1 John 5:5 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 5:5

1 John 5:5. Who is he that overcometh the world That is superior to all earthly care, desire, fear? Who is the man, and where is he to be found? Surely none have gained, or will gain, this important victory, but they who believe that Jesus is the Son of God “The great principles,” says Doddridge, “peculiar to our divine religion, a sense of redeeming love, and the prospect of such a sublime and perpetual happiness as the gospel opens upon us, can alone be sufficient to teach us to triumph... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 5:1-5

The character of Christian love (4:7-5:5)It is God’s nature to love. Love in human nature has been spoiled by sin, but when people are born again by the work of God, they learn to love as God loves (7-8). The character of God’s love is seen in his act of giving his Son to die for those who have rebelled against him. They are worthy of death, but Jesus died to bear the judgment of sin on their behalf. As a result they can now have life (9-10). People cannot see God, but they can see that he... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 John 5:5

but = except. Greek. ei me . Son of God . App-98 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 5:5

And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?It was the basic, fundamental conviction of Christians regarding who Christ was (and is) that fed the springs of their courage and determination. They did not believe, merely, that Christ was some great and wonderful teacher, but that he Was God come in the flesh, the lawful ruler of heaven and earth, the Holy One who would at the last day raise all the dead who ever lived and appoint every soul his... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 5:4-5

1 John 5:4-5. For whatsoever is born of God, &c.— That is, every child of God. The connection of this with the preceding verse stands thus: "His commandments are not grievous; because in observing them we gain a victory through grace over this world, our grand enemy; and nothing can be accounted grievous which produces so much good." The principle by which they overcame, was faith in the infinite merit and intercession of Christ. It may be proper just to take a view of the advantages which... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 5:5

5. Who—"Who" else "but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God:" "the Christ" (1 John 5:1)? Confirming, by a triumphant question defying all contradiction, as an undeniable fact, 1 John 5:4, that the victory which overcomes the world is faith. For it is by believing: that we are made one with Jesus the Son of God, so that we partake of His victory over the world, and have dwelling in us One greater than he who is in the world (1 John 5:4- :). "Survey the whole world, and show me even one... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 5:3-15

B. The Empowerment of Brotherly Love 5:3b-15If love for our brethren really boils down to keeping God’s commandments, how can we do that? It sounds difficult, even impossible. John proceeded to respond to this concern. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 5:5

Continuing to overcome is not automatic for the Christian. Not all Christians continue to overcome the world (cf. 2 Timothy 4:10). Only those who continue to live by faith (i.e., trust and obey God) do. However, no one can overcome the world unless he or she believes that Jesus is the Son of God. It is in this sense that John refers to overcomers here; every Christian overcomes essentially because we believe in Jesus Christ. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 5:1-21

The Love, Obedience, and Assurance of Believers1. The reason for brotherly love. 2. This is the converse of 1 John 4:19-21. Love to God and love to the brethren being inseparable, each is the test of the other. 4. Whatsoever] not ’whosoever.’ ’It is not the man, but his birth from God, which conquers’ (Plummer).6. This is he that came by water and blood] According to the most generally accepted interpretation of this difficult passage, the reference is primarily to our: Lord’s baptism in Jordan... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 John 5:1-12

V.(8.)FAITH THE TEST OF LOVE (1 John 5:1-12).(a)Its power (1 John 5:1-5).(b)The evidence on which it rests (1 John 5:6-10).(c)What it contains (1 John 5:11-12).(8 a.) St. John has been setting love in the supreme place which it held in our Lord’s teaching and in St. Paul’s. But there is another faculty which has to regulate, purify, direct, and stir up our weak and imperfect loving powers, and that is, faith. Without faith we cannot be certain about the quality of our love. He begins very... read more