This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.
Parallel Translations
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This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.
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And this is the promes that he hath promysed vs even eternall lyfe.
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And this is the promise that he hath promised vs, euen that eternall life.
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Cross-references (23)
Passages linked to 1 John 2:25 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- John 10:28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
- Titus 3:7 that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
- John 17:2-3 even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
- Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began;
- 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
- Romans 5:21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- 1 John 1:2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);
- Romans 2:7 to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
- John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
- John 12:50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
- John 6:47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.
- 1 John 5:11-13 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
- 1 John 5:20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
- Daniel 12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Luke 18:30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”
- John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
- John 6:27 Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him.”
- John 6:54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
- 1 Timothy 6:19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
- Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
- 1 Timothy 1:16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain In the last place, he reminds us that it…
In the last place, he reminds us that it is real happiness when God dwells in us. The words he uses are ambiguous. They may be rendered, “This is the promise which he has promised to us, even eternal life.” You may, however, adopt either of these renderings, for the meaning is still the same. The sum of what is said is, that we cannot live otherwise than by nourishing to the end the seed of life sown in our hearts. John insists much on this point, that not only the beginning of a blessed life is to be found in the knowledge of Christ, but also its perfection. But no repetition of it can be too much, since it is well known that it has ever been a cause of ruin to men, that being not content with Christ, they have had a hankering to wander beyond the simple doctrine of the gospel.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 25 And this is the promise that he hath…
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Ver. 25. Even eternal life] Hold therefore the doctrine of faith sound and entire by the hand of faith, that ye may receive the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Which perseverance they are highly encouraged to by the…
Which perseverance they are highly encouraged to by the promise of so great a thing as eternal life at length.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Observe here, 1. How gracious Almighty God is to…
Observe here, 1. How gracious Almighty God is to enforce his commands with promises of reward; he required of us adherence to the truth, and perseverance in it, in the former verse; here he promises eternal life, by way of encouragement, in this verse.
Observe, 2. The benefit promised, life, eternal life; the greatness of this life is immeasurable,, the worth of this life is inestimable; the joys of this life innumerable, the duration of it is interminable.
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Observe, 3. The certainty of the conveyance; this is, the promise promised.
Mark, he doth not say purposed, but promised. A purpose is a secret and a hidden intention of the mind, but a promise is a revelation of that intention; yea, it is more than a declaration. A promise makes sure, as well as makes manifest; especially God’s promise, which has his oath for the confirmation of it, Heb 6:17.
Observe, 4. The peculiarity of the persons to whom the promise is made, he hath promised us; not to us as apostles only, but to us as Christians: all that are born of God are begotten to a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away: Again, he has promised us, not promised all eternal life, but us, who are thus and thus qualified, who keep his commandments, and walk as he walked.
Observe, 5. The eminency of the author by whom this promise is made, in the relative he; This is the promise which he hath promised us.
Here note, That eternal life was promised by God to good men under the Old Testament; Heb 11:16 tells us, that the Old Testament saints desired a better country, to wit, an heavenly; now how could they have desired it, if they had not known it? And how could they have known it, if God had not revealed it? And Christ bade the Jews search the scriptures , for in them ye think ye have eternal life; intimating, that in the writings of Moses, eternal life was made known typically and darkly, not so clearly and fully as by the gospel, 2Ti 1:10 He is holy, and cannot lie; righteous, and cannot deceive; immutable, and cannot repent.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And this is the promise that he hath promised…
And this is the promise that he hath promised us,.... Either God the Father, who is that God that cannot lie, who in the covenant of his grace, before the world began, made this promise unto his people,
