1
Πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ γεγέννηται, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν γεννήσαντα ἀγαπᾷ καὶ τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐξ αὐτοῦ.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the one who begot loves also the one who has been born of him.
Thesis (faith and the family of God)asyndetonThe chapter opens asyndetically with the foundational confession (Jesus is the Christ) tied to divine begetting, then draws the family corollary: love for the Begetter entails love for those he has begotten — knitting the letter's twin tests of orthodoxy and love.
ΠᾶςeveryoneNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)πᾶς: 'all, every'; the comprehensive 'everyone who…' framing typical of 1 John's diagnostic statements.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πιστεύωνwho believesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle→ customary presentπιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; the present marks ongoing, settled faith — not a single past assent.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of belief)
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativesubject of ἐστιν
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ὁtheNominativearticle
ΧριστὸςChristNominativepredicate nominativeΧριστός: 'Anointed, Messiah'; the confession at issue against the secessionists who denied Jesus' messianic-divine identity (cf. 2:22; 4:2).
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source of begetting)θεός: God; the source of the new birth — divine begetting as the ground of authentic faith.
γεγέννηταιhas been bornPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · γεννάωmain verb→ intensive perfect (settled state)γεννάω: 'beget, give birth'; the perfect marks an accomplished, abiding state — the believer stands as one already begotten by God (a Johannine keyword in this chapter).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πᾶςeveryoneNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀγαπῶνwho lovesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀγαπάωsubstantival participle→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the covenant-love verb running through the letter, here applied to love for God and his children.
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γεννήσανταwho begotAor Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · γεννάωsubstantival ptc. (direct object)→ constative aoristγεννάω: 'beget'; the active aorist names God as the Begetter — the Father loved in his children.
ἀγαπᾷlovesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀγαπάωmain verb→ customary present
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γεγεννημένονwho has been bornPerf Pass Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · γεννάωsubstantival ptc. (direct object)→ intensive perfectγεννάω: 'beget'; the fellow-believer, begotten of God — to love the Father is to love his other children.
ἐξofpreposition + genitive (source)
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of ἐξ (source)
2
ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τὰ τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅταν τὸν θεὸν ἀγαπῶμεν καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ποιῶμεν.
By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and do his commandments.
Test / criterion of loveasyndetonThe characteristic 'by this we know' epistemic formula, here reversing the expected logic: love for God's children is verified not apart from but precisely in loving God and obeying him — love and obedience are mutually implicating.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means)
τούτῳthisDativedemonstrative (means; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; the recurring ἐν τούτῳ formula pointing forward to the ὅταν clause.
γινώσκομενwe knowPres Act Indic 1 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb→ customary presentγινώσκω: 'know, recognize'; experiential knowledge — the assurance the letter aims to give.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ἀγαπῶμενwe lovePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἀγαπάωverb of ὅτι clause→ customary present
τὰtheAccusativearticle
τέκναchildrenAccusativedirect objectτέκνον: 'child'; the family of the begotten (v.1) — those born of God.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship
ὅτανwhenevertemporal conjunction (+ subjunctive)ὅταν: 'whenever, when'; introducing the condition under which the love is recognized.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object
ἀγαπῶμενwe lovePres Act Subj 1 Pl · ἀγαπάωverb of ὅταν clause→ present (general)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect objectἐντολή: 'commandment'; God's commands, summed in faith and love (3:23).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ποιῶμενwe doPres Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωverb of ὅταν clause→ present (general)ποιέω: 'do, keep'; the doing of the commandments as the concrete expression of love.
3
αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηρῶμεν· καὶ αἱ ἐντολαὶ αὐτοῦ βαρεῖαι οὐκ εἰσίν,
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments — and his commandments are not burdensome,
Ground (definition of love)γάρThe γάρ grounds v.2: love for God is by definition the keeping of his commandments (the ἵνα supplies the content), and lest this seem oppressive, John adds that the commands are not heavy — a claim the next clause will explain by appeal to the new birth.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (subject; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing forward to the ἵνα clause that defines love.
γάρforcausal/explanatory conjunction
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativepredicate nominativeἀγάπη: 'love'; the love of/for God, defined here functionally as obedience.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobjective genitive (love for God)θεός: God; the genitive is most naturally objective — our love directed toward God.
ἵναthatconjunction (epexegetical content, + subjunctive)ἵνα: here epexegetical, supplying the content of 'this' rather than purpose.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect objectἐντολή: 'commandment'; cf. v.2 — obedience as the substance of love.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
τηρῶμενwe keepPres Act Subj 1 Pl · τηρέωverb of ἵνα clause→ present (general/ongoing)τηρέω: 'keep, observe, guard'; the Johannine verb for faithful, watchful obedience.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αἱtheNominativearticle
ἐντολαὶcommandmentsNominativesubject
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
βαρεῖαιburdensomeNominativepredicate adjectiveβαρύς: 'heavy, burdensome'; perhaps echoing Jesus' contrast with the scribes' heavy loads (Mt 23:4; cf. 11:30).
