1 John 5:13
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.
Original Language Analysis
ἔγραψα
have I written
G1125
ἔγραψα
have I written
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
2 of 28
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πιστεύητε
that believe
G4100
πιστεύητε
that believe
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
5 of 28
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
εἰς
on
G1519
εἰς
on
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
6 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὄνομα
the name
G3686
ὄνομα
the name
Strong's:
G3686
Word #:
8 of 28
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὑιοῦ
of the Son
G5207
ὑιοῦ
of the Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
10 of 28
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Θεοῦ,
of God
G2316
Θεοῦ,
of God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
12 of 28
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
εἰδῆτε
ye may know
G1492
εἰδῆτε
ye may know
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
14 of 28
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
ὅτι
that ye
G3754
ὅτι
that ye
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
15 of 28
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἔχετε
have
G2192
ἔχετε
have
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
17 of 28
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
αἰώνιον
eternal
G166
αἰώνιον
eternal
Strong's:
G166
Word #:
18 of 28
perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
19 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πιστεύητε
that believe
G4100
πιστεύητε
that believe
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
21 of 28
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
εἰς
on
G1519
εἰς
on
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
22 of 28
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὄνομα
the name
G3686
ὄνομα
the name
Strong's:
G3686
Word #:
24 of 28
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
25 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὑιοῦ
of the Son
G5207
ὑιοῦ
of the Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
26 of 28
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
Cross References
John 20:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.John 1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:1 John 3:23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.John 3:18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.1 John 2:21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.Galatians 4:6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.1 John 2:1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:1 John 5:10He 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.1 John 1:4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Historical Context
John's purpose statement parallels his gospel's purpose: "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31). The gospel aimed at producing faith; the epistle aims at confirming and assuring faith. Both emphasize certainty—the gospel that readers might believe and have life, the epistle that believers might know they have life.
The medieval church often denied assurance was possible except for special divine revelation. The Reformation recovered biblical assurance, insisting believers could and should know they possess salvation. Calvin taught assurance as faith's essence. Puritans developed extensive teaching on gaining and maintaining assurance through examining evidence of grace. John's explicit purpose—that believers know they have eternal life—supports the Reformed emphasis on assurance against traditions that considered it presumptuous.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you currently have the certain knowledge that you possess eternal life, which was John's purpose in writing this letter?
- What evidence from your life (using John's tests: faith in Christ, righteous living, loving believers) provides assurance of genuine salvation?
- How does knowing with certainty that you have eternal life affect your Christian life, worship, and service?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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. John states his epistle's purpose. "These things have I written unto you" (tauta egrapsa hymin)—the aorist tense refers to the completed letter. "That believe on the name of the Son of God" (tois pisteuousin eis to onoma tou huiou tou theou)—the present participle indicates ongoing faith. The "name" represents Christ's full revealed identity and authority. John writes to genuine believers, not skeptics or mere professors.
"That ye may know that ye have eternal life" (hina eidēte hoti zōēn echete aiōnion). Oida (know) indicates certain, confident knowledge, not mere hope or wish. John's purpose is assurance—that believers may know with certainty they possess eternal life. The present tense "have" emphasizes current possession, not future hope. This contrasts with some traditions that make assurance impossible or presumptuous. Biblical Christianity offers and expects assurance based on objective grounds (God's promises, Christ's work) and subjective evidence (Spirit's witness, transformed life).
Some manuscripts add "and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (KJV includes this). This doesn't suggest doubt about believers' faith but that assurance strengthens and confirms ongoing faith. Knowing we possess eternal life doesn't produce complacency but deepens trust and devotion. John's tests throughout the epistle (righteous living, loving believers, sound doctrine) provide means of assurance while warning false professors. True believers examining themselves find evidence of genuine faith, producing confidence in their eternal security.