New International VersionThis is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
New Living TranslationWe know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.
English Standard VersionBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
Berean Standard BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
Berean Literal BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
King James BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
New King James VersionBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
New American Standard BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments.
NASB 1995By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
NASB 1977By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
Legacy Standard BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do His commandments.
Amplified BibleBy this we know [without any doubt] that we love the children of God: [expressing that love] when we love God and obey His commandments.
Christian Standard BibleThis is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThis is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey His commands.
American Standard VersionHereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.
Contemporary English VersionIf we love and obey God, we know we will love his children.
English Revised VersionHereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do his commandments.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWe know that we love God's children when we love God by obeying his commandments.
Good News TranslationThis is how we know that we love God's children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands.
International Standard VersionThis is how we know that we love God's children: we love God and keep his commandments.
NET BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments.
New Heart English BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.
Webster's Bible TranslationBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Weymouth New TestamentThe fact that we love God Himself, and obey His commands, is a proof that we love God's children. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
World English BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIn this we know that we love the children of God, when we may love God and may keep His commands;
Berean Literal BibleBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
Young's Literal Translation in this we know that we love the children of God, when we may love God, and His commands may keep;
Smith's Literal TranslationIn this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commands. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIn this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Catholic Public Domain VersionIn this way, we know that we love those born of God: when we love God and do his commandments.
New American BibleIn this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments.
New Revised Standard VersionBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd by this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and we do his commandments. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBy this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Godbey New TestamentIn this we know that we love the children of God with divine love, when we love God with divine love and keep his commandments.
Haweis New TestamentHereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Mace New Testamentby this we may know that we love the children of God, if we love God, and keep his commandments.
Weymouth New TestamentThe fact that we love God Himself, and obey His commands, is a proof that we love God's children.
Worrell New TestamentIn this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do His commandments.
Worsley New Testamentand in this we know that we love the children of God, since we love God and keep his commandments.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Overcoming the World1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him. 2Bythiswe knowthatwe lovethechildrenof God:whenwe loveGodandkeepHiscommandments.3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,…
Cross References John 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
1 John 2:3-5By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. / If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. / But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:
1 John 3:23-24And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. / Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
1 John 4:21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
Matthew 22:37-40Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...
Romans 13:9-10The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
2 John 1:6And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
John 13:34-35A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. / By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Galatians 5:14The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
James 2:8If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Deuteronomy 6:5And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Leviticus 19:18Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, / and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?
Psalm 119:47-48I delight in Your commandments because I love them. / I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.
Treasury of Scripture By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1 John 3:22-24 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight… 1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. John 13:34,35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another… Jump to Previous CarryingChildrenCommandmentsCommandsFactGod'sHerebyLoveObeyObserveProofWayJump to Next CarryingChildrenCommandmentsCommandsFactGod'sHerebyLoveObeyObserveProofWay1 John 5 1.He who loves God loves his children, and keeps his commandments;3.which to the faithful are not grievous.9.Jesus is the Son of God;14.and able to hear our prayers.By this we know that we love the children of God:This phrase emphasizes the assurance believers have in their love for fellow Christians. The "children of God" refers to those who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. The concept of being children of God is rooted in passages like John 1:12-13, which speaks of those who receive Christ being given the right to become children of God. The assurance of love is not based on feelings but on observable actions and obedience to God's commands. This reflects the communal aspect of the early church, where love for one another was a defining characteristic ( John 13:35). when we love God
Loving God is the foundational commandment in both the Old and New Testaments.Deuteronomy 6:5 commands, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Jesus reiterates this as the greatest commandment inMatthew 22:37-38. The love for God is not merely emotional but involves a commitment to His will and purposes. In the historical context of the early church, this love was often tested by persecution and societal pressures, yet it remained the core of Christian identity and practice. and keep His commandments.