οὐκnotnegative particle
εἰσίνarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
4
ὅτι πᾶν τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ νικᾷ τὸν κόσμον· καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ νίκη ἡ νικήσασα τὸν κόσμον, ἡ πίστις ἡμῶν.
because everything that has been born of God conquers the world; and this is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
Ground (why the commands are not heavy)ὅτιThe ὅτι explains why obedience is no burden: the divinely begotten possess a world-conquering power. John then names that power — faith — in a tight, almost creedal apposition, moving from the neuter abstraction (πᾶν τὸ γεγεννημένον) to the concrete confessor of v.5.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
πᾶνeverythingNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)πᾶς: 'all, every'; the neuter generalizes — every begotten reality, the whole class of the reborn.
τὸthe (thing)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γεγεννημένονthat has been bornPerf Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Neut · γεννάωsubstantival participle (subject)→ intensive perfectγεννάω: 'beget'; the neuter abstracts the new birth as a power-bearing reality, not just individual persons.
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
νικᾷconquersPres Act Indic 3 Sg · νικάωmain verb→ customary/gnomic presentνικάω: 'conquer, overcome, be victorious'; a Johannine theme (2:13–14; 4:4; Rev) — the believer's triumph over the hostile world-order.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κόσμονworldAccusativedirect objectκόσμος: 'world'; the God-opposed order of fallen humanity (cf. 2:15–17), what is conquered by faith.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (subject; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing ahead to the closing apposition ἡ πίστις ἡμῶν.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
νίκηvictoryNominativepredicate nominativeνίκη: 'victory'; NT hapax — the cognate noun of νικάω, naming the conquering act/power itself.
ἡthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
νικήσασαthat has conqueredAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · νικάωattributive participle→ constative aorist (accomplished)νικάω: 'conquer'; the aorist views the victory as a completed achievement — won decisively in conversion-faith.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κόσμονworldAccusativedirect object of ptc.
ἡtheNominativearticle
πίστιςfaithNominativeapposition to αὕτη/νίκηπίστις: 'faith'; the only occurrence of the noun in the Johannine letters — the conquering power explicitly named.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
5
τίς δέ ἐστιν ὁ νικῶν τὸν κόσμον εἰ μὴ ὁ πιστεύων ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ;
And who is the one who conquers the world, except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Rhetorical question (specifying the conqueror)δέA rhetorical question with only one possible answer narrows the abstract 'faith' (v.4) to its concrete confessional content: the conqueror is precisely the one whose faith holds that Jesus is the Son of God — the confession that bridges to the testimony-section.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject)τίς: 'who?'; the rhetorical interrogative expecting the self-evident answer of v.5b.
δέanddevelopmental conjunction
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
νικῶνwho conquersPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · νικάωsubstantival participle (pred. nom.)→ customary presentνικάω: 'conquer'; resuming v.4 — the conqueror is now identified by his confession.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
κόσμονworldAccusativedirect object of ptc.
εἰifparticle (in εἰ μή idiom)
μὴnotnegative (εἰ μή = 'except')εἰ μή: 'except, if not'; restricting the answer to the believing confessor alone.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πιστεύωνwho believesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle→ customary presentπιστεύω: 'believe'; the present of abiding faith, as in v.1.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of belief)
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativesubject of ἐστιν
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ὁtheNominativearticle
υἱὸςSonNominativepredicate nominativeυἱός: 'Son'; the confession sharpens from 'the Christ' (v.1) to 'the Son of God,' the divine-sonship at the letter's heart.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship
6
Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἐλθὼν δι' ὕδατος καὶ αἵματος, Ἰησοῦς Χριστός· οὐκ ἐν τῷ ὕδατι μόνον ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ ὕδατι καὶ ἐν τῷ αἵματι· καὶ τὸ πνεῦμά ἐστιν τὸ μαρτυροῦν, ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμά ἐστιν ἡ ἀλήθεια.
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ — not in the water only but in the water and in the blood; and the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
Christological grounding of the testimonyasyndetonOpening the testimony-section: the same Jesus confessed in v.5 'came' through water and blood — most likely his baptism and his death — countering any teaching that severed the Christ from the suffering Jesus. The emphatic correction ('not in the water only') and the Spirit's witness establish the three witnesses of vv.7–8.
Οὗτόςthis (one)Nominativedemonstrative (subject)οὗτος: 'this one'; resuming 'the Son of God' (v.5) as the subject now described.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐλθὼνwho cameAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔρχομαιsubstantival participle (pred. nom.)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the aorist of the historic coming/mission of Christ, accomplished through water and blood.
δι'throughpreposition + genitive (attendant means)
ὕδατοςwaterGenitiveobject of διάὕδωρ: 'water'; most likely Jesus' baptism (the beginning of his ministry), against a docetic/Cerinthian split of Jesus and the Christ.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αἵματοςbloodGenitiveobject of διάαἷμα: 'blood'; the death on the cross — the Christ did not abandon Jesus before the passion, but came through the blood too.
