But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him:
Parallel Translations
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But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him:
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Whosoever kepeth his (worde) in him is the love of god parfect in dede. And therby knowe we that we are in him.
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But hee that keepeth his worde, in him is the loue of God perfect in deede: hereby wee knowe that ye are in him.
Cross-references (30)
Passages linked to 1 John 2:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.
- John 14:21 One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
- 1 John 4:12-13 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
- Luke 11:28 But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- 1 John 3:24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
- Psalms 119:2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart.
- 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
- Revelation 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
- Ezekiel 36:27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.
- 1 John 2:3-4 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.
- John 15:5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- Psalms 119:146 I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.
- 1 John 4:15-16 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
- 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
- Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
- 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.
- Revelation 12:17 The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony.
- Psalms 106:3 Blessed are those who keep justice. Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.
- Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.
- John 6:56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Colossians 2:9-10 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
- James 2:22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.
- 1 John 2:27-28 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
- Psalms 119:4 You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.
- Proverbs 8:32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
- Psalms 105:45 that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise Yah!
- Proverbs 28:7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 5 But whoso keepeth He now defines what a…
5 But whoso keepeth He now defines what a true keeping of God’s law is, even to love God. This passage is, I think, incorrectly explained by those who understand that they please the true God who keep his word. Rather take this as its meaning, “to love God in sincerity of heart, is to keep his commandments.” For he intended, as I have before reminded you, briefly to shew what God requires from us, and what is the holiness of the faithful. Moses also said the same thing, when he stated the sum of the law.
“Now, O Israel, what does the Lord require of thee, but to fear and love him, and to walk in his precepts?” (Deuteronomy 10:12.)
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And again he says,
“Choose life, even to love the Lord thy God, to serve him and to cleave to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20)
For the law, which is spiritual, does not command only external works, but enjoins this especially, to love God with the whole heart.
That no mention is here made of what is due to men, ought not to be viewed as unreasonable; for brotherly love flows immediately from the love of God, as we shall hereafter see. Whosoever, then, desires that his life should be approved by God, must have all his doings directed to this end. If any one objects and says, that no one has ever been found who loved God thus perfectly; to this I reply, that it is sufficient, provided every one aspired to this perfection according to the measure of grace given unto him. In the meantime, the definition is, that the perfect love of God is the complete keeping of his law. To make progress in this as in knowledge, is what we ought to do.
Hereby know we that we are in him He refers to that fruit of the gospel which he had mentioned, even fellowship with the Father and the Son; and he thus confirms the former sentence, by stating what follows, as a consequence. For if it be the end of the gospel to hold communion with God, and no communion can be without love, then no one makes a real progress in faith except he who cleaves from the heart to God.
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.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Wherewith we love God.
Wherewith we love God.
He that keepeth God’s commandments loveth God indeed. He that loveth God, is in God, or is joined together with God. Therefore he that keepeth his commandments, is in him.
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He meaneth our conjunction with Christ.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily…
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Ver. 5. In him verily is the love of God perfected] St John was a mere compound of sweetest love. As iron put into the fire, seemeth to be nothing but fire, so he (the beloved disciple) was turned into a lump of love. Hence he so presseth love, perfect love, to God and his people. And Jerome tells us, that living to a very great age at Ephesus, he would get up into the pulpit; and when through weakness of body he could say no more, he would say, "Little children, love one another;" Si hoc solum fiat, sufficit, If this be well done, all is done. (Jerome in cap. vi. ad Gal.)
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That we are in him] In communion with him, and in conformity to him.
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 His faith worketh by love, Gal 5:6; his love…
His faith worketh by love, Gal 5:6; his love is
perfected, and attains its end in obedience, whereof it is the vital principle, 1Jo 5:3; Joh 14:15. Such an efficacious governing knowledge of him, therefore, as, by the power of the love which it produces, subdues our souls to the obedience of him, is a certain proof to us of our union with him, 1Jo 5:20, and relation to him.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain But whoso keepeth his word,.... Either the word of…
But whoso keepeth his word,.... Either the word of the Gospel, and the truths of it, who receives it in love, cordially embraces and retains it, and will by no means part with it, but holds it fast, and stands fast in it; or the precepts and ordinances of the word, who loves these, and esteems them above fine gold, and concerning all things to be right, and observes them as they should be:
in him verily is the love of God perfected: not the love wherewith God loves him, for that is perfect in himself, and admits of no degrees, and cannot be more or less in his heart, and is entirely independent of the obedience of men, or any works of theirs; it is true indeed the manifestations of this love to the saints are imperfect, and may be more and greater, and greater manifestations of love are promised to such that love Christ, and keep his commandments, Joh 14:21; but here it is to be understood not actively, but passively, of the love wherewith God is loved by his people; and intends not the absolute perfection of it in them, in whom it often waxes cold, and is left, or the fervour of it abated, but the sincerity and reality of it; for by keeping the word of God, both his truths and his ordinances, it is clearly seen that their love to him is without dissimulation, and is not in tongue only, but in deed and in truth:, now it is not the keeping of the word of God that causes this love, or makes it perfect or sincere, for it is a fruit of the Spirit, and is owing to the grace of God; but love, on the other hand, is the cause of keeping of the word; and the latter being a consequent and an effect of the former, is the evidence of it, of the truth and sincerity of it:
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hereby know we that we are in him: in Christ, not merely nominally, or by profession, as all that name the name of Christ, and are in a Gospel church state, may be said to be; but really, first secretly, through the love of Christ, the election of God, and the covenant of grace, and then openly, in conversion and the effectual calling, through believing in Christ, when the saints appear to be in him as branches in the vine; and which is known by their fruits, as here, by keeping the word, and doing the commandments of Christ, which do not put a man into Christ, but only show that he is there; for a man's being in Christ is owing to the grace of God; this is the first thing done in grace, Co1 1:30.
