1 John 5:20 – KJV – And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding to know the true one, and we are in the true one, that is, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (2023)

amplified bible
And [we have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God [really] came [into this world] and gave us understanding and discernment that we might [progressively and personally] 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.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But we know that the Son of God came; and he has given us understanding that we may know the truth; and we are in the true, even in his Son Jesus Christ; this is the true God and eternal life.

Weymouth New Testament
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding that we might know the true one, and we are in union with the true one, that is, we are in union with his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the Life of the ages.

easy to read version
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding. So now we can know the one who is true and live in that true God. We are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and he is eternal life.

Mace New Testament (1729)
We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know him who is true; and we are with him who is true, through his son Jesus Christ. "He is the true God, who is the author of eternal life."

New International Version (1984)
We also know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, so that we might know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

standard english version
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, that we might know him who is true; and we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But we know that the Son of God came and purposed to know him, which is true; and we are in him, it is true, that is, in his Son Jesus Christ: this is your true God and eternal life.

Standard Christian Bible®
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding to know the true one. We are in the true one, that is, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Version of Hebrew names
We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, that we know the true, and in the true we are in his Son Yeshua, the Messiah. This is the true God and eternal life.

Translation by Etheridge
And we know that the Son of Aloha came and gave us knowledge to know the truth and be in him in the truth, in his Son Jeshu, the Meshiha. This is Aloha, the true, and the life that is eternal.

Murdock translation
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us knowledge that we might know the true one; and that we may be in the True One, in his Son Jesus the Messiah. He is the true God, and eternal life.

King James Version (1611)
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding to know the true one; and we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Lexham Bible in English
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, so that we might know the true and be in the true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Literal translation
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding to know the true, and in the true we are in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But we know that the Son of God came, and turned against his understanding, to know what is true; and we are in him, and it is true, in his son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

New American Standard Version
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might 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.

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, that we might 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.

Contemporary English version
We know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and showed us the true God. And thanks to Jesus, we now belong to the true God who gives eternal life.

complete jewish bible
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us discernment, that we might know who is genuine; Furthermore, we are united with the One who is genuine, united with His Son Yeshua, the Messiah. He is the genuine God and eternal life.

amplified bible
And [we have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God [really] came [into this world] and gave us understanding and discernment that we might [progressively and personally] 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.

american standard version
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, that we know what is true, and are in what is true,even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
We know that the Son of God came and came back to us to know what is true; and we are in him who is true, through his son Jesus Christ. This same is the true God and eternal life.

Revised Version in English
And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us to understand that we know the true one, and are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Translated by George Lamsa
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know him who is true, and in the true we are in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

good news translation
We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, so that we might know the true God. We live in union with the true God, in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.

Webster's Bible Translation
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might 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.

world english bible
We know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, that we know what is true, and are in the true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But we know that the Son of God came; and he has given us understanding that we may know the truth; and we are in the true, even in his Son Jesus Christ; this is the true God and eternal life.

new century version
We also know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know the True One. And our life is in the True One and in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

new english translation
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know him who is true, and we are in the true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

new international version
We also know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding, so that we might know him who is true. And we are in him who is true being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

New King James Version
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might 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.

bible new life
We know that the Son of God has come. He gave us understanding to know the One who is the true God. We are united with the true God through his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the life that lasts forever.

New revised standard
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know him who is true; and we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Bible Emphasized by J.B. Rotherham
We also know that the Son of God came and gave us discernment, so that we might understand the Real One, and we are in the Real One, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the Real God and eternal life.

Bible of Douay Reims
And we know that the Son of God has come. And he gave us understanding that we might know the true God and be in his true Son. This is the true God and eternal life.

revised standard version
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might know him who is true; and we are in the true one, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
We know that the Son of God came and made himself known to the true one, and we are in the true one through his son Jesus Christ. That's right it's very god and eternal life.

Translation by Darby
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding so that we might 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.

bible in basic english
And we are sure that the Son of God has come and given us clear vision, so that we may see him who is true, and we are in the true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

new live translation
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding to know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life.

updated version of the bible
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding to know the true, and we are in the true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Weymouth New Testament
And we know that the Son of God came and gave us understanding that we might know the true one, and we are in union with the true one, that is, we are in union with his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the Life of the ages.