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativeapposition to ὁ ἐλθών
ΧριστόςChristNominativeapposition (title)Χριστός: 'Christ'; 'Jesus Christ' names the unity of person the secessionists denied.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
ὕδατιwaterDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)ὕδωρ: 'water'; the shift from διά+gen. to ἐν+dat. stresses the sphere/element of the coming.
μόνονonlyadverb (limiting)μόνον: 'only'; the emphatic correction — the water alone (baptism) is not enough; the blood (death) is essential.
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
ὕδατιwaterDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
αἵματιbloodDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)αἷμα: 'blood'; the death, repeated and joined to the water as the dual ground of the witness.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
πνεῦμάSpiritNominativesubjectπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the Holy Spirit, the present, living witness joined to the historic water and blood.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
τὸthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μαρτυροῦνwho testifiesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Neut · μαρτυρέωsubstantival participle (pred. nom.)→ customary presentμαρτυρέω: 'bear witness, testify'; the keyword of the section — the Spirit's ongoing attestation.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
πνεῦμάSpiritNominativesubject
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀλήθειαtruthNominativepredicate nominativeἀλήθεια: 'truth'; the Spirit is truth itself (cf. John 14:17; 16:13) — hence his witness is reliable.
7
ὅτι τρεῖς εἰσιν οἱ μαρτυροῦντες,
For there are three that testify:
Ground (the three witnesses)ὅτιThe critical text reads simply 'there are three that testify' — the so-called Johannine Comma (the heavenly witnesses: Father, Word, Holy Spirit) is absent from the early Greek tradition and is not part of the text. The ὅτι grounds the Spirit's reliable witness (v.6) by invoking the OT principle of multiple witnesses (Deut 19:15).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction
τρεῖςthreeNominativepredicate nominative (numeral)τρεῖς: 'three'; the number satisfying the OT requirement of two or three witnesses (Deut 19:15).
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μαρτυροῦντεςwho testifyPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · μαρτυρέωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentμαρτυρέω: 'testify'; the present marks an ongoing, standing testimony (the masculine plural here precedes the neuter triad of v.8).
8
τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸ αἷμα, καὶ οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὸ ἕν εἰσιν.
the Spirit and the water and the blood, and the three are unto the one.
Identification of the witnessesasyndetonThe three witnesses are named — Spirit, water, blood — picking up v.6; their testimony converges (εἰς τὸ ἕν, 'unto the one [purpose/witness]'), all pointing to the one truth about the Son. The Comma's clause naming the heavenly witnesses is absent here, as in the earliest Greek text.
τὸtheNominativearticle
πνεῦμαSpiritNominativeapposition to οἱ μαρτυροῦντεςπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; named first — the living divine witness.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
ὕδωρwaterNominativeapposition (coordinate witness)ὕδωρ: 'water'; the baptism-witness of v.6, now itself a testifier.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle
αἷμαbloodNominativeapposition (coordinate witness)αἷμα: 'blood'; the death-witness of v.6, the third testifier.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
τρεῖςthreeNominativesubstantival numeral (subject)τρεῖς: 'three'; the masculine resumes v.7, gathering the three neuters as a single testimony.
εἰςuntopreposition + accusative (goal/result)
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἕνoneAccusativeobject of εἰς (the single object/agreement)εἷς: 'one'; εἰς τὸ ἕν — the three converge upon one and the same witness (agreeing testimony), not a metaphysical unity.
εἰσινarePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
9
εἰ τὴν μαρτυρίαν τῶν ἀνθρώπων λαμβάνομεν, ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ θεοῦ μείζων ἐστίν· ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι μεμαρτύρηκεν περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ.
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God, that he has testified concerning his Son.
A fortiori argument from testimonyasyndetonA first-class conditional ('if — as is the case'): since human testimony is routinely accepted, God's testimony — the threefold witness of vv.6–8 — is weightier still. The double ὅτι defines the content: God's witness is what he has borne about his Son.
εἰifconjunction (first-class condition)εἰ: 'if'; with the indicative, assuming the premise true for the argument.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
μαρτυρίανtestimonyAccusativedirect objectμαρτυρία: 'testimony, witness'; the noun now dominates the paragraph (vv.9–11).
τῶνofGenitivearticle
ἀνθρώπωνmenGenitivesubjective genitive (whose testimony)ἄνθρωπος: 'human being'; human legal testimony, routinely accepted in courts.
λαμβάνομενwe receivePres Act Indic 1 Pl · λαμβάνωverb of protasis→ customary presentλαμβάνω: 'receive, accept'; here of accepting testimony as valid.