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 But whoso keepeth his word - His commandments. Verily…
But whoso keepeth his word - His commandments. Verily in him the love of God - Reconciled to us through Christ. Is perfected - Is perfectly known. Hereby - By our keeping his word. We know that we are in him - So is the tree known by its fruits. To "know him," to be "in him," to "abide in him," are nearly synonymous terms; only with a gradation, - knowledge, communion, constancy.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 5. But whoso keepeth his word] Conscientiously observes…
Verse 5. But whoso keepeth his word] Conscientiously observes his doctrine, the spirit and letter of the religion of Christ.
Is the love of God perfected] The design of God's love in sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for the sin of man τετελειωται, is accomplished, in that man who receives the doctrine, and applies for the salvation provided for him. This seems to be the meaning of the apostle.
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That we are in him.] That we have entered into his spirit and views, received his salvation, have been enabled to walk in the light, and have communion with him by the Holy Spirit.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain But whoso keepeth his word - That is, what…
But whoso keepeth his word - That is, what he has spoken or commanded, The term “word” here will include all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct.
In him verily is the love of God perfected - He professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its completion or filling up by obedience to the will of God. That obedience is the proper carrying out, or the exponent of the love which exists in the heart. Love to the Saviour would be defective without that, for it is never complete without obedience. If this be the true interpretation, then the passage does not make any affirmation about sinless perfection, but it only affirms that if true love exists in the heart, it will be carried out in the life; or that love and obedience are parts of the same thing; that one will be manifested by the other; and that where obedience exists, it is the completion or perfecting of love. Besides, the apostle does not say that either the love or the obedience would be in themselves absolutely perfect; but he says that one cannot fully develop itself without the other.
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Hereby know we that we are in him - That is, by having in fact such love as shall insure obedience. To be in him, is to be united to him; to be his friends. Compare the Joh 6:56 note; Rom 13:14 note.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain The charity of God is truly perfect.[2] Notwithstanding his…
The charity of God is truly perfect.[2] Notwithstanding his lesser failings, he retains the habit of charity and grace, by which he remains united to God. --- And by this we know that we are in him; i.e. we are morally, though not absolutely, certain that we are in the state of grace. (Witham)
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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]
Perfecta est, Greek: teteleiotai. That must only be understood of charity so perfected as to be true charity, but not a perfect degree of charity.
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George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Not merely repeating the proposition, Jo1 2:3, or asserting…
Not merely repeating the proposition, Jo1 2:3, or asserting the merely opposite alternative to Jo1 2:4, but expanding the "know Him" of Jo1 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 Jo1 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 Jo1 1:5), and comprises His "commandments," which are many (Jo1 2:3).
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hereby--in our progressing towards this ideal of perfected love and obedience. There is a gradation: Jo1 2:3, "know Him"; Jo1 2:5, "we are in Him"; Jo1 2:6, "abideth in Him"; respectively, knowledge, fellowship, abiding constancy. [BENGEL].
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 5. But—Returning to the affirmative in earnest repetition, with…
5. But—Returning to the affirmative in earnest repetition, with emphasis on verily and know.
Keepeth—By not only remembering, but obeying.
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Love of God perfected—By being brought into full force and action.
Perfected—In the same degree that it is effective in making us keep his word.
Hereby—Referring to keepeth his word.
Know we—We do most completely know that we know… him, or (what is the same thing, and more) are in him.
In him—In Christ, by communion, and thereby in God.
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 5. The statement in 1Jn_2:3 is still further emphasized…
5. The statement in 1Jn_2:3 is still further emphasized by taking the opposite of 1Jn_2:4; but with this we do not return to 1Jn_2:3, but have an expansion of it.