even eternal life; which promise, with all others, was put into the hands of Christ, where, with them, it is yea and amen; and also the thing itself promised, where it is hid, and lies safe and secure: or the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has promised it in the Gospel; for this is the sum of the Gospel declaration, that whoever believes in him shall have everlasting life; and this lies in the knowledge of the Father, and of the Son, and in the enjoyment of them, and conformity to them; wherefore the doctrine respecting them ought to be retained, and firmly adhered to.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain He - The Son. Hath promised us - If…
He - The Son. Hath promised us - If we abide in him.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 25. This is the promise] God has promised…
Verse 25. This is the promise] God has promised eternal life to all who believe on Christ Jesus. So they who receive his doctrine, and continue in communion with the Father and the Son, shall have this eternal life.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain And this is the promise that he hath promised…
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life - This is evidently added to encourage them in adhering to the truths which they had embraced respecting the Son of God. In maintaining these truths they had the promise of eternal life; in departing from them they had none, for the “promise” of heaven in our world is made only to those who embrace one class of doctrines or opinions. No one can show that any “promise” of heaven is made to the mere possessor of beauty, or wealth, or talent; to the accomplished or the “happy”; to those who are distinguished for science, or skill in the arts; to rank, or birth, or blood; to courage or strength. Whatever expectation of heaven anyone may entertain on account of any of these things, must be traced to something else than a “promise,” for there is none in the Bible to that effect. The “promise” of heaven to people is limited to those who repent of their sins, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who lead a holy life; and if anyone will base his hope of heaven on a “promise,” it must be limited to these things. And yet what well-founded hope of heaven “can” there be, except that which is based “on a promise?” How does anyone know that he can be saved, unless he has some assurance from God that it may and shall be so? Is not heaven his home? How does anyone know that he may dwell there, without some assurance from Him that he may? Is not the crown of life His gift? How can anyone know that he will possess it, unless he has some promise from Him? However people may reason, or conjecture, or hope, the only “promise” of eternal life is found in the Bible; and the fact that we have such promise should surely be a sufficient inducement to us to hold fast the truth. On the promise of life in the gospel, see Joh 17:2; Rom 2:6-7; Mar 16:16; Mat 25:46.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain this is the promise--Eternal life shall be the permanent…
this is the promise--Eternal life shall be the permanent consummation of thus abiding in the Son and in the Father (Jo1 2:24).
he--Greek, "Himself," Christ, "the Son" (compare Jo1 1:1).
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promised-- (Joh 3:15, Joh 3:36; Joh 6:40, Joh 6:47, Joh 6:57; Joh 17:2-3).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 25. Eternal life—The final and endless blessing coming down…
25. Eternal life—The final and endless blessing coming down upon the faithful from the Father through the Son. Their attaining it depends upon the abide, 1Jn_2:24.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 25. And this is the promise that he hath…
25. And this is the promise that he hath promised us] Or, and the promise which He promised us is this: the aorist had better be retained, and ‘this’ is probably the predicate, referring to what follows (comp. Joh_5:22, 1Jn_1:5, 1Jn_5:14) and not the subject, referring to what precedes. This view is confirmed by 1Jn_3:23 and 1Jn_5:11. The connexion with what precedes is close, ‘eternal life’ being only another view of ‘abiding in the Father and the Son’. The ‘He’ is emphatic, and perhaps ‘He Himself would not be too strong as a rendering. Of course Christ is meant, “who in this whole passage forms the centre round which all the statements of the Apostle move” (Huther). For the promise see Joh_3:15; Joh_4:14; Joh_6:40, &c. &c. The best MS. (B) reads ‘promised you’, for ‘promised us’.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And the promise which he promised us is this,…
And the promise which he promised us is this, even the eternal life. Aujtov is Christ; auth looks forward to "the eternal life," not backwards to the abiding in the Father. (Joh_3:16 Joh_5:24 Joh_6:40, Joh_6:54) Thn zwhn thnion is in the accusative by attraction to hn. "What St. John would have us feel is this, that there can be no promise to compare with this that we should share the eternal life, the life of God. We often speak as if people were to be paid for being good; not as if the being good were itself God"s highest gift and blessing" (Maurice). The reading uJmin (B) for hJmin is worthy of notice. In verses 16, 17 St. John gives two reasons for shunning the world: because
(1) the world is alien to the Father;
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(2) it is passing away.
So here he gives two for holding fast the truth originally delivered to them: because the truth leads
(1) to fellowship with God;
(2) to eternal life.
Eternal life. Connecting link:
Whatever may be the arts used and the temptations set before us by antichrist to draw us away from the Father by tempting us to apostatize from the Son, there can be offered to us by antichrist nothing so great as, yea, nothing to compare with, the vast promise left us on record by our own gracious Lord and Master; for "this is the promise which he himself hath given us, even the life, the eternal life." Whence our topicThe greatest of all promises from the greatest of all Promisers.
