1 John 5:20 (KJV)

What does 1 John 5:20 mean?

1 John 5:20 says that Jesus, the Son of God, has come and given people the ability to understand and know the true God. The verse emphasizes that believers are connected to the true God through Jesus Christ, who is described as the true God and the source of eternal life.

The apostle John is writing to a group of early Christians, reassuring them about what is true in a world where false teachings were common. John highlights that real understanding and relationship with God come through Jesus, and he makes a clear statement about Jesus’ unique role and identity. This verse wraps up John’s letter by underlining the certainty and confidence believers can have in knowing God through Jesus.

The Greek behind 1 John 5:20

• "Understanding" (διάνοια, dianoia): This Greek word means more than just knowledge; it refers to deep insight or the ability to think things through. John is saying Jesus gives believers not just facts, but a way to truly grasp who God is.
• "True" (ἀληθινός, alēthinos): Used several times here, this word means genuine or real, as opposed to something false or counterfeit. John is stressing that the God revealed in Jesus is the real God, not an imitation or a lesser being.
• "Eternal" (αἰώνιος, aiōnios): This word points to something that lasts forever, not just in length but in quality. John connects eternal life directly to knowing the true God through Jesus, not just living forever but sharing in God’s own life.

Why 1 John 5:20 matters

• 1 John 5:20 clarifies that knowing God is not just about information, but about a relationship made possible through Jesus, who gives real understanding.
• The verse strongly emphasizes the identity of Jesus as closely connected with the true God, which was important in a time when some taught that Jesus was less than divine.
• This verse ties together the main themes of John’s letter: assurance, truth, and eternal life, showing that these are found in Jesus and not in any other teaching or person.