ἡtheNominativearticle
μαρτυρίαtestimonyNominativesubject
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivesubjective genitive
μείζωνgreaterNominativepredicate adjective (comparative)μέγας (compar. μείζων): 'greater'; God's witness outweighs all human attestation.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ὅτιforcausal conjunction
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (subject; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the second ὅτι clause that defines the testimony.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
μαρτυρίαtestimonyNominativepredicate nominative
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivesubjective genitive
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetical content)ὅτι: here defining the content of 'this' — what the testimony consists in.
μεμαρτύρηκενhe has testifiedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · μαρτυρέωverb of ὅτι clause→ intensive perfect (abiding witness)μαρτυρέω: 'testify'; the perfect marks God's witness as given and still standing.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
υἱοῦSonGenitiveobject of περί (reference)υἱός: 'Son'; the content of God's testimony is his Son (cf. the Father's voice at the baptism, John 1:34).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
10
ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἔχει τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἐν ἑαυτῷ· ὁ μὴ πιστεύων τῷ θεῷ ψεύστην πεποίηκεν αὐτόν, ὅτι οὐ πεπίστευκεν εἰς τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἣν μεμαρτύρηκεν ὁ θεὸς περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ.
The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.
Antithesis (believer vs. unbeliever)asyndetonThe two responses to God's witness, set in sharp contrast: the believer internalizes the testimony, while the unbeliever, by rejecting it, in effect accuses God of lying — the gravest charge in the letter (cf. 1:10).
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πιστεύωνwho believesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentπιστεύω: 'believe'; πιστεύω εἰς ('believe into') marks committed trust in the person of the Son.
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (object of faith)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativeobject of εἰςυἱός: 'Son'; the object of saving faith.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ stative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; the believer possesses the testimony as an inward, abiding reality (the Spirit's inner witness).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
μαρτυρίανtestimonyAccusativedirect object
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ἑαυτῷhimselfDativereflexive pronoun (location)ἑαυτοῦ: 'himself'; the witness is borne within the believer (some witnesses read αὐτῷ).
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ ptc.)
πιστεύωνwho believesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentπιστεύω: here + dative ('believe God,' i.e. credit his word) — the parallel to πιστεύω εἰς.
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativedat. object of πιστεύω (credit)
ψεύστηνa liarAccusativeobject complement (predicate acc.)ψεύστης: 'liar'; to disbelieve God's witness is to call God himself false (cf. 1:10; John 8:44).
πεποίηκενhas madePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb→ intensive perfect (resultant state)ποιέω: 'make, render'; the perfect stresses the abiding affront — has made and so holds God a liar.
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect object
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
οὐnotnegative particle
πεπίστευκενhe has believedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · πιστεύωverb of causal clause→ intensive perfectπιστεύω: 'believe'; the perfect marks settled unbelief — a standing refusal of the witness.
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (object of faith)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
μαρτυρίανtestimonyAccusativeobject of εἰς
ἣνthatAccusativerelative pronoun (cognate acc.)ὅς: relative; cognate accusative with μεμαρτύρηκεν — 'the testimony that he testified.'
μεμαρτύρηκενhas testifiedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · μαρτυρέωverb of relative clause→ intensive perfectμαρτυρέω: 'testify'; resuming v.9 — the abiding divine witness about the Son.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of relative clause
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
υἱοῦSonGenitiveobject of περίυἱός: 'Son'; the object of the testimony, as in v.9.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
11
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ μαρτυρία, ὅτι ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ θεός, καὶ αὕτη ἡ ζωὴ ἐν τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Content of the testimonyκαὶThe witness now spelled out as gift and locus: God gave eternal life, and that life is found in the Son. The double αὕτη structure (the testimony … this life) ties the content of the witness to the place where life is had.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (subject; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the ὅτι clause defining the testimony's content.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
μαρτυρίαtestimonyNominativepredicate nominativeμαρτυρία: 'testimony'; the witness whose content is the gift of life in the Son.
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetical content)
ζωὴνlifeAccusativedirect objectζωή: 'life'; eschatological, divine life — a central Johannine gift.
αἰώνιονeternalAccusativeattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal, of the age to come'; not mere endlessness but the life of the coming age, present now.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of ὅτι clause→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; the aorist views the gift as a definite act of God.
ἡμῖνto usDativedat. of recipient
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεόςGodNominativesubject
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (attributive w/ ζωή)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this life' — the very eternal life just named.
ἡtheNominativearticle
ζωὴlifeNominativesubjectζωή: 'life'; resumed as subject — its locus now specified.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locus/sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
υἱῷSonDativeobject of ἐν (locus of life)υἱός: 'Son'; life is located in the Son — hence v.12's exclusive logic.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
12
ὁ ἔχων τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει τὴν ζωήν· ὁ μὴ ἔχων τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν ζωὴν οὐκ ἔχει.
The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
Corollary (exclusive possession of life)asyndetonThe clinching antithesis of the testimony-section: because life is in the Son (v.11), to have the Son is to have life and to lack the Son is to lack it. The bare, balanced clauses leave no third possibility.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἔχωνwho hasPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentἔχω: 'have, possess'; having the Son = being in saving relationship with him.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativedirect objectυἱός: 'Son'; the one whose possession is life itself.
