1 John 2:5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:

◄ 1 John 2:5 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:

English Standard Version
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

New American Standard Bible
but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:

International Standard Version
But whoever continually keeps his commandments is the kind of person in whom God's love has truly been perfected. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God:

American Standard Version
but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected; and by this we know that we are in him.

Darby Bible Translation
but whoever keeps his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him.

Young's Literal Translation
and whoever may keep his word, truly in him the love of God hath been perfected; in this we know that in him we are.

Cross References

John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our stayed with him.

1 John 2:3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 3:24
And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he stays in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.

1 John 4:12
No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:13
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 5:2
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

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 perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going.

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 [2641]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].