Catholic Commentary on 1 John 5

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:14)

Overcoming the World

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Christ came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and blood. The Spirit testifies because the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three are in agreement. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Confidence in Prayer

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him. This confidence is not presumption. It is the confidence of the child who knows the Father's character and the Father's will. Prayer according to his will is not a limitation on prayer. It is the alignment of our desire with his, which is where all genuine prayer ends up.

John closes his letter as he began it: we know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. We are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. The final warning, like the whole letter, is supremely practical: the love of God that drives out fear and the knowledge of the true God are threatened by whatever we place above him.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, we have confidence in approaching God: if we ask according to his will, he hears us. Practice aligning your prayer with his will. Begin each session of prayer not with your list but with his character: he is love, he desires all to be saved, he is working all things together for good. Let his will shape your asking. Then ask boldly, in the confidence that what aligns with his will is already as good as received.

Prayer

Lord God, true God and eternal life, you have given us understanding to know you. We approach you with confidence: you hear us when we ask according to your will. Give us that alignment of desire with your own. And keep us from every idol that would diminish the love we have for you alone. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
Overcoming the World
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.* 5:1 Literally and everyone loving the One having begotten also loves the one having been begotten from Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
 
5 Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify:† 5:7 TR and GOC three that testify in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
God’s Testimony about His Son
 
9 Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
 
11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Effective Prayer
 
13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.‡ 5:13 BYZ and TR include and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
 
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.
The True God
 
18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him,§ 5:18 Or the one who was born of God protects himself or God protects the one born of Him and the evil one * 5:18 Or evil; similarly in verse 19 cannot touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
 
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.† 5:21 BYZ and TR include Amen.

*5:1 5:1 Literally and everyone loving the One having begotten also loves the one having been begotten from Him.

†5:7 5:7 TR and GOC three that testify in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth:

‡5:13 5:13 BYZ and TR include and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God.

§5:18 5:18 Or the one who was born of God protects himself or God protects the one born of Him

*5:18 5:18 Or evil; similarly in verse 19

†5:21 5:21 BYZ and TR include Amen.

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