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1 John 5:21

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Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Holiness;   Idolatry;   Thompson Chain Reference - Conduct, Christian;   False;   Idolatry;   Keep;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   The Topic Concordance - Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Walk;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Idol, idolatry;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Friend, Friendship;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adoption;   Idol;   John, the Epistles of;   Law;   Holman Bible Dictionary - John, the Letters of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - John, Epistles of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Example;   John Epistles of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Idolatry;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Idol;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Child;   Hebrews, Epistle to the;   John, the Epistles of;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for May 2;   Every Day Light - Devotion for March 24;  

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

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Little 2:1
keep
Exodus 20:3,4; 1 Corinthians 10:7,14; 2 Corinthians 6:16,17; Revelation 9:20; 13:14,15; 14:11
Amen
Matthew 6:13 Reciprocal: Exodus 20:23 - GeneralLeviticus 19:4 - GeneralDeuteronomy 4:35 - none else;  Deuteronomy 5:7 - GeneralDeuteronomy 6:14 - not go;  Deuteronomy 11:16 - your heart;  Deuteronomy 13:8 - consent;  Joshua 6:18 - in any wise;  Psalm 85:11 - Truth;  Psalm 119:144 - give me;  Isaiah 40:9 - Behold;  Isaiah 43:11 - GeneralMark 10:24 - Children;  John 13:33 - Little;  Acts 1:13 - Peter;  Acts 15:29 - if ye;  Galatians 4:19 - little;  2 Peter 1:2 - the knowledge;  1 John 5:18 - keepeth;  Revelation 19:10 - I fell

Cross-References

Luke 3:37
of Metushelach, of Hanokh, of Yered, of Mahalal'el, of Keinan,
Luke 3:37
of Methusala, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan,
Luke 3:37
the son of Metushelach, the son of Hanokh, the son of Yered, the son of Mahalal'el, the son of Kenan,
Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
Luke 3:37
bar Mathushalach, bar Chanuk, bar Jared, bar Mahloleel, bar Kainan,
Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mehalaleel, the son of Cainan,
Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
Luke 3:37
The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
Luke 3:37
The sonne of Mathusala, the sonne of Enoch, the sonne of Iared, the sonne of Maleleel, the sonne of Cainan,
Luke 3:37
The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen. From Heathen idols and idolatry, into which the saints in those times might be liable to be drawn, by reason of their dwelling among Heathen idolaters, and being related to them, and by the too great freedom used in eating things sacrificed to idols in their temples; and from all other idols that might be introduced by some who went by the name of Christians, as the Gnostics, who worshipped the images of Simon and Helena; and the passage may be an antidote against the worshipping of images, afterwards introduced by the Papists. Moreover, errors and false doctrines, which are the figments of men's minds, and what they are fond of, may be called idols, and should be guarded against, and abstained from; as also the lusts of men's hearts, and all the evil things that are in the world, which are adored by the men of it; and even every creature that is loved too much is an idol; hence covetousness is called idolatry; nor should any creature or thing be loved more than God or Christ: the one only living and true God, Father, Son, and Spirit, he is only to be worshipped, feared, and loved.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Little children - This is a favorite mode of address with John, (see the notes at 1 John 2:1), and it was proper to use it in giving his parting counsel; embracing, in fact, all that he had to say - that they should keep themselves from idols, and suffer nothing to alienate their affections from the true God. His great object had been to lead them to the knowledge and love of God, and all his counsels would be practically followed, if, amidst the temptations of idolatry, and the allurements of sin, nothing were allowed to estrange their hearts from him.

Keep yourselves from idols - From worshipping them; from all that would imply communion with them or their devotees. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 10:14. The word rendered “idols” here ( εἰδώλων eidōlōn) means, properly, an image, specter, shade - as of the dead; then any image or figure which would represent anything, particularly anything invisible; and hence anything designed to represent God, and that was set up with a view to be acknowledged as representing him, or to bring, him, or his perfections, more vividly before the mind. The word is applicable to idol-gods - pagan deities, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 10:19; Romans 2:22; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; but it would, also, be applicable to any “image” designed to represent the true God, and through or by which the true God was to be adored. The essential things in the word seem to be:

(a)an image or representation of the Deity, and,

(b)the making of that an object of adoration instead of the true God.

