5:16a–b

committing a sin not leading to death: (Alternative Interpretations) In this verse and the next John talks about “sin that leads to death.” There are different interpretations of what this refers to:

(1) It probably refers to the sins of deliberately rejecting Christ and hating his people. These sins show that those who commit them do not have eternal life and are, in fact, spiritually dead. This is what John has made clear in 5:12 and in 3:14.

(2) Some think it refers to the sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. See Matthew 12:31–32.

(3) Others think that it refers to Christians who abandon their faith. See Hebrews 6:4–6.

5:16a

anyone: (Pronoun Reference) This does not mean anyone at all whoever he may be. John is giving an instruction to his readers, so it may be clearer in translation to say “anyone of you.” See Good News Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Living Bible.

sees: (Multiple Senses) This refers not just to seeing with the eyes, but also to knowing about something, being aware of it.

his brother: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two views as to the sense in which this word is used here:

(1) It probably means any other Christian.

(2) Some think it means any other person, Christian or not.

5:16b

leading to death: (Meaning) In all the interpretations mentioned in the last note this phrase means spiritual death, not physical death. That is to say, doing this type of sin causes a person to be separated forever from God and from the life which God gives through Christ. John is not referring to sins of witchcraft which cause other people to die.

5:16c

ask God: (Multiple Senses) This verb is used here with the sense of asking God for something. In this case it means asking God to save the brother who is committing the sin.

5:16d-e

who will give life to those: (Meaning) Since this refers to someone who is already a believer, it may be best to say, “who will restore to (spiritual) life those.”

5:16f

There is a sin: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views about the meaning of the grammar of the Greek in this phrase:

(1) It probably means “There is a type of sin…” or “There are some sins…” (Good News Translation, New English Bible, Revised Standard Version)

(2) Some think it means “There is one particular sin…” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), The Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Living Bible)

5:16g

I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin: (Meaning) It is easy to misunderstand this sentence. John’s meaning here is that he will not instruct his readers that they ought to pray about people who commit sins which lead to death. He will not command them to pray for those people because they have deliberately rejected all God’s help. But he allows them to pray for such people if they want to (because we do not know if possibly God may save them). Your translation should not make it sound as if John is forbidding prayer for these people.

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