1 John 5:4
New International Version
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

New Living Translation
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

English Standard Version
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Berean Standard Bible
because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

Berean Literal Bible
For everyone having been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory having overcome the world: our faith.

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

New King James Version
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.

New American Standard Bible
For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

NASB 1995
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.

NASB 1977
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Legacy Standard Bible
For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the overcoming that has overcome the world—our faith.

Amplified Bible
For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].

Christian Standard Bible
because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

American Standard Version
For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.

Contemporary English Version
Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.

English Revised Version
For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
because everyone who has been born from God has won the victory over the world. Our faith is what wins the victory over the world.

Good News Translation
because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.

International Standard Version
because everyone who is born from God has overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

Majority Standard Bible
because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

NET Bible
because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. Testimony About the Son This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.

New Heart English Bible
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

Webster's Bible Translation
For whatever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Weymouth New Testament
For every child of God overcomes the world; and the victorious principle which has overcome the world is our faith.

World English Bible
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
because everyone who is begotten of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcame the world—our faith.

Berean Literal Bible
For everyone having been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory having overcome the world: our faith.

Young's Literal Translation
because every one who is begotten of God doth overcome the world, and this is the victory that did overcome the world -- our faith;

Smith's Literal Translation
For everything begotten of God conquers the world: and this is the victory having conquered the world, our faith.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For all that is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith.

New American Bible
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

New Revised Standard Version
for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For whoever is born of God triumphs over the world: and this is the victory which conquers the world, even our faith.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because everyone who is born from God conquers the universe; and this is the victory that conquers the universe - our faith.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For whatever is begotten of God, overcomes the world; and this is the victorious principle that overcomes the world, even our faith.

Godbey New Testament
because everything which has been born of God conquers the world: and this is the victory which has conquered the world, our faith.

Haweis New Testament
Because every one that is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.

Mace New Testament
for he that is a true christian, overcomes the world: by obtaining faith, we have gain'd a victory over the world.

Weymouth New Testament
For every child of God overcomes the world; and the victorious principle which has overcome the world is our faith.

Worrell New Testament
because all that has been begotten of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Overcoming the World
3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.…

Cross References
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Revelation 12:11
They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Galatians 6:14
But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Hebrews 11:1-2
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. / This is why the ancients were commended.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

Matthew 17:20
“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. / “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. / Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 17:6
And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.


Treasury of Scripture

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

whatsoever.

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.

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.

overcometh.

1 John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 2:13-17
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father…

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.

Jump to Previous
Able Begotten Born Child Faith Gotten Overcome Overcomes Overcometh Power Principle Victorious Victory Whatever Whatsoever World
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Able Begotten Born Child Faith Gotten Overcome Overcomes Overcometh Power Principle Victorious Victory Whatever Whatsoever World
1 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.














everyone born of God
This phrase emphasizes the transformative power of spiritual rebirth. In the Greek, "γεννηθείς" (gennetheis) refers to being born or begotten, indicating a divine origin. The concept of being "born of God" is central to Johannine theology, reflecting the idea of regeneration and new life in Christ. Historically, this aligns with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, where He speaks of being "born again." This new birth is not of human effort but of divine intervention, signifying a profound change in identity and allegiance.

overcomes the world
The Greek word "νικάω" (nikao) means to conquer or prevail. In the context of 1 John, "the world" refers to the system of values and beliefs opposed to God. This overcoming is not through human strength but through divine empowerment. The early Christians faced persecution and societal pressures, yet they were called to live victoriously. This victory is a testament to the power of God working in believers, enabling them to resist worldly temptations and pressures.

And this is the victory
The term "νίκη" (nike) for victory is significant, as it denotes a decisive conquest. In the Greco-Roman world, victory was often associated with military success or athletic prowess. However, John redefines victory in spiritual terms. The victory believers experience is not temporary or superficial but eternal and profound, rooted in their relationship with God.

that has overcome the world
The repetition of "overcome" underscores the certainty and completeness of this victory. The perfect tense in Greek suggests a past action with ongoing effects. This implies that the victory achieved through Christ's death and resurrection continues to empower believers. Historically, this assurance would have been a source of great encouragement to early Christians facing trials and tribulations.

our faith
Faith, "πίστις" (pistis) in Greek, is the means by which believers access this victory. It is not mere intellectual assent but a deep, abiding trust in God and His promises. In the scriptural context, faith is both a gift from God and a response to His revelation. It is the channel through which believers experience the overcoming power of God in their lives. This faith is active and dynamic, enabling believers to stand firm against the challenges of the world.

Verse 4. - Reason for the preceding statement: the opposition which causes the difficulty is already overcome. Nothing, however, is gained by transferring the full stop from the end of verse 3 to the middle of verse 4, any more than from the end of verse 2 to the middle of verse 3. The punctuation of the Authorized Version and the Revised Version is to be preferred. It is the world that hinders obedience to God's commandments and makes them seem grievous. But everywhere God's children πᾶν τὸ γεγεννημένον, as in John 6:37, 39; John 17:2) conquer the world, and that by means of faith. The aorist ἡ νικήσασα marks the victory as already won and complete: "the victory that hath vanquished the world is this - our faith."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

everyone
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

born
γεγεννημένον (gegennēmenon)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1080: From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate.

of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

overcomes
νικᾷ (nika)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3528: To conquer, be victorious, overcome, prevail, subdue. From nike; to subdue.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world.
κόσμον (kosmon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

this
αὕτη (hautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

victory
νίκη (nikē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3529: Victory, a victorious principle. Apparently a primary word; conquest, i.e. the means of success.

that
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

has overcome
νικήσασα (nikēsasa)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3528: To conquer, be victorious, overcome, prevail, subdue. From nike; to subdue.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world:
κόσμον (kosmon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

faith.
πίστις (pistis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.


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NT Letters: 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)
1 John 5:3
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