His word] A wider expression than ‘His commandments’, covering the sum total of the revelation of God’s will: comp. 1Jn_2:14. Thus Christ says, ‘He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me’ (Joh_14:21).
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verily] Or, truly, or, of a truth. S. John uses this word (ἀληθῶς) about 8 times; and in the rest of N. T. it occurs about 8 times: see on 1Jn_1:6. It must not be confounded with the ‘verily’ (ἀμήν) in our Lord’s discourses. Here it stands first for emphasis; verily in him: comp. Joh_8:31.
is the love of God perfected] Or, the love of God hath been perfected. We need both renderings in order to bring out the full force of the Greek, which means ‘has been made perfect and remains so’. Obedience, not feeling, is the test of perfect love. This declaration shews that it is quite wrong to make ‘we know Him’ in 1Jn_2:3 and ‘I know Him’ in 1Jn_2:4 a Hebraism for ‘love Him’. Even if ‘know’ is ever used in the sense of ‘love’, which may be doubted, S. John would hardly in the same sentence use ‘know’ in two totally different senses (1Jn_2:3). S. John’s mention of love here shews that when he means ‘love’ he writes ‘love’ and not ‘know’. He declares that true knowledge involves love, but they are not identical, any more than convex and concave. ‘The love of God’ here means ‘the love of man to God’: this is the common usage in this Epistle (1Jn_2:15, 1Jn_3:17, 1Jn_4:12, 1Jn_5:3). Only once is the genitive subjective and means ‘the love of God for man’; and there the context makes this quite clear (1Jn_4:9). ‘Love,’ both verb and substantive, is one of S. John’s favourite words. His Gospel is the Gospel of Love and his Epistle the Epistle of Love. ‘To perfect’ is also much more common in his writings than elsewhere in N. T., excepting the Epistle to the Hebrews, especially in the passive voice (1Jn_4:12; 1Jn_4:17-18; Joh_17:23; Joh_19:28). S. John is here speaking, as often in this Epistle, of an ideal state of things. No Christian’s love to God is perfect: but the more perfect his knowledge, the more perfect his obedience and his love.
hereby we know] Or, Herein we come to know: it is the same phrase as in 1Jn_2:3, and should probably, as there, be taken with what follows, rather than with what precedes. It belongs to 1Jn_2:6 more than to 1Jn_2:5, and is parallel to 1Jn_1:6.
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 Once more (cf. 1Jn_1:7, 1Jn_1:9) the opposite is stated…
Once more (cf. 1Jn_1:7, 1Jn_1:9) the opposite is stated and the thought carried further. But whoso keepeth his word (his doctrine as a whole, including the separate commandments), of a truth in him hath the love of God been perfected; i.e., as an accomplished fact; the relation of love has been established. In St. John ajlhqwv is no mere expletive; it expresses reality, and reality that is known. From verse 4 we might have expected "of a truth he knoweth God; but the apostle goes beyond this, and shows that really knowing God involves loving him. (comp 1Jn_4:11) The context shows that tou Qeou is objective his love of God rather than God"s love of him. The insertion of tou Qeou here, and the drift of the Epistle thus far, are in favour of aujton and aujtou in verses 35 meaning God rather than Christ, although aujtov in verse 2 tells the other way. The last clause sums up and reaffirms, but as usual with a new turn of thought, the whole section (verses 3-5), which begins and ends with ejn toutw ginwskomen. Knowing God implies keeping his Word; and keeping his Word involves loving him; and all this implies being in him, i.e., having that fellowship with him and his Son in which the Christian"s life (which is eternal life) consists, and to promote which St. John publishes his Gospel. (1Jn_1:3, 1Jn_1:4)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 5. But whoso keepeth his word, etc. It is…
5. But whoso keepeth his word, etc. It is by keeping his commandments that the love of God is made perfect in us. Obedience is the result and proof of love, and also gives love the opportunity to flow over the whole life. Compare John 14:21. Hereby. By our loyal obedience.
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.
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain 5. “Whosoever may keep His Word truly, the love…
5. “Whosoever may keep His Word truly, the love of God has been perfected in him.” While regeneration saves us from committing sin, there are many commandments on the plane of entire sanctification which are not fulfilled in our time, e.g., “Be ye holy,” “Be perfect,” “Be filled with the Spirit,” which we do not verify. They are not the moral commandments alone, but they are the divine logos, which God requires, and must be satisfied if we are going up to Him in heaven. The divine agapee must be perfected by the thorough expurgation of the heart from all inbred sin. In regeneration God’s love is poured into a heart corrupted by the fall. That corruption must be eliminated by the cleansing blood and our love made perfect, i.e., pure from all antagonisms, before we go up to heaven.
William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain (See Scofield "Mat 5:48").
perfect
(See Scofield "Mat 5:48").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.