1 John 5:1-6

1 John 5:1-6
Eastertide B24

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Everyone who believesA that JesusB is the ChristC has been bornD of God,E

Notes on verse 1a

A “believes” = pisteuo. From pistis (faith, faithfulness, belief, trust, confidence; to be persuaded or come to trust); from peitho (to have confidence, urge, be persuaded, agree, assure, believe, have confidence, trust). This is to believe, entrust, have faith it, affirm, have confidence in. This is less to do with a series of beliefs or doctrines that one believes and more to do with faithfulness, loyalty, and fidelity. It is trusting and then acting based on that trust.
B “Jesus” = Iesous. From Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua, the Lord is salvation); {from YHVH (proper name of the God of Israel; the self-existent and eternal one); {from havah (to become) or from hayah (to come to pass, become, be)} + yasha (to deliver, defend, help, preserve, rescue; properly, to be open, wide or free, which implies being safe. So, in a causative sense, this is to free someone)}. This is Jesus or Joshua in Greek – the Lord saves or the Lord is salvation.
C “Christ” = Christos. From chrio (consecrate by anointing with oil; often done for prophets, priests, or kings). Literally, the anointed one, Christ. The Greek word for Messiah.
D “been born” = gennao. From genna (descent, birth); from genos (family, offspring, kin – in a literal or figurative sense); from ginomai (to come into being, to happen, become, be born; to emerge from one state or condition to another; this is coming into being with the sense of movement or growth). This is to beget, give birth to, or bring forth. Properly, it refers to procreation by the father, but was used of the mother by extension. Figuratively, this can mean to regenerate.
E “God” = Theos. From Proto-Indo-European origins, meaning do, put, place. This is God or a god in general.

and everyone who lovesF the parentG loves the child.H 

Notes on verse 1b

F “loves” = agapao. Perhaps from agan (much). This is love, longing for, taking pleasure in. It is divine love or human love that echoes divine love.
G “parent” = gennao. Literally “begetter.” Same as “been born” in v1. See note D above.
H “child” = ho + gennao + ek + autos. Literally “the one begotten of him.” Gennao is the same as “been born” in v1. See note D above.

By this we knowI that we love the childrenJ of God, when we love God and obeyK his commandments.L 

Notes on verse 2

I “know” = ginosko. This is to know, recognize, realize, perceive, learn. It is knowledge gained through personal experience.
J “children” = teknon. From tikto (to beget, bring forth, produce). This is a child, descendant, or inhabitant.
K “obey” = poieo. This is to make, do, act, construct, abide, or cause.
L “commandments” = entole. From entellomai (to charge, command, give orders or instructions) {from en (in, on, at, by, with) + tellomai (to accomplish) [from telos (an end, aim, purpose, completion, end goal, consummation, tax; going through the steps to complete a stage or phase and then moving on to the next one)]}. This is an order, command, ordinance, or law. It focuses on the purpose of the command and its end result.

For the loveM of God is this, that we obeyN his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,O 

Notes on verse 3

M “love” = agape. Related to “loves” in v1. From agapao (see note F above). This is love, goodwill, benevolence. It is God’s divine love or human love that mirrors God’s love.
N “obey” = tereo. From teros (a guard or a watch that guards keep); perhaps related to theoreo (gazing, beholding, experiencing, discerning; looking at something to analyze it and concentrate on what it means; the root of the word “theatre” in that people concentrate on the action of the play to understand its meaning); from theaomai (to behold, look upon, see, contemplate, visit); from thaomai (to gaze at a spectacle; to look at or contemplate as a spectator; to interpret something in efforts to grasp its significance); from theoros (a spectator or envoy). This is to guard, observe, keep, maintain, or preserve. It can also be used figuratively for spiritual watchfulness. It is guarding something from being lost or harmed – keeping an eye on it. Contrast the Greek phulasso, which is to guard something so that it doesn’t escape. Also contrast koustodia, which generally denotes a fortress or military presence. This word can mean fulfilling commands, keeping in custody, or maintaining. It can also figuratively mean to remain unmarried.
O “burdensome” = barus. 6x in NT. Perhaps from the same as baros (weight, burden in a literal or figurative sense; authority); from the same as basis (foot, step, pace); {from baino (to walk to go). This is heavy, burdensome, oppressive, serious. It is weighty in a literal or figurative sense.

4 for whatever is born of God conquersP the world.Q And this is the victoryR that conquers the world, our faith.S Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Notes on verses 4-5

P “conquers” = nikao. From nike (victory, conquest; figurative for what makes one successful). This is to have victory, overcome, conquer, or prevail. It implies a victory that follows a battle. This root is part of “Nicodemus’s” name and it is also the root where Nike comes from.
Q “world” = kosmos. Perhaps from the base of komizo (to carry, convey, recover); from komeo (to take care of). This is order, the world, the universe, including its inhabitants. Literally, this is something that is ordered so it can refer to all creation. It can also refer to decoration in the sense that something is better ordered and, thus, made more beautiful. This is where “cosmos” and “cosmetics” come from.
R “victory” = nike. Related to “conquers” in v4. 1x in NT. See note P above.
S “faith” = pistis. Related to “believes” in v1. See note A above.

This is the one who came by water and blood,T Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the SpiritU is the one that testifies,V for the Spirit is the truth.W

Notes on verse 6

T “blood” = haima. This is blood in a literal sense as bloodshed. Figuratively, it can also be used to refer to wine or to kinship (being related).
U “Spirit” = Pneuma. From pneo (to blow, breath, breathe hard). This is wind, breath, or ghost. A breeze or a blast or air, a breath. Figuratively used for a spirit, the human soul or part of us that is rational. It is also used supernaturally for angels, demons, God, and the Holy Spirit. This is where pneumonia comes from.
V “testifies” = martureo. From martus (a witness whether having heard or seen something; witness literally, judicially, or figuratively; by analogy, a martyr). This is to bear witness, testify, give evidence. It is to testify in a literal or figurative sense.
W “truth” = aletheia. From alethes (true, unconcealed; true because it is in concert with fact and reality – attested; literally, what cannot be hidden; truth stands up to test and scrutiny and is undeniable, authentic). {from a (not, without) + lanthano (unnoticed, concealed)}.Truth is literally that which is not or cannot be concealed. This word covers more than the sense of true versus false. It spoke of truth as that which corresponds to reality – reality as opposed to illusion. Thus, it includes, sincerity, straightforwardness, and reality itself.


Image credit: “The Poor Invited to the Feast” by Jesus MAFA, Cameroon, 1973.

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