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ stative present
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ζωήνlifeAccusativedirect objectζωή: 'life'; the eternal life of v.11, possessed with the Son.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ ptc.)
ἔχωνwho hasPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἔχωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentἔχω: 'have'; the negated counterpart — lacking the Son.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativedirect object
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationshipθεός: 'God'; the fuller title 'the Son of God' in the negative limb heightens the gravity of lacking him.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ζωὴνlifeAccusativedirect object (fronted)
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἔχειhasPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔχωmain verb→ stative present
13
Ταῦτα ἔγραψα ὑμῖν ἵνα εἰδῆτε ὅτι ζωὴν ἔχετε αἰώνιον, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ.
These things I wrote to you, that you may know that you have eternal life — to you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
Statement of purpose (assurance)asyndetonThe letter's purpose-statement, paralleling John 20:31: the apostle has written so that believers may know they already possess eternal life. The dative 'to you who believe' names the addressees and the ground of the assurance.
Ταῦταthese thingsAccusativedemonstrative (direct object)οὗτος: 'these things'; the contents of the letter (or at least the foregoing).
ἔγραψαI wroteAor Act Indic 1 Sg · γράφωmain verb→ epistolary aoristγράφω: 'write'; the epistolary aorist views the act of writing from the readers' standpoint.
ὑμῖνto youDativedat. of recipient
ἵναthatconjunction (purpose, + subjunctive)ἵνα: 'in order that'; the purpose of the writing.
εἰδῆτεyou may knowPerf Act Subj 2 Pl · οἶδαverb of ἵνα clause→ perfect-as-present (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know'; the perfect-form verb with present sense — assured, settled knowledge, the aim of the letter.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ζωὴνlifeAccusativedirect objectζωή: 'life'; the eternal life of vv.11–12, now possessed and known to be possessed.
ἔχετεyou havePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἔχωverb of ὅτι clause→ stative present (present possession)ἔχω: 'have'; the present marks eternal life as a present, already-held possession.
αἰώνιονeternalAccusativeattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal'; cf. v.11 — the life of the age to come.
τοῖςto the (ones)Dativearticle (substantizes ptc.; apposition to ὑμῖν)
πιστεύουσινwho believePres Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival ptc. in apposition to ὑμῖν→ customary presentπιστεύω: 'believe'; the addressees defined by their ongoing faith in the Son's name.
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (object of faith)
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ὄνομαnameAccusativeobject of εἰςὄνομα: 'name'; the name = the person and revealed identity of the Son, the object of faith.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
υἱοῦSonGenitivegenitive (whose name)υἱός: 'Son'; cf. v.5, the consistent object of confession and faith.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship
14
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ παρρησία ἣν ἔχομεν πρὸς αὐτόν, ὅτι ἐάν τι αἰτώμεθα κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ἀκούει ἡμῶν.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Consequence of assurance (confident prayer)καὶFrom the assurance of life flows boldness in prayer: παρρησία (frank confidence) before God, qualified by 'according to his will' — not a blank check but aligned petition that God reliably hears.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative (subject; cataphoric)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the ὅτι clause defining the confidence.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ἡtheNominativearticle
παρρησίαconfidenceNominativepredicate nominativeπαρρησία: 'boldness, frank confidence, freedom of speech'; here the believer's freedom to approach God in prayer (cf. 3:21–22).
ἣνthatAccusativerelative pronoun (direct object)
ἔχομενwe havePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἔχωverb of relative clause→ stative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; the confidence is a present possession.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (relational direction)
αὐτόνhimAccusativeobject of πρός
ὅτιthatconjunction (epexegetical content)ὅτι: defining the content of 'this confidence.'
ἐάνifconjunction (third-class condition)ἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive, a general/probable condition.
τιanythingAccusativeindefinite pronoun (direct object)τις: 'anything'; the breadth qualified by 'according to his will.'
αἰτώμεθαwe askPres Mid Subj 1 Pl · αἰτέωverb of protasis→ present (general)αἰτέω: 'ask, request'; the middle perhaps nuancing personal interest in the request.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard)
τὸtheAccusativearticle
θέλημαwillAccusativeobject of κατά (standard of asking)θέλημα: 'will'; the decisive qualifier — petition aligned to God's will is the prayer God answers.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
ἀκούειhe hearsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωmain verb (apodosis)→ customary/gnomic presentἀκούω: 'hear'; here 'hear favorably, heed' — God's attentive response to aligned prayer.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούω
15
καὶ ἐὰν οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀκούει ἡμῶν ὃ ἐὰν αἰτώμεθα, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἔχομεν τὰ αἰτήματα ἃ ᾐτήκαμεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ.
