1 John 4 · Verse 15

1 John 4:15

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15, King James Version

1 John 4:15 in other translations

BSBIf anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
WEBWhoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.
ASVWhosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
YLTwhoever may confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God in him doth remain, and he in God;
DARBYWhosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God,God abides in him, and he in God.
BBEEveryone who says openly that Jesus is the Son of God, has God in him and is in God.
WebsterWhoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

What does 1 John 4:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. shall confess--once for all: so the Greek aorist means. that Jesus is the Son of God--and therefore "the Saviour of the world" (1Jo 4:14).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God. In the true sense, and from the heart. This will always prove that a man is a Christian. But the passage cannot mean that if he merely says so in words, or if he does it insincerely, or without any proper sense of the truth, it will prove that he is a Christian. On the meaning of the sentiment here expressed, 1Jn 4:2. Comp. Rom 10:10.

(a) "Whosoever" Rom 10:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Whosoever shall confess - Much stress is laid on this confession, because the false teachers denied the reality of the incarnation; but this confession implied also such a belief in Christ as put them in possession of his pardoning mercy and indwelling Spirit.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 4:14-21

The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a…

Read the full comment on 1 John 4:14-21 →

1 John 4:15 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
ἐὰνeanmaybeG1437
ὁμολογήσῃhomologēsēshall confessG3670
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiosSonG5207
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ,theouof God,G2316
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōhimG846
μένειmeneiabidesG3306
καὶkaiandG2532
αὐτὸςautosheG846
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷ.theōGod.G2316

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

Cross references for 1 John 4:15

  • Romans 10:9

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

  • Matthew 10:32

    Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

  • 1 John 5:5

    Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

  • 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.

  • 1 John 4:2

    Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

  • Philippians 2:11

    And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  • 1 John 4:12

    No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

  • 1 John 5:1

    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • Luke 12:8

    Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

  • 2 John 1:7

    For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
confess.
2; 5:1,5; Mt 10:32; Lu 12:8; Ro 10:9; Php 2:11; 2Jo 1:7
God dwelleth.
12; 3:24

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

Context

  • 1 John 4:14

    And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

  • 1 John 4:15

    Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

  • 1 John 4:16

    And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Read all of 1 John 4

1 John 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cualquiera que confesare que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios, Dios está en él, y él en Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quiconque confessera que Jésus est le Fils de Dieu, Dieu demeure en lui et lui en Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer irgend bekennt, daß Jesus der Sohn Gottes ist, in ihm bleibt Gott und er in Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quisquis confessus fuerit quoniam Jesus est Filius Dei, Deus in eo manet, et ipse in Deo.