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.
• 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.
• 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

3We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command 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

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 2:3We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
• Psalms 105:45that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the Lord.
• Psalms 106:3Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
• Psalms 119:2Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—
• Proverbs 8:32“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
• Proverbs 28:7A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
• Ezekiel 36:27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
• Luke 11:28He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
• John 14:21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
• Revelation 12:17Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
• Revelation 14:12This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
• 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
• James 2:22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
• 1 John 2:27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
• 1 John 3:24The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave 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