1 John 5 · Verse 4

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4, King James Version

1 John 5:4 in other translations

BSB	because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
WEB	For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.
ASV	For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.
YLT	because every one who is begotten of God doth overcome the world, and this is the victory that did overcome the world--our faith;
DARBY	For all that has been begotten of God gets the victory over the world; and this is the victory which has gotten the victory over the world, our faith.
BBE	Anything which comes from God is able to overcome the world: and the power by which we have overcome the world is our faith.
Webster	For whatever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

What does 1 John 5:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. For--(See on 1Jo 5:3). The reason why "His commandments are not grievous." Though there is a conflict in keeping them, the sue for the whole body of the regenerate is victory over every opposing influence; meanwhile there is a present joy to each believer in keeping them which makes them "not grievous." whatsoever--Greek, "all that is begotten of God." The neuter expresses the universal whole, or aggregate of the regenerate, regarded as one collective body Joh 3:6; 6:37, 39, "where Bengel remarks, that in Jesus' discourses, what the Father has given Him is called, in the singular number and neuter gender, all whatsoever; those who come to the Son are described in the masculine gender and plural number, they all, or singular, every one. The Father has given, as it were, the whole mass to the Son, that all whom He gave may be one whole: that universal whole the Son singly evolves, in the execution of the divine plan." overcometh--habitually. the world--all that is opposed to keeping the commandments of God, or draws us off from God, in this world, including our corrupt flesh, on which the world's blandishments or threats act, as also including Satan, the prince of this world (Joh 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). this is the victory that overcometh--Greek aorist, "... that hath (already) overcome the world": the victory (where faith is) hereby is implied as having been already obtained (1Jo 2:13; 4:4).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. The world, in its maxims, and precepts, and customs, does not rule him, but he is a freeman. The idea is, that there is a conflict between religion and the world, and that in the heart of every true Christian religion secures the victory, or triumphs. In Jn 16:33, the Saviour says, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jn 6:33. He obtained a complete triumph over him "who rules the darkness of the world," and laid the foundation for a victory by his people over all vice, error, and sin. John makes this affirmation of all who are born of God. "Whatsoever," or, as the Greek is, "Everything which is begotten of God," (παντογεγενημενον;) meaning to affirm, undoubtedly, that in every instance where one is truly regenerated, there is this victory over the world. Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15, 1Jn 2:16. It is one of the settled maxims of religion, that every man who is a true Christian gains a victory over the world; and consequently a maxim as settled, that where the spirit of the world reigns supremely in the heart there is no true religion. But, if this be a true principle, how many professed Christians are there who are strangers to all claims of piety--for how many are there who are wholly governed by the spirit of this world!

And this is the victory. This is the source or means of the victory which is thus achieved. Even our faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 1Jn 5:5. He overcame the world, Jn 16:33, and it is by that faith which makes us one with him, and that imbues us with his Spirit, that we are able to do it also.

(*) "whatsoever" "whosoever" (d) "overcometh" 1Cor 15:57

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Whatsoever is born of God - Παν το γεγεννημενον· Whatsoever (the neuter for the masculine) is begotten of God: overcometh the world. "I understand by this," says Schoettgen, "the Jewish Church, or Judaism, which is often termed עולם הזה olam hazzeh, this world. The reasons which induce me to think so are, 1. Because this κοσμος, world, denied that the Messiah was come; but the Gentiles did not oppose this principle. 2. Because he proves the truth of the Christian religion against the Jews, reasoning according to the Jewish manner; whence it is evident that he contends, not against the Gentiles, but against the Jews. The sense therefore is, he who possesses the true Christian faith can easily convict the Jewish religion of falsity." That is, He can show the vanity of their expectations, and the falsity of their glosses and prejudices. Suppose we understand by the world the evil principles and practices which are among men, and in the human heart; then the influence of God in the soul may be properly said to overcome this; and by faith in the Son of God a man is able to overcome all that is in the world, viz., the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 5:1-5

Chapter Outline Brotherly love is the effect of the new birth, which makes obedience to all God's commandments pleasant. (1-5) Reference to witnesses agreeing to prove that Jesus, the Son of God, is the true Messiah. (6-8) The satisfaction the believer has about Christ, and eternal life through him. (9-12) The assurance of God's hearing and answering prayer. (13-17) The happy condition of true believers, and a…

Read the full comment on 1 John 5:1-5 →

1 John 5:4 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.

ὅτιhotiForG3754

πᾶνpaneveryoneG3956

τὸtowhoG3588

γεγεννημένονgegennēmenonbornG1080

ἐκekofG1537

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouGodG2316

νικᾷnikaovercomesG3528

τὸνtontheG3588

κόσμον·kosmonworld;G2889

καὶkaiandG2532

αὕτηhautēthisG3778

ἐστὶνestinisG1510

ἡhētheG3588

νίκηnikēvictoryG3529

ἡhēwhichG3588

νικήσασαnikēsasahaving overcomeG3528

τὸνtontheG3588

κόσμον,kosmonworld:G2889

ἡhētheG3588

πίστιςpistisfaithG4102

ἡμῶν.hēmōnof us.G3165

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

Cross references for 1 John 5:4

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Revelation 3:21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

whatsoever.
1; 3:9
overcometh.
5; 2:13-17; 4:4; Joh 16:33; Ro 8:35-37; 1Co 15:57; Re 2:7,11,17,26
Re 3:5,12,21; 12:11; 15:2

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

Context

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Read all of 1 John 5

1 John 5:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque todo aquello que es nacido de Dios vence al mundo: y esta es la victoria que vence al mundo, nuestra fe.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	parce que tout ce qui est né de Dieu est victorieux du monde; et c’est ici la victoire qui a vaincu le monde, savoir notre foi.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn alles, was aus Gott geboren ist, überwindet die Welt; und dies ist der Sieg, der die Welt überwunden hat: unser Glaube.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quoniam omne quod natum est ex Deo, vincit mundum: et hæc est victoria, quæ vincit mundum, fides nostra.