1 John 5:13

 

1 John 5:13

(KJV) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

(1611 KJV) These things haue I written vnto you that beleeue on the Name of the Sonne of God, that ye may know, that ye haue eternall life, and that yee may beleeue on the Name of the Sonne of God.

(1587 Geneva Bible) These things haue I written vnto you, that beleeue in the Name of that Sonne of God, that ye may knowe that ye haue eternall life, and that ye may beleeue in the Name of that Sonne of God.

(1526 Tyndale) These thynges have I written vnto you that beleve on the name of the sonne of God that ye maye knowe howe that ye have eternall lyfe and that ye maye beleve on the name of the sonne of god.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB)  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.

(NIV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

(NASV) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

(THE MESSAGE) My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion.

(NLT) I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

(ESV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

(CEV) All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life.

(1901 ASV) These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.

(NLV) I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God. Now you can know you have life that lasts forever.

(HCSB) 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.

(RSV) I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

(NAB-Roman Catholic) I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

(Douay-Rheims Roman Catholic) These things I write to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) I write YOU these things that YOU may know that YOU have life everlasting, YOU who put YOUR faith in the name of the Son of God.

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

tauta egraya umin toiV pisteuousin eiV to onoma tou uiou tou qeou ina eidhte oti zwhn ecete aiwnion kai ina pisteuhte eiV to onoma tou uiou tou qeou

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

tauta egraya umin ina eidhte oti zwhn ecete aiwnion toiV pisteuousin eiV to onoma tou uiou tou qeou

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

K 018 - Ninth century

L 020 - Ninth century

P 025 - Ninth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Weiss, Bernhard - 1894

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

 

Affected Teaching

1 John 5:13 is being written to all those who are believers already. This verse is a verse of encouragement because then, as now, there are people who teach that a person can lose their salvation plus there are many Christians who really believe they are not saved but are truly saved. This verse is encouraging and assuring Christians that if they have truly become saved, then the things written in the Scriptures are there so a Christian may know, and not continually be guessing as to whether they have eternal life or not. Not being sure of our salvation can really cause a Christian to spend their life in fear and that will result in them not being a suitable witness for the Gospel. Fear of loss of salvation has many Christians in bondage trying to do better in their Christian walk. We all want to do better but we must realize that once we are saved, we can never increase our salvation by any type of works nor can we lose that salvation by decreasing works. All true Christians desire to grow in sanctification and that means growing closer to Christ and growing farther from the world.

 

The part of the verse which is omitted is a portion of encouragement. When Christians are going through rough times or even persecution, the fact that the Scriptures are written assuring us of eternal life enables us not to lose heart. Those who are true believers already are being encouraged that if they really take the Scriptures to heart, no matter what their present predicament is, they will be able to continue believing on the Lord Jesus, in the manner that He is able to bring us through all the hard times in our life. It is an essential portion of Scripture to keep the Christian from becoming discouraged in their Christian walk. It seems that the modern versions attempt to discourage encouragement in the Lord Jesus Christ who bring us through the hard times in life. The removal of this portion of Scripture is another attack on the Lord Jesus Christ and His keeping power over His children. (1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Back