1 John 5 in the early church
184 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 John 5, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 14 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21
1 John 5:1
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.
1 John 5:2
By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:2–3 | On Saint Athanasius 2.16 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| 1 John 5:2–3 | On Saint Athanasius 2.17 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| 1 John 5:2 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 10.4 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 5:2 | On Grace and Free Will 17 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426 |
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:3 | Shepherd of Hermas, Mandate 12.4.5 (47.5) · Hermas | echo, medium confidence | ca. 100–150 |
| 1 John 5:3 | The Instructor 3.11.82 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 190–200 |
| 1 John 5:3 | Miscellanies 4.16.100 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| 1 John 5:3 | Acts of Thomas 83 · Anonymous | echo, low confidence | ca. 200–250 |
| 1 John 5:3 | Question 117, section 7 · Ambrosiaster | echo, low confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| 1 John 5:3 | Homilies on the First Epistle of John 10.7 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 407 |
| 1 John 5:3 | On Nature and Grace 83 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 415 |
| 1 John 5:3 | On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 21 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 415 |
| 1 John 5:3 | On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 22 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415 |
| 1 John 5:3 | On Grace and Free Will 17 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426 |
1 John 5:4
because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:4 | Tractates on the Psalms 125.8 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| 1 John 5:4 | Question 115, section 53 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| 1 John 5:4 | Sermon 385.8 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| 1 John 5:4 | Celestine, ACO I.2, letter 26.0 · Celestine I, bishop of Rome | allusion, high confidence | 430-432 |
| 1 John 5:4 | Book 1, chapter 24 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
1 John 5:5
Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:5 | Question 126, section 2 · Ambrosiaster | echo, low confidence | ca. 370–384 |
1 John 5:6
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:6–8 | Apollinaris of Hierapolis, Fr. 4 (On the Passover) · Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 165-180 |
| 1 John 5:6–8 | Adumbrations on 1 John, paragraph 11 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | original ca. 200; Latin translation 6th century |
| 1 John 5:6 | Against Heresies 3.24.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons | quotation, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| 1 John 5:6 | On Baptism 16 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–206 |
| 1 John 5:6–8 | On Rebaptism 15 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 250–258 (disputed) |
1 John 5:7
For there are three that testify:
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:7–8 | On the Unity of the Catholic Church 6 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, medium confidence | 251 |
| 1 John 5:7 | Against the Arians 22 · Phoebadius of Agen | allusion, low confidence | ca. 357-358 |
| 1 John 5:7 | Eleven Tractates 1.4 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| 1 John 5:7 | On the Trinity 4.20 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 399–419 |
1 John 5:8
the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
1 John 5:9
Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:9 | Against Praxeas 31 · Tertullian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 213 or later |
| 1 John 5:9 | On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1.42 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 411–412 |
1 John 5:10
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:10 | Question 110, section 16 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| 1 John 5:10 | On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1.42 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 411–412 |
1 John 5:11
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:11 | Against the Arians 13 · Phoebadius of Agen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 357-358 |
| 1 John 5:11 | On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1.42 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 411–412 |
| 1 John 5:11 | Commonitorium 14 · Marius Mercator | quotation, high confidence | 429-431 |
1 John 5:12
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:12 | Against Praxeas 31 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 213 or later |
| 1 John 5:12 | Eleven Tractates 1.5 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| 1 John 5:12 | On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 1.42 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 411–412 |
| 1 John 5:12 | Commonitorium 14 · Marius Mercator | quotation, high confidence | 429-431 |
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:14 | Adumbrations on 1 John, paragraph 11 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | original ca. 200; Latin translation 6th century |
| 1 John 5:14 | The Conferences 9.34 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
1 John 5:16
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:16 | Miscellanies 2.15.66 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| 1 John 5:16 | On Modesty 2 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 John 5:16 | On Modesty 19 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 397 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| 1 John 5:16 | PG 12:1061 · Origen | allusion, low confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| 1 John 5:16 | PG 12:1189 (Ps 9 LXX) · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Refutation of All Heresies 9.12.21 · Hippolytus of Rome | echo, medium confidence | ca. 222–235 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Commentary on John 19.79 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Commentary on John 19.80 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Commentary on John 19.84 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Commentary on John 19.153 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:16 | On Prayer 28.10 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 233–234 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Exodus 10.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Leviticus 4.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Leviticus 5.