Obedience to God's commandments is a tangible expression of love for Him. This echoes Jesus' words inJohn 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." The commandments refer not only to the moral laws found in the Old Testament but also to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. In the cultural context of the time, keeping God's commandments set believers apart from the surrounding pagan practices and demonstrated their allegiance to Christ. This obedience is not legalistic but is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to live according to God's will (Romans 8:4). Persons / Places / Events 1. John the ApostleThe author of 1 John, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, known for his close relationship with Jesus and his emphasis on love and truth. 2. Children of GodRefers to believers in Christ who are born of God, emphasizing the familial relationship among Christians. 3. GodThe central figure in this passage, whose commandments are to be kept as an expression of love. 4. CommandmentsThe laws and teachings given by God, which are to be followed by believers as a demonstration of their love for Him. Teaching Points Love and Obedience are InseparableTrue love for God is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. Our actions reflect our love. Community of BelieversLoving the children of God means actively participating in the community of believers, supporting and caring for one another. Practical Expression of FaithKeeping God's commandments is a practical way to express our faith and love, impacting our daily decisions and interactions. Holistic LoveLove for God encompasses all aspects of life, requiring a holistic approach that includes both heart and action. Evidence of RelationshipOur love for God and others serves as evidence of our relationship with Him, providing assurance of our faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of 1 John 5:2?
2.How does 1 John 5:2 define love for God and His children?
3.What actions demonstrate "love for God" according to 1 John 5:2?
4.How does 1 John 5:2 connect with Jesus' commandment to love others?
5.How can you apply 1 John 5:2 in daily interactions with believers?
6.What role does obedience play in loving God, as stated in 1 John 5:2?
7.How does 1 John 5:2 define love for God and others?
8.What does 1 John 5:2 reveal about the relationship between love and obedience?
9.How does 1 John 5:2 challenge modern views on love and commandments?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 John 5?
11.What defines a testimony for Jesus?
12.What is the Baptism of Love?
13.What does 1 John 5:3 mean about commandments?
14.In John 13:34, why call it a 'new commandment' when the Old Testament already teaches love for others?What Does 1 John 5:2 Mean By this we knowJohn writes, “By this we know…”—words of assurance. He is not leaving believers to guess about their standing; he offers a clear test. Similar phrases appear earlier: “By this we will know that we belong to the truth” (1 John 3:19) and Jesus’ own promise, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). The pattern is consistent: genuine faith produces observable evidence. Paul echoes this call to self-examination in2 Corinthians 13:5. The Spirit uses such markers to settle our hearts and silence doubt.
that we love the children of GodThe focus narrows to our brothers and sisters in Christ. John has already said, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers” (1 John 3:14). Love for fellow believers is not optional; it is family DNA. If someone claims to love God yet harbors hostility toward a sibling in Christ, “he is a liar” (1 John 4:20–21). Jesus grounded the same truth: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Real affection, practical care, and sacrificial service toward God’s family verify the reality of salvation.
when we love GodHow do we know our love for the church is authentic? It must flow from a deeper fountain—love for God Himself. The first and greatest commandment still stands: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; see alsoMatthew 22:37). When the vertical relationship is healthy, the horizontal naturally follows. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). Our affection for Him motivates every other act of love.
and keep His commandmentsLove is never mere sentiment. John completes the test: love for God expresses itself in obedience. Jesus made the link unmistakable: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). John repeats it: “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3–5). Obedience is not earning salvation; it is evidence of it. James adds that faith without works “is dead” (James 2:17). Practical checkpoints: • Does my love for believers cost me time, resources, or comfort? • Is my devotion to God deepening through worship, Scripture, and prayer? • Are there clear steps of obedience I am taking because His Word says so, not because they are convenient?
summary1 John 5:2 teaches that genuine assurance springs from a threefold cord: love for God, obedience to His commands, and sacrificial love for His children. These elements are inseparable; each validates the other. When they are present and growing, we can confidently “know” that the life and love of God truly reside in us. Verse 2. - Another mark by which we can test our love towards the brethren. In verse 1 faith in the Incarnation is shown to involve this love. Here obedience to God is the test. To obey God proves love to him, and this again involves love of his children.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Byἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.thisτούτῳ(toutō)Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.we knowγινώσκομεν(ginōskomen)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1097:A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.thatὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.we loveἀγαπῶμεν(agapōmen)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 25:To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.theτὰ(ta)Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.childrenτέκνα(tekna)Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5043:A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.of God:Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.whenὅταν(hotan)Conjunction
Strong's 3752:When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.we loveἀγαπῶμεν(agapōmen)Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 25:To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.GodΘεὸν(Theon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.keepποιῶμεν(poiōmen)Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4160:(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.commandments.ἐντολὰς(entolas)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1785:An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.
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NT Letters: 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo) |