Since one of these things would be likely to lead to the other, both are forbidden in the prohibitions of idolatry, Exodus 20:4-5. This would forbid all attempts to represent God by paintings or statuary; all idol-worship, or worship of pagan gods; all images and pictures that would be substituted in the place of God as objects of devotion, or that might transfer the homage from God to the image; and all giving of those affections to other beings or objects which are due to God. why the apostle closed this Epistle with this injunction he has not stated, and it may not be easy to determine. It may have been for such reasons as these:

(1)Those to whom he wrote were surrounded by idolaters, and there was danger that they might fall into the prevailing sin, or in some way so act as to be understood to lend their sanction to idolatry.

(2)in a world full of alluring objects, there was danger then, as there is at all times, that the affections should be fixed on other objects than the supreme God, and that what is due to him should be withheld.

It may be added, in the conclusion of the exposition of this Epistle, that the same caution is as needful for us as it was for those to whom John wrote. We are not in danger, indeed, of bowing down to idols, or of engaging in the grosser forms of idol-worship. But we may be in no less danger than they to whom John wrote were, of substituting other things in our affections in the place of the true God, and of devoting to them the time and the affection which are due to him. Our children it is possible to love with such an attachment as shall effectually exclude the true God from the heart. The world - “its wealth, and pleasures, and honors - we may love with a degree of attachment such as even an idolater would hardly shew to his idol-gods; and all the time which he would take in performing his devotions in an idol-temple, we may devote with equal fervor to the service of the world. There is practical idolatry all over the world; in nominally Christian lands as well as among the pagan; in families that acknowledge no God but wealth and fashion; in the hearts of multitudes of individuals who would scorn the thought of worshipping at a pagan altar; and it is even to be found in the heart of many a one who professes to be acquainted with the true God, and to be an heir of heaven. God should have the supreme place in our affections. The love of everything else should be held in strict subordination to the love of him.

He should reign in our hearts; be acknowledged in our closets, our families, and in the place of public worship; be submitted to at all times as having a right to command and control us; be obeyed in all the expressions of his will, by his word, by his providence, and by his Spirit; be so loved that we shall be willing to part without a complaint with the dearest object of affection when he takes it from us; and so that, with joy and triumph, we shall welcome his messenger, “the angel of death,” when he shall come to summon us into his presence. To all who may read these illustrations of the Epistle of the “beloved disciple,” may God grant this inestimable blessing and honor. Amen.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Little children - Τεκνια· Beloved children; he concludes with the same affectionate feeling with which he commenced.

Keep yourselves from idols - Avoid the idolatry of the heathens; not only have no false gods, but have the true God. Have no idols in your houses, none in your churches, none in your hearts. Have no object of idolatrous worship; no pictures, relics, consecrated tapers, wafers, crosses, etc., by attending to which your minds may be divided, and prevented from worshipping the infinite Spirit in spirit and in truth.

The apostle, says Dr. Macknight cautioned his disciples against going with the heathens into the temple of their idol gods, to eat of their feasts upon the sacrifices they had offered to these gods; and against being present at any act of worship which they paid them; because, by being present, they participated of that worship, as is plain from what St. Paul has written on the subject, 1 Corinthians 8:10; (note).

That is a man's idol or god from which he seeks his happiness; no matter whether it be Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, Minerva, Venus, or Diana; or pleasure, wealth, fame, a fine house, superb furniture, splendid equipage, medals, curiosities, books, titles, human friendships, or any earthly or heavenly thing, God, the supreme good, only excepted. That is a man's idol which prevents him from seeking and finding his All in God.

Wiclif ends his epistle thus: My little sones, kepe ye you fro mawmitis, i.e. puppets, dolls, and such like; for thus Wiclif esteemed all images employed in religious worship. They are the dolls of a spurious Christianity, and the drivellings of religion in nonage and dotage. Protestants, keep yourselves from such mawmets!

Amen - So be it! So let it be! And so it shall be, God being our helper, for ever and ever!

Subscriptions in the Versions: -

The end of the Epistle of the Apostle John. - Syriac.

The First Epistle of John the apostle is ended. - Syr. Philoxenian.

Nothing in either the Coptic or Vulgate.

Continual and eternal praise be to God! - Arabic.

The end. - Aethiopic;

In this version the epistle is thus introduced: -

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, the Epistle of John, the son of Zebedee, the evangelist and apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ; may his intercession be with us for ever and ever! Amen.

In the Manuscripts: -

The First of John. - AB.

The First Epistle of John the evangelist.

The First catholic Epistle of St. John the divine, written from Ephesus.

The Epistle to the Parthians. - See several Latin MSS.

The word amen is wanting in all the best MSS. and in most of the versions.

For other matters relative to the epistle itself see the preface: and for its heavenly doctrine and unction read the text, in the original if you can; if not, in our own excellent translation.


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