And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Inference from confident prayerκαὶAn inference drawn from v.14: knowing that God hears entails knowing that we already 'have' (as good as granted) the very requests made — the perfect ᾐτήκαμεν / present ἔχομεν conveying the certainty of answered prayer.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐὰνifconjunction (condition; here w/ indic.)ἐάν: 'if'; here followed by the indicative οἴδαμεν, treating the premise as real.
οἴδαμενwe knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · οἶδαverb of protasis→ perfect-as-presentοἶδα: 'know'; settled knowledge, the ground of the inference.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ἀκούειhe hearsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀκούωverb of ὅτι clause→ customary presentἀκούω: 'hear, heed'; resuming v.14.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of ἀκούω
ὃwhatAccusativerelative pronoun (acc. of respect)ὅς: relative; ὃ ἐάν, 'whatever' — the indefinite content of the request.
ἐὰνeverparticle (generalizing ὃ ἐάν)ἐάν: here the generalizing particle with the relative ('whatever').
αἰτώμεθαwe askPres Mid Subj 1 Pl · αἰτέωverb of relative clause→ present (general)αἰτέω: 'ask'; cf. v.14.
οἴδαμενwe knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · οἶδαmain verb (apodosis)→ perfect-as-presentοἶδα: 'know'; the apodosis — the assured conclusion.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ἔχομενwe havePres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἔχωverb of ὅτι clause→ present (proleptic certainty)ἔχω: 'have'; the present treats the granting as already secure.
τὰtheAccusativearticle
αἰτήματαrequestsAccusativedirect objectαἴτημα: 'request, petition'; the concrete things asked for, now possessed.
ἃthatAccusativerelative pronoun (direct object)
ᾐτήκαμενwe have askedPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · αἰτέωverb of relative clause→ intensive perfectαἰτέω: 'ask'; the perfect — requests made and standing before God.
ἀπ'ofpreposition + genitive (source)
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)
16
Ἐάν τις ἴδῃ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτάνοντα ἁμαρτίαν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον, αἰτήσει, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ ζωήν, τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον. ἔστιν ἁμαρτία πρὸς θάνατον· οὐ περὶ ἐκείνης λέγω ἵνα ἐρωτήσῃ.
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and he will give him life — for those who sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he should ask concerning that.
Application (intercession and its limit)asyndetonConfident prayer applied to a brother's sin: the intercessor asks and God gives life — for sins 'not unto death.' But there is a 'sin unto death' (most likely the decisive, persistent apostasy/denial of the Son characterizing the secessionists), for which John pointedly does not command intercession.
Ἐάνifconjunction (third-class condition)ἐάν: 'if'; the general case introduced.
τιςanyoneNominativeindefinite pronoun (subject)τις: 'anyone'; any member of the community.
ἴδῃseesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ὁράωverb of protasis→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see, observe'; witnessing a brother in sin.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect objectἀδελφός: 'brother'; a fellow believer within the community.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἁμαρτάνονταsinningPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ἁμαρτάνωpredicate (supplementary) participle→ present (in progress)ἁμαρτάνω: 'sin, miss the mark'; the present depicts the brother caught in the act/state of sinning.
ἁμαρτίανa sinAccusativecognate accusativeἁμαρτία: 'sin'; cognate object — 'sinning a sin.'
μὴnotnegative particle
πρὸςuntopreposition + accusative (tendency/result)πρός: here 'tending toward, leading to' — characterizing the sin's outcome.
θάνατονdeathAccusativeobject of πρόςθάνατος: 'death'; spiritual/eternal death — a sin 'not unto death' does not sever from the life of v.11.
αἰτήσειhe shall askFut Act Indic 3 Sg · αἰτέωmain verb (apodosis)→ imperatival/predictive futureαἰτέω: 'ask'; the future functions as gentle command/expectation — he is to intercede.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
δώσειhe will giveFut Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ predictive futureδίδωμι: 'give'; subject most likely God (some take the intercessor as agent) — life granted in answer to prayer.
αὐτῷhimDativedat. of recipient
ζωήνlifeAccusativedirect objectζωή: 'life'; the restored/preserved life of the erring but not apostate brother.
τοῖςto thoseDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἁμαρτάνουσινwho sinPres Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · ἁμαρτάνωsubstantival ptc. (dat. in apposition / restatement)→ customary presentἁμαρτάνω: 'sin'; restating the recipients — those whose sin is not unto death.
μὴnotnegative particle
πρὸςuntopreposition + accusative (tendency)
θάνατονdeathAccusativeobject of πρός
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb→ stative presentεἰμί: 'there is'; accented ἔστιν marks the existential assertion.
ἁμαρτίαa sinNominativesubject (existential)ἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the 'sin unto death' — most likely the apostate denial of the Son (cf. vv.10–12; 2:19, 22).
πρὸςuntopreposition + accusative (tendency)
θάνατονdeathAccusativeobject of πρόςθάνατος: 'death'; here the death that this decisive sin issues in — eternal, not merely physical.
οὐnotnegative particle
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
ἐκείνηςthatGenitivedemonstrative (object of περί)ἐκεῖνος: 'that (one)'; the remote demonstrative — that [sin], the deadly one.
