Meaning of 1 John 5:20

This verse, 1 John 5:20, serves as a powerful concluding statement to the apostle John's first epistle, summarizing the core of Christian epistemology and ontology: the knowledge of God is not achieved through human reasoning or philosophical speculation, but is a divine gift bestowed through the person and work of Jesus Christ. John asserts that believers possess a certain knowledge ("We know") that God has granted them the capacity to understand, and this understanding enables them to truly know God, who is the ultimate reality and truth. This knowledge is not abstract but relational, achieved by being "in him who is true," which is realized through union with His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is then unequivocally identified as "the true God and eternal life," thereby establishing His divine nature and His role as the source of everlasting existence.

Context and Background

This verse is the culmination of John's argument in 1 John, which is largely concerned with distinguishing between true believers and false teachers. Throughout the epistle, John emphasizes the importance of correct doctrine (especially regarding the person of Christ), obedience to God's commands, and love for fellow believers as evidence of genuine faith. The Gnostic philosophies prevalent at the time often denied the full humanity of Jesus and claimed a secret, superior knowledge of God. John's letter directly counters these ideas, insisting that true knowledge of God comes through the incarnate Son, who has revealed God fully. The preceding verses (5:18-19) highlight the contrast between those born of God and those belonging to the evil one, setting the stage for this final declaration of certainty in knowing the true God through Christ.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Revelation and Understanding: The verse underscores that knowing God is not primarily an intellectual pursuit but a gift of understanding granted by God through His Son. This implies that human capacity alone is insufficient to grasp divine truth.
• Union with the True God: True knowledge of God is intrinsically linked to being "in him who is true." This union is mediated through Jesus Christ, signifying a deep, abiding relationship with God.
• The Divinity of Jesus Christ: The declaration that Jesus Christ is "the true God and eternal life" is a strong affirmation of His deity and His unique role as the source of salvation and everlasting life.
• Epistemological Certainty: The opening phrase, "We know," expresses a firm confidence in the truth of their faith, a certainty derived not from subjective feelings but from the objective reality of God's revelation in Christ.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse offers profound assurance to believers. It means that our knowledge of God is not precarious or based on mere conjecture. Because God has given us understanding through Jesus, we can be confident in who God is and in His promises. The practical application lies in continually abiding "in his Son Jesus Christ," which involves cultivating a deep and personal relationship with Him through prayer, scripture, and obedience. This abiding relationship is the pathway to ever-increasing knowledge and experience of the true God. It also calls us to discern truth from error, recognizing that genuine knowledge of God is always aligned with the biblical revelation of Jesus Christ.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

1 John 5:20 resonates with the overarching biblical narrative of God's redemptive plan. From the initial promise of a Seed to crush the serpent (Genesis 3:15) to the ultimate revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ, the Bible consistently points to Him as the means by which humanity can know and have fellowship with God. The Old Testament foreshadowed Christ, and the New Testament fully unveils Him. This verse acts as a capstone, affirming that in Jesus, the long-awaited revelation and reconciliation have been fully realized, enabling humanity to possess true knowledge of the one true God and the gift of eternal life.

Analogies

• A Key to a Locked Room: Imagine a room filled with treasures, but the door is locked. Human effort might try to pick the lock or break down the door, but it's futile. The Son of God is like the master key that God has provided, granting us access to know and experience the riches of His presence and truth.
• A Map to an Unknown Land: Without a reliable map, exploring an unknown and vast territory is dangerous and inefficient. Jesus is the divine map, revealing the way to the true God. He doesn't just point the way; He is the way, and by following Him, we arrive at our destination.
• A Translator for an Alien Language: If one encounters a person speaking a language completely foreign, communication is impossible. Jesus acts as the divine translator, bridging the infinite gap between the divine and human, enabling us to understand God's nature, will, and love.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 14:6: Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This directly parallels 1 John 5:20's assertion that we are in the true God "by being in his Son Jesus Christ" and that He "is the true God and eternal life."
• John 17:3: In His prayer, Jesus states, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." This verse reinforces the idea that knowing the true God and Jesus Christ is the essence of eternal life, a concept echoed in 1 John 5:20.
• 1 John 1:1-3: The opening of the epistle speaks of that which was from the beginning, which they heard, saw, and touched—Jesus Christ, the Word of life. This establishes the incarnational reality of Christ as the basis for their knowledge, a theme that culminates in verse 5:20.
• Colossians 1:15-17: Paul describes Christ as "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created... He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This highlights Christ's divine nature and His centrality in creation and redemption, aligning with His identification as "the true God" in 1 John.