1 John 2 · Verse 5

1 John 2:5

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 2:5, King James Version

1 John 2:5 in other translations

BSBBut if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
WEBBut God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him:
ASVbut whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:
YLTand whoever may keep his word, truly in him the love of God hath been perfected; in this we know that in him we are.
DARBYbut whoever keeps his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him.
BBEBut in every man who keeps his word, the love of God is made complete. By this we may be certain that we are in him:
WebsterBut whoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: by this we know that we are in him.

What does 1 John 2:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. Not merely repeating the proposition, 1Jo 2:3, or asserting the merely opposite alternative to 1Jo 2:4, but expanding the "know Him" of 1Jo 2:3, into "in Him, verily (not as a matter of vain boasting) is the love of (that is towards) God perfected," and "we are in Him." Love here answers to knowledge in 1Jo 2:3. In proportion as we love God, in that same proportion we know Him, and vice versa, until our love and knowledge shall attain their full maturity of perfection. his word--His word is one (see on 1Jo 1:5), and comprises His "commandments," which are many (1Jo 2:3). hereby--in our progressing towards this ideal of perfected love and obedience. There is a gradation: 1Jo 2:3, "know Him"; 1Jo 2:5, "we are in Him"; 1Jo 2:6, "abideth in Him"; respectively, knowledge, fellowship, abiding constancy. [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. But whoso keepeth his word. That is, what he has spoken or commanded, The term word here will include all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct.

In him verily is the love of God perfected. He professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its completion or filling up by obedience to the will of God. That obedience is the proper carrying out, or the exponent of the love which exists in the heart. Love to the Saviour would be defective without that, for it is never complete without obedience. If this be the true interpretation, then the passage does not make any affirmation about sinless perfection, but it only affirms that if true love exists in the heart, it will be carried out in the life; or that love and obedience are parts of the same thing; that one will be manifested by the other; and that where obedience exists, it is the completion or perfecting of love. Besides, the apostle does not say that either the love or the obedience would be in themselves absolutely perfect; but he says that one cannot fully develope itself without the other.

Hereby know we that we are in him. That is, by having in fact such love as shall insure obedience. To be in him, is to be united to him; to be his friends. Jn 6:56; Rom 13:14.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 But whoso keepeth his word - Conscientiously observes his doctrine, the spirit and letter of the religion of Christ. Is the love of God perfected - The design of God's love in sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for the sin of man τετελειωται, is accomplished, in that man who receives the doctrine, and applies for the salvation provided for him. This seems to be the meaning of the apostle. That we are in him - That we have entered into his spirit and views, received his salvation, have been enabled to walk in the light, and have communion with him by the Holy Spirit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 2:3-11

What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely…

Read the full comment on 1 John 2:3-11 →

1 John 2:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὃςhosWho[ever]G3739
δ᾽d᾽howeverG1161
ἂνanmaybeG302
τηρῇtērēamay keepG5083
αὐτοῦautouHisG846
τὸνton<the>G3588
λόγον,logonword,G3056
ἀληθῶςalēthōstrulyG230
ἐνeninG1722
τούτῳtoutōhimG3778
ἡhētheG3588
ἀγάπηagapēloveG26
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
τετελείωται.teteleiōtaihas been perfected.G5048
ἐνenByG1722
τούτῳtoutōthisG3778
γινώσκομενginōskomenwe knowG1097
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōHimG846
ἐσμεν.esmenwe are.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 John 2:5

  • John 14:23

    Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

  • John 14:21

    He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

  • 1 John 4:12-13

    No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

  • Luke 11:28

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  • 1 John 3:24

    And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

  • Psalms 119:2

    Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

  • 1 John 5:2

    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

  • Revelation 14:12

    Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

  • 1 John 2:3-4

    And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

  • Ezekiel 36:27

    And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

  • John 15:5

    I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

  • Psalms 119:146

    I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
whoso.
3,4; Ps 105:45; 106:3; 119:2,4,146; Pr 8:32; 28:7; Ec 8:5; Eze 36:27
Lu 11:28; Joh 14:21,23; Re 12:17; 14:12
in him.
4:12,18; Jas 2:22
hereby.
27,28; 3:24; 4:13,15,16; 5:20; Joh 6:56; 15:5; Ro 8:1; 1Co 1:30
2Co 5:17,21; Col 2:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 John 2:4

    He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

  • 1 John 2:5

    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

  • 1 John 2:6

    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Read all of 1 John 2

1 John 2:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas el que guarda su palabra, la caridad de Dios está verdaderamente perfecta en él: por esto sabemos que estamos en él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais quiconque garde sa parole, – en lui l’amour de Dieu est véritablement consommé: par cela nous savons que nous sommes en lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer aber irgend sein Wort hält, in diesem ist wahrhaftig die Liebe Gottes vollendet. Hieran wissen wir, daß wir in ihm sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui autem servat verbum ejus, vere in hoc caritas Dei perfecta est: et in hoc scimus quoniam in ipso sumus.