1 John 5:18

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ We know that everyone who has God as his Father does not go on sinning; on the contrary, the Son born of God protects him, and the Evil One does not touch him. ¹⁸ We know that every one begotten of God does not sin, but he that has been begotten of God keeps himself, and the wicked [one] does not touch him. ¹⁸ We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn't touch him. ¹⁸ We know that the person who has been born from God does not go on sinning. Rather, the Sonthe one who has been born">[fn] of God protects them, and the evil one cannot harm them.James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9;">[xr] ¹⁸ And we know that every one who is born of Aloha sinneth not. For he who is born of Aloha keepeth himself, and the Evil doth not approach him. ¹⁸ And we know, that every one who is born of God, sinneth not: for he that is born of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not. ¹⁸ We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not. ¹⁸ We are certain that one who is a child of God will do no sin, but the Son of God keeps him so that he is not touched by the Evil One. ¹⁸ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. ¹⁸ We know yt whosoeuer is borne of God, sinneth not: but he yt is begotten of God, keepeth himselfe, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

whosoever 1,4; 2:29; 3:9; 4:6; John 1:13; 3:2-5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23

keepeth

21; 3:3; Psalms 17:4; 18:23; 39:1; 119:101; Proverbs 4:23; John 15:4,7,9; Acts 11:23; James 1:27; Jude 1:21,24; Revelation 2:13; 3:8-10

wicked

2:13,14; 3:12

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:37 - sowing seed;  Leviticus 22:25 - because;  Ruth 2:9 - touch thee;  Psalm 37:40 - from;  Psalm 97:10 - delivereth;  Psalm 119:3 - General;  Proverbs 22:5 - he;  Zephaniah 3:13 - not;  Matthew 6:13 - deliver;  Matthew 13:19 - the wicked;  Matthew 24:24 - insomuch;  John 3:3 - Except;  John 10:28 - they;  John 17:15 - keep;  2 Thessalonians 2:8 - that;  1 Peter 1:3 - hath;  1 John 3:6 - whosoever;  1 John 5:19 - in wickedness

Cross-References

Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city; and he called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and gave the city the same name as his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Kayin knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Hanokh. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Hanokh.

Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch; and he builded a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
And Cain had connection with his wife and she became with child and gave birth to Enoch: and he made a town, and gave the town the name of Enoch after his son.

Genesis 4:17
Cain also knewe his wyfe, whiche conceaued and bare Henoch, and buyldyng a citie, he called the name of the same citie after the name of his sonne Henoch.

Genesis 4:17
Kain also knewe his wife, which conceiued and bare Henoch: and he built a citie, and called the name of the citie by ye name of his sonne, Henoch.

Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch; and he started to build a village, and named the village after the name of his son, Enoch.

Genesis 4:17
Cain and his wife had a son and named him Enoch. Then Cain built a city and named it after his son.

Genesis 4:17
And Cain knew his wife, and having conceived she bore Enoch; and he built a city; and he named the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

We know that whosoever is born of God,.... Who is regenerated by his Spirit and grace, and quickened by his power; who has Christ formed in him, and is made a partaker of the divine nature, and has every grace implanted in him:

sinneth not; the sin unto death; nor does he live in sin, or is under the power and dominion of it, though he does not live without it; See Gill on 1 John 3:9;

but he that is begotten of God; the Vulgate Latin version reads, "the generation of God keeps or preserves him"; that is, that which is born in him, the new man, the principle of grace, or seed of God in him, keeps him from notorious crimes, particularly from sinning the sin unto death, and from the governing power of all other sins; but all other versions, as well as copies, read as we do, and as follows:

keepeth himself; not that any man can keep himself by his own power and strength; otherwise what mean the petitions of the saints to God that he would keep them, and even of Christ himself to God for them on the same account? God only is the keeper of his people, and they are only kept in safety whom he keeps, and it is by his power they are kept; but the sense is, that a believer defends himself by taking to him the whole armour of God, and especially the shield of faith, against the corruptions of his own heart, the snares of the world, and particularly the temptations of Satan:

and that wicked one toucheth him not; he cannot come at him so as to wound him to the heart, or destroy that principle of life that is in him, or so as to overcome and devour him; he may tempt him, and sift him, and buffet him, and greatly afflict and grieve him, but he can not touch his life, or hurt him with the second death; nay, sometimes the believer is so enabled to wield the shield of faith, or to hold up Christ the shield by faith, and turn it every way in such a manner, that Satan, who is here meant by the wicked one, because he is notoriously so, cannot come near him, nor in with him; cannot work upon him at all with his temptations, nor in the least hurt his peace, joy, and comfort: the saints know their perseverance from the promises of God and declarations of Christ; Psalm 125:1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not - Is not habitually and characteristically a sinner; does not ultimately and finally sin and perish; cannot, therefore, commit the unpardonable sin. Though he may fall into sin, and grieve his brethren, yet we are never to cease to pray for a true Christian: we are never to feel that he has committed the sin which has never forgiveness, and that he has thrown himself beyond the reach of our prayers. This passage, in its connection, is a full proof that a true Christian “will” never commit the unpardonable sin, and, therefore, is a proof that he will never fall from grace. Compare the notes at Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10:26. On the meaning of the assertion here made, that “whosoever is born of God sinneth not,” see the notes at 1 John 3:6-9.

Keepeth himself - It is not said that he does it by his own strength, but he will put forth his best efforts to keep himself from sin, and by divine assistance he will be able to accomplish it. Compare the 1 John 3:3 note; Jude 1:21 note.

And that wicked one toucheth him not - The great enemy of all good is repelled in his assaults, and he is kept from falling into his snares. The word “toucheth” ( ἅπτεται haptetai) is used here in the sense of harm or injure.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Whosoever is born of God sinneth not - This is spoken of adult Christians; they are cleansed from all unrighteousness, consequently from all sin, 1 John 1:7-9.

Keepeth himself - That is, in the love of God, Judges 1:21, by building up himself on his most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost; and that wicked one - the devil, toucheth him not - finds nothing of his own nature in him on which he can work, Christ dwelling in his heart by faith.