Passage

1 John 5.3

Book: 1 John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2. Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments."

"3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

"4. For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. 5. And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:1-5, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments."

"3. For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous."

"4. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. 5. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:1-5, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

"3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

"4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:1-5, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Every one who is believing that Jesus is the Christ, of God he hath been begotten, and every one who is loving Him who did beget, doth love also him who is begotten of Him: 2. in this we know that we love the children of God, when we may love God, and His commands may keep;"

"3. for this is the love of God, that His commands we may keep, and His commands are not burdensome;"

"4. because every one who is begotten of God doth overcome the world, and this is the victory that did overcome the world, our faith; 5. who is he who is overcoming the world, if not he who is believing that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:1-5, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally)
Audience: Christian believers (countering proto-gnostic influences)
Location: Ephesus (composition)
Time period: composed c. AD 85-95

Theological reading

Key words

G0026 - agape, agape (Strong's G26). Also appears in: John 5, John 13.34-35, John 15.9.
G2316 - theos, theos (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: Matthew 1.23, Matthew 3.16, Matthew 5.9.

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.