5:20a

has come: (Meaning) This refers to the fact that Jesus came into the world.

5:20b

has given us understanding: (Collocation) In your language it may not be possible to “give” an abstract thing like understanding, or it may not be clear in what way this is done. Here the basic meaning is that Jesus has caused us to understand or know something.

understanding: (Lexical Problem) The thing that is understood is not mentioned here, but its result is given in the next clause, “so that we may know him….” Therefore John’s meaning is that Jesus has given us the ability or power to know him who is true.

Him who is true: (Meaning) John is here referring to God, whom Jesus has caused us to know. He is saying that this is the real God, in contrast to the false gods of other religions and in contrast to false teachings about the God of Christianity.

5:20c

in Him: (Collocation) As in 2:5c, this means that we are in union with God, in a close personal relationship with him.

5:20d

in: (Ellipsis) This clause explains how we are “in God.” The full meaning is “because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ.”

5:20e

He: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views about who the pronoun He refers to:

(1) It probably refers to God.

(2) Some think it refers to Christ. (Living Bible)

5:20f

and eternal life: (Meaning) John means that God is the only source of eternal life. We have eternal life by being united to God.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 2:3–6

Read 2:3–6 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: Here John begins to give the reason why we should not sin. He says that we should obey God’s commands as Jesus did. If we do that our behavior shows that we know God.

2:3a

to know Him: (Multiple Senses) The word know is here used in the sense of knowing someone personally as you would know your family and friends. This is different from knowing who someone is, or knowing about them.

Him: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two opinions about who the word Him refers to here:

(1) Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English make it clear that this refers to God.

(2) Some commentators think it refers to Jesus.

2:3b

if we keep His commandments: (Emotive Impact) This clause is emphasized in the Greek because John is telling his readers that this is what they should do. This emphasis can be shown in your translation by making if we keep His commandments the main clause of the sentence. For example:

“We should obey his commands because that is what will show us that we really know him.”

keep: (Tense) The tense of the verb here implies continual obedience.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 3:7–10

Read 3:7–10 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John explains that our behavior shows whether we belong to God or to Satan.

3:7a

deceive you: (Logical Relationship) This is not a general warning about being deceived. John is specifically warning his readers not to be deceived about the question (in the next part of the verse) of who is really righteous. The two parts of the verse may therefore need to be linked together.

3:7b

The one who practices righteousness is righteous: (Emphasis) John is contradicting the false teachers who claimed that anyone could become righteous just by accepting their teaching. They claimed that it did not matter if a person continued to live an evil life. It is therefore important in translation to keep the emphasis on the fact that the only people who are righteous in God’s sight are those who do right (and no one else). See New English Bible.

righteous: (Meaning) This means that God accepts him as being good and right, and God approves of what he does.

3:7c

just as Christ is righteous: (Alternative Interpretations) In Greek, this phrase is literally “just as he is righteous.” There are different views about who this refers to:

(1) It refers to Christ. (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some think it refers to God. (New English Bible)

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 4:19–21

Read 4:19–21 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: This is the summary of John’s appeal that we should love other Christians because God has loved us so much.

4:19a

We love: (Lexical Problem) No object for this verb is expressed in the Greek. However John is talking about our love for God and for other people, so this may be made explicit if the verb “love” has to have an expressed object in your language. See Display.

The King James Version and Living Bible use the pronoun “him” in this verse part, but that is based on an inferior Greek text.

4:19b

because: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views on what ideas this implies and connects:

(1) It probably means that God’s love for us gives us the power to love.

(2) Some think it means that we have a duty to love because God loves us.

(3) Others think it means we are able to love because God’s love gives us the example to follow.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

He: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to God. See Good News Translation.

first: (Multiple Senses) This is used here in the sense of “before/previously.” John means that God loved us before we loved him or others.

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

2:14 (Verse Number)

Note that Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible and some other versions have the verse number in a different place from King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Berean Standard Bible and others. In translation it may be best to follow the numbering system that is used in the major version in your area.

2:14e

strong: (Metaphor) This refers here to spiritual strength, perseverance in faith, ability to defend and proclaim the gospel.

2:14f

the word of God abides in you: (Metaphor) This metaphor is showing that the word of God is constantly present in the lives of the readers, so that they are always paying attention to it.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

3:18 (Logical Relationship)

Since this verse gives the main point of John’s argument, based on 3:16–17, it may be necessary in translation to make this clear.

3:18a

let us love not in: (Meaning) In translation it is important to avoid implying here that we should never say we love someone. John certainly assumes that we say we love people, but he is here warning that we should not only say we love people, we should also do things to help them.

love: (Lexical Problem) John is referring to loving our brothers or each other, and this can be made explicit in translation if it is necessary for the verb love to have an object.

speech: (Metaphor) The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speech is more literally “tongue.” This is a metaphorical way of referring to speech.

3:18b

and truth: (Meaning) If we actually help one another our love will be true love in accordance with God’s truth.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

Paragraph 5:10–12

Read 5:10–12 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: Here John shows that believing in Jesus can cause us to be confident that we have eternal life.

5:10b

this testimony: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to the testimony mentioned in the previous verses (5:6–9) by which the Holy Spirit assures us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

within him: (Meaning) This means that such a person has no doubts that these things are true because he is fully assured of them in himself.

5:10c

whoever does not believe God: (Logical Relationship) Even though this sentence refers to God instead of Jesus Christ, it is meant as a direct contrast to the last sentence (5:10a–b). In translation a conjunction such as “but” may be needed to introduce it. See Good News Translation, New English Bible.

does not believe God: (Meaning) This refers to not believing what God says about his Son. It does not mean, “does not believe in God.”

5:10d

has made Him out: (Meaning) John means that to refuse to believe God is the same as saying that God is a liar.

5:10e

because: (Logical Relationship) This gives the reason why John says that refusing to believe God is the same as saying he is a liar.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

1:2 (Parenthesis)

This verse is a comment about the Word of life, which John has just mentioned. In the next verse (1:3) he continues what he has been saying about the subject of his letter.

1:2a

And this is the life: (Meaning) This also refers to Jesus. See the note on 1:1 “Word of life” above.

was revealed: (Alternative Interpretations) Two interpretations of the form of the Greek verb are possible here:

(1) It probably means “he was revealed (by God),” “God caused him to become a human being, who people could see.” (Berean Standard Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Living Bible)

(2) Some think it means “he appeared,” “he became visible.” (New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

1:2c

testified: (Meaning) This means to tell or confirm the truth about something which one has personally experienced or seen.

1:2d

proclaim: (Meaning) This means to testify to something openly or publicly.

the eternal life: (Special Biblical Term) This is a biblical term which describes the type of life which God has and which he gives to us. It refers to both the length of that life and to its quality. It means life which is never-ending and which is heavenly rather than earthly. In this verse it refers to Jesus, just as “the life” does at the beginning of the verse. It is emphasizing that the life which Jesus brings us has always existed in heaven.

1:2e

with the Father: (Meaning) This is very similar to John 1:1 “the Word was with God.” It means that God and the Word (the Life) never existed separately, they were always together.

Father: (Expression) If it is necessary to specify whose father this is, say “our Father” here.

1:2f

was revealed to us: (Alternative Interpretations) See the note on 1:2a “revealed.” The same two interpretations are found here.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.