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

3And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 7Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.

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 2:3And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.
• Psalms 105:45All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord!
• Psalms 106:3There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.
• Psalms 119:2Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
• Proverbs 8:32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.
• Proverbs 28:7Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right,
• Ezekiel 36:27And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
• Luke 11:28Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
• John 14:21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
• Revelation 12:17And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.
• Revelation 14:12This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
• 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
• James 2:22You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.
• 1 John 2:27But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
• 1 John 3:24Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in 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