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Leviticus 8.7 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Leviticus 11.2 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Leviticus 12.6 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on Jeremiah 2.2 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Commentary on Matthew 13.30 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Letters 198, 199 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357–378 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies on the Psalms 114.2 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Tractates on the Psalms 140.8 · Hilary of Poitiers | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Three Letters to Sympronianus 3.16 · Pacian of Barcelona | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-390 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Homilies 13.4 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Commentary on Ephesians 6:18–20 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Letter 119.7 · Jerome | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 John 5:16 | The Lord's Sermon on the Mount 1.22 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 393–396 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Against Jovinianus 2.30 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Letter 17, chapter 7 · Innocent I, bishop of Rome | echo, low confidence | 401–417 |
| 1 John 5:16–17 | Commentary on Jeremiah 3.33 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Retractations 1.18 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 426-427 |
| 1 John 5:16 | The Conferences 11.9 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| 1 John 5:16 | The Conferences 20.8 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| 1 John 5:16 | On Rebuke and Grace 12 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 427 |
| 1 John 5:16 | Instructions 1.3 · Eucherius of Lyon | allusion, high confidence | ca. 428-434 |
1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:17 | Miscellanies 2.15.66 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| 1 John 5:17 | Miscellanies 2.15.67 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| 1 John 5:17 | On Modesty 19 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 John 5:17 | Homilies on Exodus 10.3 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:17 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 35.6.1 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387-397 |
1 John 5:18
We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:18 | On Modesty 19 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 210–220 |
| 1 John 5:18 | Commentary on John 20.121 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:18 | Commentary on John 20.122 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:18 | Commentary on John 20.337 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 John 5:18 | Tractates on Matthew 14.1 · Chromatius of Aquileia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 388–407 |
| 1 John 5:18 | Against Jovinianus 2.1 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |
| 1 John 5:18 | On Man's Perfection in Righteousness 39 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 415 |
| 1 John 5:18 | Sermon 156 · Peter Chrysologus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| 1 John 5:18 | The Conferences 11.9 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:19–20 | Adumbrations on 1 John, paragraph 11 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | original ca. 200; Latin translation 6th century |
| 1 John 5:19 | On First Principles 1.5.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398) |
| 1 John 5:19 | On First Principles 2.3.6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220–230 (Rufinus's translation 398) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Fragments on Genesis, column 89 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Homilies on Joshua 6.4 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Homilies on Numbers 12.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Commentary on Romans 3.1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Fragment E V (on Luke 22:42 ff.) · Dionysius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–265 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Res. 2.15 · Methodius of Olympus | quotation, high confidence | late 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Res. 2.16 · Methodius of Olympus | quotation, high confidence | late 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Acta Archelai (Latin) 16 · Hegemonius | quotation, high confidence | early to mid 4th century (Greek original) |
| 1 John 5:19 | Homilies on the Psalms 33.9 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| 1 John 5:19 | On Virginity 12 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–371 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Letter 55.1 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Letter 108.1 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 John 5:19 | On the Lord's Prayer 1191 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–394 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Eleven Tractates 4.75 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| 1 John 5:19 | On the Life of Moses 419 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Exposition of Psalm 118 12.47.1 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Exposition of Psalm 118 13.16.2 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Letter 93.32 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.32.4 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.76.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 40.8.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.74.1 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Against Jovinianus 1.13 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | 393 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Letters 13.6 · Paulinus of Nola | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394–413 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Commentary on Jeremiah 5.46 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Commentary on Jeremiah 5.61 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Commentary on Jeremiah 6.40 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
| 1 John 5:19 | Instructions 1.4 · Eucherius of Lyon | allusion, high confidence | ca. 428-434 |
| 1 John 5:19–20 | Book 1, chapter 20 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
| 1 John 5:19 | On the Governance of God 4.32 · Salvian of Marseilles | quotation, high confidence | ca. 439-451 |
1 John 5:20
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.
1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John 5:21 | On the Crown 10 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 211 |
| 1 John 5:21 | Canons of Hippolytus, canon 30 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 4th century |
| 1 John 5:21 | Book of Rules 6 · Tyconius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| 1 John 5:21 | Letter 102.19 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| 1 John 5:21 | On the Catholic Way of Life and the Manichaean Way of Life 1.21 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387–389 |
| 1 John 5:21 | On True Religion 49 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 389–391 |
| 1 John 5:21 | Against Jovinianus 2.2 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | 393 |