λέγωI sayPres Act Indic 1 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ customary presentλέγω: 'say'; John withholds a command to intercede — he does not forbid prayer, but pointedly does not enjoin it.
ἵναthatconjunction (content/object, + subjunctive)ἵνα: introducing the content of what he does not say.
ἐρωτήσῃhe should askAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἐρωτάωverb of ἵνα clause→ constative aoristἐρωτάω: 'ask, request'; here interchangeable with αἰτέω — the requested intercession.
17
πᾶσα ἀδικία ἁμαρτία ἐστίν, καὶ ἔστιν ἁμαρτία οὐ πρὸς θάνατον.
All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death.
Clarification (gravity and limit of sin)asyndetonA balancing clarification: all wrongdoing is genuinely sin (no minimizing), yet not all sin is the deadly kind — preserving both the seriousness of sin and the hope of intercession for the erring brother of v.16.
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'all, every'; every instance of unrighteousness qualifies as sin.
ἀδικίαunrighteousnessNominativesubjectἀδικία: 'unrighteousness, wrongdoing'; the opposite of the δικαιοσύνη God requires (cf. 1:9).
ἁμαρτίαsinNominativepredicate nominativeἁμαρτία: 'sin'; all wrongdoing is reckoned as sin — none is trivial.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔστινthere isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίexistential verb→ stative presentεἰμί: 'there is'; the accented existential, as in v.16.
ἁμαρτίαsinNominativesubject (existential)ἁμαρτία: 'sin'; the non-deadly kind — for which intercession avails (v.16).
οὐnotnegative particle
πρὸςuntopreposition + accusative (tendency)
θάνατονdeathAccusativeobject of πρόςθάνατος: 'death'; the sin that does not lead to (eternal) death.
18
Οἴδαμεν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, ἀλλ' ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τηρεῖ αὐτόν, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep sinning, but the one who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
First 'we know' affirmation (preservation)asyndetonThe first of three closing 'we know' affirmations: the one born of God does not persist in sin (the deadly kind of vv.16–17), because 'the One who was born of God' (most likely the Son) keeps him safe, so that the evil one cannot lay hold of him.
Οἴδαμενwe knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · οἶδαmain verb→ perfect-as-presentοἶδα: 'know'; the first of the triple οἴδαμεν (vv.18, 19, 20) — confident communal knowledge.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
πᾶςeveryoneNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)πᾶς: 'everyone'; the comprehensive subject, as in v.1.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γεγεννημένοςwho has been bornPerf Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · γεννάωsubstantival participle→ intensive perfect (abiding state)γεννάω: 'beget'; the perfect — the believer's settled state as one born of God.
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
οὐχnotnegative particle
ἁμαρτάνειkeeps sinningPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἁμαρτάνωverb of ὅτι clause→ customary/durative presentἁμαρτάνω: 'sin'; the present marks habitual, persistent sinning — the one born of God does not live in sin (cf. 3:6, 9).
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γεννηθεὶςwho was bornAor Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · γεννάωsubstantival participle (subject)→ constative aoristγεννάω: 'beget'; the shift to the aorist (and away from the perfect) most likely designates the Son — 'the One born of God' — as the keeper, distinct from the believer.
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source)
τηρεῖkeepsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · τηρέωmain verb→ customary presentτηρέω: 'keep, guard, protect'; the Son guards the believer (some witnesses/readings make the believer 'keep himself,' ἑαυτόν).
αὐτόνhimAccusativedirect objectαὐτόν: 'him'; the believer, kept by the Son (the reading ἑαυτόν would make it 'keeps himself').
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
πονηρὸςevil oneNominativesubstantival adjective (subject)πονηρός: 'evil'; ὁ πονηρός = the devil (cf. 2:13–14; 3:12; Matt 6:13).
οὐχnotnegative particle
ἅπτεταιtouchesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἅπτωmain verb→ customary presentἅπτω (mid.): 'touch, lay hold of, harm'; the evil one cannot fasten his grip on the kept believer.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἅπτεται
19
οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος ὅλος ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ κεῖται.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Second 'we know' affirmation (belonging)asyndetonThe second affirmation draws the great Johannine antithesis: 'we' belong to God, while 'the whole world' lies inert in the grasp of the evil one — there is no neutral middle ground between God's family and the kingdom of the πονηρός.
οἴδαμενwe knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · οἶδαmain verb→ perfect-as-presentοἶδα: 'know'; the second οἴδαμεν.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ἐκofpreposition + genitive (source/belonging)ἐκ: 'of, from'; ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ εἶναι = to belong to / originate from God.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἐκ (belonging)
ἐσμενwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίverb of ὅτι clause→ stative present
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὁtheNominativearticle
κόσμοςworldNominativesubjectκόσμος: 'world'; the God-opposed order, set over against 'we who are of God.'
