SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 John 2000 – Page 4

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:12

5:12a

Whoever: (Meaning) This just means “anyone who…,” or “all those who…”

has the Son: (Meaning) This is another way by which John refers to our close personal relationship and union with Christ. It means the same as the phrase “in Christ.” See the note on 2:5c “in Him.”

life: (Pronoun Reference) The Greek has “the life” here, making it clear that “eternal life” (5:11) is meant. In translation it may be clearer to say “this life.” See Good News Translation.

5:12b

whoever does not: (Emphasis) In this sentence John is emphasizing what he has just said in 5:12a by restating it in the negative. A word like “but” may be needed to link the two sentences.

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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.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:16

2:16 (Sentence Breaks)

This is a long sentence containing a list of items which may each have to be translated by a whole clause. You may need to make this into two or more sentences in your translation.

2:16a

For all that is in the world: (Logical Relationship) This verse gives the reason for John’s statement in the second part of 2:15 that someone who loves the world cannot at the same time be loving God. It is not giving a reason for the appeal not to love the world.

all that is in the world: (Figure of Speech) This is hyperbole, or exaggeration. John means “all the evil ways/deeds of people in this world, such as….” Then in 2:16b–d he gives three specific examples of these evil ways.

2:16b

the desires of the flesh: (Meaning) John is here referring to the way our human nature makes us want to do things just for our own pleasure.

the flesh: (Multiple Senses) The word flesh here refers to the human body, so used in the phrase “desires of the flesh” the entire phrase refers to sinful physical desires.

2:16c

the desires of the eyes: (Meaning) This refers to the way people want to get things they see or hear about, not caring whether God wants them to have those things or not.

2:16d

the pride of life: (Meaning) This implies the type of pride which is wrong, because the thing you are boasting about is not really yours, or because it is not actually a good thing.

life: (Multiple Senses) The Greek word translated here is used in the sense of possessions, wealth, the means of living.

2:16e

is not from: (Metaphor) If it is not natural in your language to speak of attitudes such as desire and pride “coming from” someone or something then you may need to translate the meaning directly. The basic meaning here is that these attitudes are not ones God wants us to have, but rather they are caused by our following the evil ways of the world.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:20

3:20a

our hearts condemn us: (Meaning) John is talking about how in such circumstances we are especially aware of our sins and our unworthiness before God. He is not referring to times when the Holy Spirit reminds us about specific sins which we need to repent of.

3:20b

greater than: (Lexical Problem) The Greek word does not specify in what sense God is greater than us or our hearts, but the end of this verse makes it clear that John is talking about God’s greater knowledge.

than our hearts: (Metaphor) This is referring to our thoughts, so the basic meaning here is “God knows much more than we know.”

3:20c

He knows all things: (Meaning) This specifically refers to God knowing all that we do.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:1

Read 3:1–3 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John is saying that we should be living pure lives now because when Christ returns we will be pure like him.

3:1a–b

the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God: (Lexical Problem) These two terms, the Father and God, refer to the same person. In some languages it may be unnatural or confusing to have one person referred to in two different ways in the same sentence. If that is the case in your language you may need to translate the first reference as “God our Father,” and the second as “his children.” See the Display.

3:1a

Behold what manner of love: (Parenthesis) The first half of this verse is an exclamation. It interrupts the teaching about doing what is right. John just mentioned in 2:29 that we are God’s children, and now he exclaims that this shows how great God’s love for us is. In translation it is important to make it clear that this is an exclamation and that it is focusing on the greatness of God’s love.

3:1b

that we should be called: (Meaning) This indicates the result of the greatness of God’s love, not his purpose in loving us. See the Display.

be called: (Passive Construction) In translation it may be necessary to turn this into an active verb. The subject is “God” or “he.”

3:1c

And that is what we are!: (Parenthesis) John ends his exclamation by saying that in addition to being called God’s children, that is also what we have really become. It is not just a name that God calls us by.

3:1d

the world: (Multiple Senses) This phrase is used here in a slightly different sense from how it was used in 2:15. Here it means those people who want the things of the world instead of wanting to do God’s will.

does not know us: (Meaning) John means that the people of the world do not recognize or accept that we have become children of God.

it did not know Him: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views about who this refers to:

(1) John is writing here about our relationship to God, so it probably means that the people did not know or believe in God.

