1 John 5:10

Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The apostle John writes to early Christian believers to clarify the relationship between faith and divine testimony. He addresses them at a moment when distinguishing true belief from rejection of God's witness about His Son was critical.

The words — πιστεύων (pisteuōn) translates literally as "believing," and ἔχει (echei) means "has," framing the verse around the active possession of internal conviction.

The thread — This theme of internal divine witness runs through John 3:33, where accepting testimony certifies God's truthfulness, and Romans 8:16, where the Spirit confirms identity as God's children.

Why it lands — The text demands that readers examine whether their faith rests on God's explicit testimony about His Son rather than on human opinion. It requires accepting that rejecting this specific witness equates to calling God a liar.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Cross-references

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
John 3:33 Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
John 5:38 nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.
Hebrews 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
Psalms 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
Proverbs 3:32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.