ὅλοςwholeNominativeattributive/predicate adjectiveὅλος: 'whole, entire'; the totality of the world-system lies under the evil one.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/power)
τῷtheDativearticle
πονηρῷevil oneDativesubstantival adj. (object of ἐν)πονηρός: 'evil one'; the devil, in whose grip the world lies (cf. v.18).
κεῖταιliesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · κεῖμαιmain verb→ stative presentκεῖμαι: 'lie, be laid'; the world lies passive/helpless under the evil one's power — a vivid stative image.
20
οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἥκει, καὶ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν διάνοιαν ἵνα γινώσκωμεν τὸν ἀληθινόν· καὶ ἐσμὲν ἐν τῷ ἀληθινῷ, ἐν τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ. οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀληθινὸς θεὸς καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, that we may know the True One; and we are in the True One, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.
Third 'we know' affirmation (the True One)δὲThe third and climactic affirmation: the Son has come and given understanding to know 'the True One,' and believers are in him — in his Son Jesus Christ. The final οὗτος ('this one') most likely identifies Jesus Christ as 'the true God and eternal life,' a high-Christological summit closing the letter.
οἴδαμενwe knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · οἶδαmain verb→ perfect-as-presentοἶδα: 'know'; the third and culminating οἴδαμεν.
δὲanddevelopmental conjunction
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ὁtheNominativearticle
υἱὸςSonNominativesubjectυἱός: 'Son'; the Son of God, whose coming grounds true knowledge.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἥκειhas comePres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἥκωverb of ὅτι clause→ present-with-perfect-force (has come and is here)ἥκω: 'have come, be present'; the present carries perfect force — he has arrived and abides.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
δέδωκενhas givenPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of ὅτι clause→ intensive perfect (abiding gift)δίδωμι: 'give'; the perfect — the understanding given remains a permanent endowment.
ἡμῖνusDativedat. of recipient
διάνοιανunderstandingAccusativedirect objectδιάνοια: 'understanding, mind, insight'; the God-given capacity to know the True One.
ἵναthatconjunction (purpose, + subjunctive)ἵνα: 'in order that'; the purpose of the given understanding.
γινώσκωμενwe may knowPres Act Subj 1 Pl · γινώσκωverb of ἵνα clause→ present (ongoing knowing)γινώσκω: 'know'; the present marks ongoing, relational knowledge of God.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀληθινόνTrue OneAccusativesubstantival adjective (direct object)ἀληθινός: 'true, real, genuine'; 'the True One' = the true God (the Father, or God in the Son).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐσμὲνwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb→ stative present
ἐνinpreposition + dative (union)
τῷtheDativearticle
ἀληθινῷTrue OneDativesubstantival adj. (object of ἐν)ἀληθινός: 'the True One'; believers abide in him — defined next as 'in his Son.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (union; epexegetical)
τῷtheDativearticle
υἱῷSonDativeobject of ἐν (apposition to ἀληθινῷ)υἱός: 'Son'; being 'in the True One' is being 'in his Son' — the two are inseparable.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusDativeapposition to υἱῷ
ΧριστῷChristDativeapposition (title)Χριστός: 'Christ'; the full name closing the union-statement.
οὗτόςthis oneNominativedemonstrative (subject)οὗτος: 'this one'; the nearest antecedent is Jesus Christ — so the clause confesses the Son as 'the true God' (some take the antecedent as the Father).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἀληθινὸςtrueNominativeattributive adjectiveἀληθινός: 'true, real'; 'the true God,' as opposed to the idols of v.21.
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominativeθεός: 'God'; the climactic confession — the True One is the true God.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ζωὴlifeNominativepredicate nominative (coordinate)ζωή: 'life'; cf. v.11 — he is himself the eternal life given to believers (cf. John 11:25; 14:6).
αἰώνιοςeternalNominativeattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal'; closing the letter on the same note as its purpose-statement (v.13).
21
Τεκνία, φυλάξατε ἑαυτὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Closing chargeasyndetonThe abrupt, tender closing imperative: having confessed the 'true God' (v.20), the addressees are charged to guard themselves from idols — anything counterfeit that would supplant the true God and his Son, very possibly including the false christology of the secessionists.
Τεκνίαlittle childrenVocativevocative of addressτεκνίον: 'little child'; John's affectionate diminutive of address throughout the letter (2:1, 12, 28; etc.).
φυλάξατεkeepAor Act Impv 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (imperative)→ constative/ingressive aorist (urgent command)φυλάσσω: 'guard, keep, protect'; the aorist imperative makes the final charge pointed and decisive.
ἑαυτὰyourselvesAccusativereflexive pronoun (direct object)ἑαυτοῦ: 'yourselves'; the neuter plural agrees with τεκνία — guard your own selves.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
εἰδώλωνidolsGenitiveobject of ἀπό (separation)εἴδωλον: 'idol, image'; false gods and counterfeit objects of devotion — anything set in the place of the true God (v.20).