I John 5:13
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I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "These things have I written unto you [omitting 'that believe on the name of the Son of God'] that ye may know that ye have eternal life (compare Jo1 5:11), THOSE (of you I mean) WHO believe (not as English Version reads, 'and that ye may believe') on the name of the Son of God." English Version, in the latter clause, will mean, "that ye may continue to believe," &c. (compare Jo1 5:12). These things--This Epistle. He, towards the close of his Gospel (Joh 20:30-31), wrote similarly, stating his purpose in having written. In Jo1 1:4 he states the object of his writing this Epistle to be, "that your joy may be full." To "know that we have eternal life" is the sure way to "joy in God."
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle asserts, I. The dignity of believers (Jo1 5:1). II. Their obligation to love, and the trial of it (Jo1 5:1-3). III. Their victory (Jo1 5:4, Jo1 5:5). IV. The credibility and confirmation of their faith (Jo1 5:6-10). V. The advantage of their faith in eternal life (Jo1 5:11-13). VI. The audience of their prayers, unless for those who have sinned unto death (Jo1 5:14-17). VII. The preservation from sin and Satan (Jo1 5:18). VIII. Their happy distinction from the world (Jo1 5:19). IX. Their true knowledge of God (Jo1 5:20), upon which they must depart from idols (Jo1 5:21).
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”