I LET US FIRST INQUIRE INTO THE CONTENT AND MEANING OF THE PROMISE. "The eternal life." The phrase is so expressively worded as to indicate that there is one well-understood kind of life which forms the sum and substance of the hope put before Christian believers. It had been, indeed, very clearly defined by our Lord himself (cf. Joh_17:2, 3). So that on the highest possible grounds we are precluded from any warrant for confounding the phrase "eternal life" with continuity of existence. The latter, indeed, is postulated thereby; but it might be, quite apart from the former. The eternal life is that state of being in which the highest part of man"s nature is in communion with the Highest One, and in which a perfect organization that can never be impaired is in perfect correspondence with a perfect environment that can never change (Drummond, pages 203, et seq. ). O r, to reset this definition in scriptural phraseology, it is an unbroken and unending enjoyment of God by perfected natures in a perfected world. But there is this difference between the two definitions the one lies in the region of science, and declares in what it must consist if it could be secured; the other lies in the region of revelation, and declares in what it does consist as Divine love secures it! There are three factors in the making of this life.
1. God, and the riches of his love as the sustaining energy of the soul.
2. A nature ripened in holiness, and divested of all decaying tendencies inits bodily enswathement, as the developed life of the soul.
3. A world of undecaying fitness and beauty as the sphere of activity of the soul. Now, the first is precisely that which is the delight and the food of the soul even here. God! God in Christ! The second, so far as concerns the ripening the nature in holiness, is now being secured by the sanctification of the Spirit; and as concerns the freeing of the soul from decaying elements, it is ensured by the body being left behind as a worn-out vesture. The third is revealed as the ensuing outcome of God"s plan in preparing a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. The work already done upon the globe is a prophecy that God is preparing it for something higher. The work already wrought on the soul of the believer is a prediction that it will be carried on to completion (1Co_2:9; Php_1:6; 1Jn_3:1, 1Jn_3:2; cf. chapter 1:3, in which Jesus Christ himself is spoken of as "that Eternal Life," etc.). But the main point now to be insisted on is this not only that all the elements which go to make up eternal life are even now in existence and action, but also that the consummation, the perfection, and the perpetuity of the life which now exists in germ and develops in growth, are all matter of distinct and definite promise; yea, that this is the promise in which all lesser ones are contained. That we have not to be tantalized with a vision of glory, saying, "That is it if it could be attained," but that we may live under the inspiration of a promise which says It is the Father"s will that you should be kept from failing, and presented "faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy"!
II THIS, THE GREATEST OF ALL PROMISES, COMES FROM THE GREATEST OF ALL PROMISERS. Not all the conclaves of the wisest philosophers could create or sustain the lowly life of a blade of grass! Yet, somehow or other, there is a promise on record of a girt of life, of the highest life, to men of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, to a great multitude which no man can number; and that that life shall be sustained forever! Well may the apostle lay stress on the personal pronoun he; for assuredly none but a Divine Being could have the right to make such a promise, for no one but he who is Lord of life could possibly guarantee its fulfillment! The promise, indeed, was first made long before Christ came. (Tit_1:2) But in and by The Lord Jesus Christ has it been again vouchsafed.
1. Where and how has Christ promised eternal life? (Cf. Joh_6:37-40, 54 10:27, 28 11:26 12:26 14:3, 19; see also Joh_17:2, Joh_17:3) But such words as these do not stand alone. Christ bids us "eat his flesh, and drink his blood;" i.e., he gives us himself to live upon he nourishes us with his own life. All his pledges, moreover, were confirmed by his resurrection and ascension, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost, by whom he now imparts and nourishes the life which he promises eternally to sustain.
2. What are the qualifications of Christ for making such a promise as this?
(1) He has all authority, and therefore may make such a promise (Joh_17:2, 3).
(2) He is the Almighty, therefore can fulfill it (Heb_7:25; Rev_1:8)
(3) He is himself the Life-giver. (1Co_15:45)
(4) He is the Life-sustainer (Heb_1:3)
(5) His love leads him to long that his people should be with him. (Joh_17:24)
(6) His love changes not. (Joh_13:1)
(7) His being changes not. (Heb_13:8)
(8) As far as the experience of believers this side the grave informs us, they find that in and by Christ they have already this very life; and up to the close of his earthly career he proves himself faithful to his own. (chapter 5:12 (Greek), first part; Gal_2:20; 2Ti_1:12) Let each of these seven lines of illustration be followed out, and they will prove abundantly that Jesus is and ever will be equal to fulfill the promise he has made.
