1 John 5:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Son of God has come and given us understanding to know the true God, and we are in Him through Jesus Christ.
What Does 1 John 5:20 Mean?
John reaches a soaring conclusion. The Son of God has come and given us understanding to know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Through the coming of the Son, we are given to know the true God and are brought to dwell in Him. To know God and to be in His Son is itself eternal life. John gathers everything into Jesus Christ, in whom the true God is made known and through whom we have life. Here is the summit of the letter: in the Son we find the true God and the eternal life He gives, and there is no greater treasure.
1 John 5:20 in the Original Language
alethinos (ἀληθινός), 'true' -- real and genuine, here describing the true God whom we know through His Son.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 John 5:20
What does 1 John 5:20 mean?
The Son of God has come and given us understanding to know the true God, and we are in Him through Jesus Christ.