SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 John 2000 – Page 5

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:15

5:15a–b

He hears us in whatever we ask: (Logical Relationship) This repeats what John has said in the previous verse. When he says whatever we ask he is assuming that this will be “according to His will” as he mentioned in verse 14.

5:15a

if we know: (Multiple Senses) The word if here is used with the meaning of “since/because.” See Good News Translation.

5:15c

we already possess: (Tense) The tense used in the Greek here shows that God grants Christians’ requests at the very moment we make them. When we ask for something we already have it.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:14

5:14 (Logical Relationship)

In this and the following verses John states one result of our having eternal life, namely that we can be sure our prayers are answered. You may need to make this connection with the previous verse clear in your translation.

5:14a

the confidence that we have before Him: (Meaning) This represents the same Greek phrase “we have confidence before God” in 3:21b. It means that we are not afraid or ashamed to ask God for things.

5:14c

according to His will: (Meaning) This means that what we want is the same as what God wants, because we are united with him through Jesus and so our deeds and thoughts are the same as his.

hears us: (Connotation) This word implies that God both hears our requests and agrees to give us what we ask for.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:13

Section 5:13–21

We can be sure that we have eternal life

Read 5:13–21 carefully.

Section Theme: John ends his letter by reassuring his readers that they do have eternal life and that they do truly know God.

Paragraph 5:13–17

Read 5:13–17 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John reminds his readers that because they have eternal life they can have confidence when they ask God for anything. Praying for other Christians who are sinning is an example of this.

5:13 (Focus)

This verse is a summary of John’s purpose in writing this letter. In it he focuses on two things: firstly that his readers must believe in Jesus, and secondly that they should not doubt that they have eternal life.

5:13a

these things: (Pronoun Reference) John is referring back to all the things he has written in this letter.

believe in the name: (Biblical Term) As in 3:23b, this means believing or trusting Jesus’ authority and character as God’s Son.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:12

5:12a

Whoever: (Meaning) This just means “anyone who…,” or “all those who…”

has the Son: (Meaning) This is another way by which John refers to our close personal relationship and union with Christ. It means the same as the phrase “in Christ.” See the note on 2:5c “in Him.”

life: (Pronoun Reference) The Greek has “the life” here, making it clear that “eternal life” (5:11) is meant. In translation it may be clearer to say “this life.” See Good News Translation.

5:12b

whoever does not: (Emphasis) In this sentence John is emphasizing what he has just said in 5:12a by restating it in the negative. A word like “but” may be needed to link the two sentences.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:11

5:11a–b

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two views about how this sentence relates to the term “testimony”:

(1) This sentence is probably stating how God puts his testimony in our hearts.

(2) Some think that it is stating what the testimony is.

5:11a

this is: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to the rest of the verse.

5:11b

this life is in His Son: (Collocation) This does not just mean that Christ has eternal life. John is saying that we only get eternal life through Christ. God gives it to us by means of uniting us with his Son.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:13

Paragraph 3:13–15

Read 3:13–15 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John is saying that our love of one another shows that we are different from non-Christians.

3:13 (Logical Relationship)

This verse is giving the lesson to be learned from 3:11–12, namely that the people of the world will always hate God’s people, just as Cain hated Abel. In your translation you may need to make this link clear by a linking word (like “So” in Good News Translation), or by a phrase (see the Display).

3:13a

brothers: (Cross-cultural Difference) In all other places in this letter John addresses his readers as “my children,” or “my friends.” He probably calls them his brothers here because he is talking about brotherly love among Christians. In some languages it may sound as if John is referring to two different groups of people, “my children” and “my brothers.” If that is the case in your language you should translate the basic meaning here, “my fellows,” or “my fellow Christians.”

3:13b

if the world hates you: (Lexical Problem) John is certain that the world hates Christians. This is not just a possibility. So it may be better to translate this as “that/when the world hates you.” See The Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version.

the world: (Multiple Senses) As in 3:1d, this refers to the people of this world. See the note on 3:1d.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:9

5:9a

Even if we accept human testimony: (Meaning) John is giving this as a general example to prove his point. He is saying that people normally accept what others tell them about what they have seen, therefore people should accept what God says about his Son.

5:9b

greater: (Lexical Problem) Although it is not specified in what respect God’s testimony is greater than man’s testimony, it is clear from the rest of the verse that John means that it is more worthy of acceptance.

5:9c

For: (Logical Relationship) John gives two reasons why God’s testimony is greater: firstly, it is God, not a man, who is giving it, and secondly, it is about God’s own Son, not about something else.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:8

5:8a–c

the Spirit, the water, and the blood: (Meaning) The meanings of these terms are the same as in 5:6 and they should be translated in the same way here.

5:8d

are in agreement: (Meaning) John means that these three things all prove the same thing about Jesus, namely that he was the Son of God.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:15

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:14

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:13

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:12

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:11

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:13

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:9

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:8

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