(2) Some think it means that the people did not recognize who Christ was. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:4

1:4a

these things: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two opinions about what the words these things refer to here:

(1) It probably refers to what John has said in verses 1–3.

(2) Some think it refers to the rest of the letter.

1:4b

so that our joy may be complete: (Logical Relationship) John’s purpose in writing is not primarily to make himself joyful. He is writing so that his readers will learn about true fellowship and have fellowship with him. If they do, that is what will cause him to be joyful. If this is not clear in translation some of this information should be made explicit.

our joy: (Text) The King James Version “your joy” is from an inferior Greek text. The other versions have “our joy.”

our: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of this word here:

(1) It is probably inclusive, meaning “(joy) of you and us apostles.”

(2) Some think it is exclusive, meaning “(joy) of us apostles.”

complete: (Meaning) This means “as great as it can be,” “without any sadness or anything to spoil it.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:27

2:27a

And as for you: (Emphasis) John is emphasizing here that the Christians, who knew the truth because they had the Holy Spirit in them, are different from the false teachers, who had wrong ideas.

the anointing you received from Him: (Alternative Interpretations) This probably refers to Christ giving the Holy Spirit. See the note on 2:20a on “an anointing from the Holy One.”

2:27b

and you do not need: (Logical Connection) This gives the result of the previous statement, so it may need to be linked by “so” or “therefore.” See Display. In some languages the clauses in 2:27a–b may need to be reversed. For example:

As for you, you do not need anyone to teach you, because/since the anointing you received from him remains in you.

you do not need anyone to teach you: (Figure of Speech) This is hyperbole, a deliberate exaggeration. What John says is stronger than what he means. He certainly thought that his readers needed some teaching because this whole letter is full of teaching. His meaning is that they do not need any teaching other than that which is from the Holy Spirit. If you cannot use hyperbole in this way in your language, you could say “you do not need any other teacher” in order to make the meaning clear.

to teach you: (Background Information) The teaching would be about God’s truth.

2:27c

His true and genuine anointing: (Alternative Interpretations)

(1) This probably means that what the Holy Spirit teaches is true. (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, King James Version, Living Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It may mean that the readers have really received the Holy Spirit. (New International Version (2011 Revision), New English Bible)

true and genuine: (Emphasis) In Greek this phrase is literally “is true and is not a lie.” John is here using repetition, first positive and then negative, for emphasis. If this sort of repetition is not natural in your language, you will need to use some other way of expressing the emphasis. The Berean Standard Bible expresses the emphasis by expressing a positive idea two times.

about all things: (Figure of Speech) Again John is using hyperbole. He is emphasizing that the Holy Spirit teaches them about all those true things God has revealed which they need to know. See Display on 2:27b–c.

2:27d

in Him: (Collocation) See the note on 2:5c.

Him: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to Christ.

have been taught: (Meaning) The Holy Spirit is the one who has taught the Christians.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:9

4:9a

This: (Pronoun Reference) The word This refers forward to 4:9b, God’s sending his Son into the world.

among us: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of the meaning of the Greek phrase used here:

(1) It probably indicates to whom God revealed his love, so the clause means, “God revealed/demonstrated to us his love (for people).” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New English Bible, Revised Standard Version)

(2) Some think it indicates who God loves. So the clause would then mean, “God showed that he loves us.” (Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Living Bible)

4:9b

one and only: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two opinions about the meaning of the Greek word used here:

(1) Almost certainly it means “unique, the only one who exists.” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Living Bible)

(2) A few people think it means “the only one who was born.” (New International Version (2011 Revision) margin, King James Version)

4:9c

we might live through Him: (Meaning) John means that Christ has caused us to be truly alive, he has given us eternal life.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:2

5:2a

By this: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two views as to what the word this refers to:

(1) It is probably giving emphasis to the second half of the verse.

(2) Some think it refers back to the idea in 5:1 that whenever we love someone we also love their children. (New English Bible)

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:12

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:16

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:20

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:1

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:27

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:9

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:2

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