1 John 5:13

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — John writes to a community identified as those who believe in the name of the Son of God, stating the purpose of the letter between a sharp dichotomy (having or not having the Son, v. 12) and a statement about confident prayer (v. 14).

The words — πιστεύουσιν (pisteuousin), a present active participle, renders "believing" as an ongoing, active state rather than a single past decision.

The thread — John 20:31 gives a parallel purpose clause ("so that you may believe… and have life"), John 1:12 ties believing in His name to becoming children of God, and 2 Peter 1:10 urges making one's calling and election sure.

Why it lands — The verse frames assurance of eternal life as the intended product of the letter, not a feeling to be manufactured; it asks the reader to locate their certainty in the object of belief (the Son's name) rather than in their own emotional state.

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

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Cross-references

John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
1 John 2:21 I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.