 11:28But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it.”
• John 14:21The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
• Revelation 12:17So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
• Revelation 14:12Here is the perseverance of the saints 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 remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
• James 2:22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
• 1 John 2:27And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him.
• 1 John 3:24The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains 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

• 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