III ARE THESE THINGS SO? Then:
1. Let us see that, since the objective ground of the good hope of thebeliever is found in the word of promise, there is just one point to which the test of validity needs to be applied, viz. the person of him who promises. If he is true, it is! How clear and yet how pure the ground on which we stand!
2. It should never trouble us to find that neither science nor philosophy can either light us or help us in this matter. We never have looked to them as guides to immortality, and never will.
3. The ground on which the promise is given removes all improbability of its fulfillment. "Grace;" "love;" "The riches of his grace;" "Herein is love!
4. Both objectively and subjectively, the enjoyment of the first-fruits makes us sure of the harvest. Objectively. (Rom_5:10) Subjectively. (Php_1:6)
1. This clear and definite goal to human existence gives to theories of advance, development, evolution, an intelligible meaning, a crowning glory.
2. The reason of life is thus magnificently told it! It is that we may become like unto the Son of God, conformed to the type of all goodness, and that forever!
3. How guilty shall we be, and how miserably poor, if we miss this life! "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God!" Oh! if there be a higher life spoken of by others and experienced by them, and if any have not this higher life, and know they have not, ought they not to cry mightily to its Lord and Giver, saying, "Lord, give me this higher life"? They will not cry in vain. God never deserts the imploring soul.
Lastly: The theme prepares us for an answer to the charge of unbelievers, and for a retort upon them likewise. We are told that the Christian aims are selfish in cherishing the hope of eternal life, and in being inspired thereby. What? Is it selfish to find an inspiration in the hope of being free from all selfishness, and of becoming more and more God-like for ever in benevolence and love? We reply that not to desire eternal life is base ingratitude. It is like saying to the eternal Father, "Father, I know quite enough of thee already, and do not wish to know more; nor do I desire time to grow that I may become more grateful to the goodness and mercy which have crowned my days." The truly loyal son will long to do something to recompense his Father"s care, and to fulfill the words, "As a bridegroom rejoiceth over a bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee!"
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain And this is the promise that He hath promised…
1Jn_2:25
And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.
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Eternal life
I. Consider the blessing promised--eternal life. Life is used as the illustration, because of all blessings it is the most desired, and eternal is appended to it, because that is the highest and best form of life.
1. The first great element in eternal life is freedom from condemnation. So taught our Saviour Himself (Joh_5:24).
2. Another element of eternal life is the renewal of the heart in righteousness by the grace of the Divine Spirit. There is a double death of the sinner in this present life, and there is a double life corresponding to it. He is dead under the sentence of the law, and also under the power of sin. The former is removed when he is forgiven, the latter when he is renewed in the spirit of his mind.
3. It is in eternity, however, it shall be consummated. The principles by which it is now produced and maintained shall then be perfected.
II. What is implied in its being represented as a promise?
1. If eternal life be a promise, this implies that it is a free gift.
2. While a promise supposes a free gift on the part of God, it implies its acceptance on our part. If it be not accepted it can never be enjoyed.
3. If eternal life be the promise of God it is sure. He is not a man that He should lie, etc.
4. Finally, since eternal life is the promise of God, it ought to exercise a powerful influence over us, in engaging us wholly for Him who has so provided for us. (James Morgan, D. D.)
The promise of eternal life
I. Gods promise of salvation is the expression of His heart of love to the needy and to the lost. This is Gods promise, even eternal life.
II. The Promiser.
1. First, we must think of Gods purpose in the promise. He had a purpose in making the promise.
2. Then we must think of the Word of God, in which the promise is revealed as well as recorded; and the promise being in Gods Word, will never be repealed.
3. Then we must think of Christ, in whom all the promises of God are Yea, and in Him Amen. God says, My covenant shall stand fast with Him. There is no change in all this.
4. And then there is another point we have to think about, and that is the believers faith in order to realise the promise; and this is often very weak, and often fails.
III. The persons to whom the promise is made. This is the promise which He hath promised us. The us here means those who had an unction from the Holy One, and knew the truth, as distinguished from those who held the various errors the apostle had been speaking of. It refers to all the children of God, Christs Holy Church throughout the world; for, as the work was done for them, so the promise by which that work was made theirs is addressed to them. (J. W. Reeve, M. A.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 25. And this is the promise. This promise is…
25. And this is the promise. This promise is made to all who abide in the Son and in the Father.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.