16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and aHe will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. bThere is sin leading to death. cI do not say that he should pray about that.
17 aAll unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Knowing the True—Rejecting the False
18 We know that awhoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God bkeeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and athe whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the aSon of God has come and bhas given us an understanding, cthat we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. dThis is the true God eand eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
| << 1 John 5:17 | 1 John 5:19 >> |
What Does 1 John 5:18 Mean?
1 John 5:18-19
"Wicked" renders into English the Greek poneros, an adjective that denotes an active, malignant kind of evil. It refers to what is not only ugly and useless, but to what is injurious and destructive. Like a cancer to the human race, Satan is aggressively engaged in destruction and causing pain, injury, and death.
Clyde Finklea
Behind Enemy Lines (Part Two)
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 John 5:18:
| << 1 John 5:17 | 1 John 5:19 >> |
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"Wicked" translates the Greek poneros, an active, malignant evil that is injurious and destructive. Like a cancer, Satan aggressively causes pain, injury, and death. An alternate, preferred translation clarifies that God keeps the believer, much as He placed a hedge around Job, prompting Satan's complaint. This guarding answers Jesus' prayer in John 17:12 and 15, where He asked the Father to keep His followers from the evil one rather than remove them from the world. God knows His children's limits and Satan's power, jealously protecting them from the worst temptations. One born of God does not practice sin habitually, though he may stumble out of weakness. Unlike the world, led by Satan, this little flock refuses to follow the wicked one.