1 John 5:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →John closes with a tender charge: keep yourselves from idols.
What Does 1 John 5:21 Mean?
John ends with a brief, loving command. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Having pointed to the true God, he warns against every false substitute.
An idol is anything that takes the place belonging to God alone. Having shown his readers the true God revealed in Jesus Christ, John urges them to guard their hearts from all rivals to Him. This final word gathers the letter's purpose: cling to the true God and let nothing else claim your worship or trust. With a father's care, John leaves his children with this charge, that they keep themselves wholly for the One who is true.
1 John 5:21 in the Original Language
eidolon (εἴδωλον), 'idol' -- a false god or image, anything set in the place that belongs to the true God alone.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 John 5:21
What does 1 John 5:21 mean?
John closes with a tender charge: keep yourselves from idols.