Wycliffe's Bible (1395)
And we testify that the son of God came in fleisch, and yaf to us, that we know the true God, and are in the veri son of him.

Literal translation by Young
and we know that the Son of God came and gave us a mind, that we might 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!

And we know that the Son of God came,.... That the second Person in the Godhead, who is equal to the Father, and of the same nature with him, came from the Father, out of heaven into this world, not by local motion, but by assumption of nature; that he came in the flesh, or was incarnated, to work out the salvation of his people, by his obedience, sufferings, and death; and that John and others knew, because they knew him personally and talked with him; they saw him with their eyes, they heard him, and they felt him: he dwelt among them, he preached to them, he performed miracles before them, which proved him to be what he was; and it may be known that the Messiah must come to pass, since the weeks of Daniel, which fix the time of his coming, are past; the scepter is taken from Judah and the second temple is destroyed, neither of which would exist until the Messiah came; and that Jesus of Nazareth is he who came may be known from his character and the works done by him:

and gave us understanding; not a new faculty of understanding, but a new light in it; a knowledge of spiritual things about himself, and of God in him, and of gospel truths, and of all things divine and heavenly; because he, the Son of God, came as light into the world and gives spiritual light to men:

so that we may know him who is true; or "the true God," as read in the Alexandrian and some other copies, and in the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions; that is, God the Father, who is the true God, in opposition to the false gods of the heathen, though not excluding the Son and Spirit; and the spiritual knowledge of him as the Father of Christ, and as a covenant God and Father in him, is only given to men by Christ, and this is eternal life; to seeMatthew 11:27;

and we are in him who is true,untilin your Son Jesus Christ; the words "Jesus Christ" are omitted in both the Alexandrian copy and the Vulgate Latin version; yet it is true that Jesus Christ is understood by his Son, who is the Son of the living and true God, and is himself "true;" not only the true God, as later declared, but the true man, with a true body and a reasonable soul, and was true and faithful in the discharge of his offices, as prophet, priest, and king; he faithfully declared all the will of God and taught the way of God in truth; he was faithful to him who appointed him, securing his glory when he made atonement for the sins of the people; and all the administrations of his royal office are just and true; yea, he is truth itself, the substance of all kinds, in whom all the promises are yea and amen, and who hath all gospel truths and treasures of wisdom in him; now his people are in him; they were secretly in him before the world was, being loved by him, chosen in him, placed in his hands, preserved in him, and represented by him; and openly, at conversion, when they are created anew in him, brought to believe in him and live in him, and he lives in them, and they are in him as branches of the vine; and this is known by his Spirit given them, by the communication of his grace towards them, and by the communion they have with him.

This is the true God and eternal life.; i.e. the Son of God, who is the immediate antecedent of the relative "it"; he is the true God, with his Father and Spirit, contrary to all false, fictitious, or nominal deities; and those who are only by office, or in an improper and figurative sense: Christ is truly and really God, as manifested by all the perfections of the Godhead, being in him the fullness of the Godhead; of the divine works of creation and providence attributed to him; and of the divine worship rendered to him; as well as the names and titles by which he passes, and particularly that of Jehovah, which is incommunicable to the creature; and it is called "eternal life," because it is in him; and he is the giver of it to his people; and that in itself will mainly consist in appreciating and seeing it, and conforming to it.

And we know that the Son of God came -We know this from the evidences to which John referred in this epistle,1 João 1:1-4;1 João 5:6-8.

And gave us understandingNot an "understanding" considered as a faculty of the mind, since religion does not give us new faculties; but he has so instructed us that we understand the great truths to which he refers. Compare the notes inLucas 24:45. All the correct knowledge we have of God and his government must be attributed directly or indirectly to the great Prophet whom God sent into the world,João 1:4,João 1:18;João 8:12;João 9:5;Hebrews 1:1-3;Matthew 11:27.

that we may know him who is true -That is, the true God. See the notes onJoão 17:3.

