Bible Strands
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author addresses believers at the conclusion of a chapter contrasting divine origin with worldly evil, immediately before issuing a command to avoid idols.
The words — ἥκει (hēkei) marks the completed arrival of the Son of God, and οἴδαμεν (oidamen) asserts the certainty of the knowledge He provides.
The thread — The link between divine illumination and knowing the true God runs through John 17:3, Luke 24:45, and John 14:9.
Why it lands — The text states that Christ’s coming supplies the understanding necessary to know the true God, requiring believers to remain in Him and reject idols.
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
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Cross-references
- John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
- Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
- John 14:9 Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
- 1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
- Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
- 1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- John 20:28 Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”
- 1 John 4:16 And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.