1 John 5:9-13

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible -  KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Primary texts (Pseudepigrapha, Targum, Midrash, Targum) about Messainic Expectation from (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.

  • Chapter XXXI, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)

  • "Victorious Faith," 1 John 5:4-12, Martin Luther, c. 1525.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Now at length he shows what this testimony is that is confirmed with so many witnesses: that is, that life or everlasting happiness is the gift of God, which is the Son, and proceeds from him to us, who by faith are joined with him, so that without him, life is nowhere to be found."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary. (c. 1700)
    • "Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined to do so."
  • From Wesley's Notes. John Wesley (1703-1791).
    • "The petitions which we asked of him - Even before the event. And when the event comes, we know it comes in answer to our prayer."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "We do accept (and rightly so) the witness of veracious men, fallible though they be; much more ought we to accept the infallible witness of God (the Father). "The testimony of the Father is, as it were, the basis of the testimony of the Word and of the Holy Spirit; just as the testimony of the Spirit is, as it were, the basis of the testimony of the water and the blood" [BENGEL]."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891
    • "We may be assured our prayers will be granted, if we ask according to his will. There is this condition."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 John 5:9-13, David Bartlett, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "The epistle wants to insist that the relationship between God and Jesus is entirely personal and entirely grown up. And the epistle wants to insist that the relationship between Jesus and those who believe is entirely personal and grown up, too."
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Easter 7, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Before we moralise, we need to understand that the author is preoccupied with conflict within the community and is not sitting back (or reaching out) to reflect on the plight of all peoples."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
• Articles & Background:
  • "Salvation Is for Life," Richard J. Foster, Theology Today, 2004.
    • "Jesus and the early Apostles preached a salvation radically different from the kind of salvation being preached today. They spoke of a life in the kingdom of God encompassing all of human existence, both here and hereafter. The circumference of their message embraces 360 degrees."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Brusic, Robert M., "A River Ride with 1 John: Texts of the Easter Season," Word & World, 1997. (Section on this text begins on page 220.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Foster, Richard J., "Salvation Is for Life," Theology Today, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hiebert, D. Edmond, "An Exposition of 1 John 5:1-12," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "Lovianity vs Christianity," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
• With Children:
  • "Heaven," Fr. Max Bowers, Kid's Church.
  • 1 John 5:14, Memory Verse Coloring/Activity Page, MSSS.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 John