And we are in that which is true -That is, we are united with him; we belong to him; we are his friends. This idea is often expressed in Scripture as being "in him." It denotes a very intimate union, as if we were one with her, or a part of her, like the branch of the vine,João 15:4,João 15:6. The Greek construction is the same as that applied to "the lawless one,"1 João 5:19, (in true en tō alēthinōThis is the true God - theThere has been much difference of opinion concerning this important passage; whether referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, the immediate antecedent, or to a more remote antecedent, referring to God, as such. The question is important because of its bearing on the doctrine of the Saviour's deity; for if it refers to him, it furnishes an unmistakable declaration that he is divine. The question is whether Juan "means" that this should be forwarded to him. Without going into a long examination of the passage, it seems to me that the following considerations make it morally true that by the phrase "this is the true God," etc., he meant the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1) the grammatical construction favors it. Christ is the immediate antecedent of the pronoun "this" -To be houtos This would be considered the obvious and true construction as far as grammar is concerned, unless there was something in the thing uttered that caused us to look for some more remote and less obvious antecedent. No doubt he would have considered this point at some point had it not been for his reluctance to admit that the Lord Jesus is the true God. If the statement were that "this is the true Messiah"; or that "this is the Son of God;" or that "this is he that was born of the Virgin Mary," there would be no difficulty in construction. I admit that his argument is not absolutely decisive; because there are cases in which a pronoun refers, not to the immediate antecedent, but to a more remote one; but cases of this class depend on the ground of necessity, and can only be applied where it would be a clear violation of the author's sense to refer to the immediate antecedent.

(2) This construction seems to be required by the adjunct which John attached to the phrase "the true God" - "eternal life." This is an expression that John would probably apply to the Lord Jesus, considered as "life" and "source of life", and not to God as such. “How familiar is this language with John, applied to Christ! “In him (that is, Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men - giving life to the world - the bread of life - my words are spirit and life - I am the way, the truth and the life. This life (Christ) was manifested, and we "saw" it, and we testify to you, and declare the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us",1 João 1:2.” - Letters from Prof. Stuart to Dr. Channing, p. 83. There is no instance in John's writings, where the appellation of life and "eternal" life is bestowed on the Father, to designate him as the author of spiritual and eternal life; and as this so frequently occurs in John's writings applied to Christ, the laws of exegesis demand that both the phrase "the true God" and "eternal life" be applied to him.

(3) whether it refers to God as such, or to the word "true" -o original(Deus)tons of aletinon (Theon) would be a mere tautology, or a mere truism. The translation would then be: "That we might know the true God, and be in the true God: this is the true God, and eternal life." Can we believe that an inspired man would affirm gravely, and with such solemnity, and as if it were a truth of such magnitude, that the true God is the true God?

(4) This interpretation agrees with what we are sure John would assert about the Lord Jesus Christ. There may be some doubt that he who said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"; the one who said, "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made"; that he who recorded the Saviour's declaration, "I and my Father are one," and Thomas's declaration, "my Lord and my God," would apply to him the title "the true God!"

(5) if John did not intend to assert this, he used an expression which might be misunderstood, and which, as the facts have shown, would be misunderstood by most of those who could read what he had written. ; and, moreover, an expression which would lead to the very sin against which he endeavors to guard himself in the next verse: the sin of substituting one creature for God, and giving another due honor. The language he uses is such as would, according to his natural interpretation, lead people to worship as the true God who is not the true God unless the Lord Jesus is divine. For these reasons, it seems to me that the fair interpretation of this passage requires that it be understood as referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. If so, it is a direct assertion of his deity, for there could be no greater proof of it than asserting that he is the true God.

And eternal life -Ter “to life in itself”,João 5:26, and the source and source of life for the soul. Perhaps John does not give the Savior a more frequent designation than that he is the life and fountain of life. To compareJoão 1:4;João 5:26,João 5:40;João 10:10;João 6:33,João 6:35,João 6:48,João 6:51,João 6:53,João 6:63;João 11:25;João 14:6;João 20:31;1 João 1:1-2;1 João 5:12.