1 John 2:5

1 John 2:5

The Test of Knowing Him

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a ^aliar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But ^awhoever keeps His word, truly the love of God¹ is perfected ^bin him. By this we know that we are in Him.

6 ^aHe who says he abides in Him ^bought himself also to walk just as He walked.

7 ¹Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ^afrom the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard² from the beginning.

8 Again, ^aa new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, ^bbecause the darkness is passing away, and ^cthe true light is already shining.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Not merely repeating the proposition, I John 2:3, or asserting the merely opposite alternative to I John 2:4, but expanding the "know Him" of I John 2:3, into "in Him, verily (not as a matter of vain boasting) is the love of (that is towards) God perfected," and "we are in Him." Love here answers to knowledge in I John 2:3. In proportion as we love God, in that same proportion we know Him, and vice versa, until our love and knowledge shall attain their full maturity of perfection.

his word—His word is one (see on I John 1:5), and comprises His "commandments," which are many (I John 2:3).

hereby—in our progressing towards this ideal of perfected love and obedience. There is a gradation: I John 2:3, "know Him"; I John 2:5, "we are in Him"; I John 2:6, "abideth in Him"; respectively, knowledge, fellowship, abiding constancy. [BENGEL].

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 John 2:5:**

Colossians 3:14
1 John 2:5
1 John 2:8
1 John 4:12

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1 John 2:6 >>

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