Meaning of 1 John 5-16

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Jan 9, 2024

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MEANING OF 1 JOHN 5:16 ___________________ A Paper Presented to Dr. Stephen Kim Dallas Theological Seminary ___________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course BE107 Hebrews, General Epistles, and Revelation ___________________ by Jackson Hishmeh April 2023

1 1 John 5:16 is often debated among scholars due to its implication regarding sin and salvation. The verse states: “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.” 1 The object of contention exists in in the portion of the verse that mentions the “sin leading to death”. What type of sin leads to death? Are Christians possible of committing such sin? Why would John include this statement in his letter? Each of these questions will be examined further to more adequately understand 1 John 5:16. To sufficiently theorize what the author means by mentioning “sin that leads to death”, it is worth examining the surrounding themes leading up to this verse in 1 st John. Throughout this letter, the author repeatably warns believers against antichrists and false teachers. In 2:22, the author states “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.” In a series of caution statements, Christians are encouraged to discern truth from lies in the church. Additionally, in 4:1-6, the author guides his audience away from false teachers stating, “They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.” There is a relevant theme throughout 1 John, that is, there are opposing forces to Christianity. If the believer does not pursue a discerning faith that is aligned with Jesus, they can fall victim to the world via false teachers. Could it be that the “sin that leads to death” is related to the authors charge against false teachers? According to Spurgeon, 1 John 5:16 is directly referring to people who completely reject the Gospel. He states, “He who has committed the sin that leads to death has no desire for forgiveness. He will never repent; he will never seek faith in Christ, but he will continue hardened and unbelieving.” 2 This statement would suggest that there is a threshold in which 2 Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John , ed. Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 1 Jn 5:16.

2 someone can be extremely hardened from any form of faith. Likewise, Alfred Plummer states that it “is possible to close the heart against the influences of God’s Spirit so obstinately and persistently that repentance becomes a moral impossibility. 3 ” I agree with both Spurgeon and Plummer that there are individuals that are so closed off to the gospel to the point that nothing would change their heart or mind in regards to their belief in the Gospel. Both Spurgeon and Plummer also argue that the “sin that leads to death” in 1 John 5:16 is the complete and unrepentant rejection of the Gospel. I take this stance as well because it aligns with the Scriptures view of a deadly sin. To illustrate, Hebrews 10:26-27 states, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” Finally, the question the arises whether a true Christian can apostatize. It seems clear from the epistle that such is not a possibility. 4 John has already indicated that no one in Christ can continue in sin because God’s seed abides in him (3:7). Additionally, John states that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning (5:18). Both of these verses support the argument that Christians are not capable of committing the deadly sin of rejecting the Gospel. After a brief analysis of the surrounding texts, engaging with existing arguments, and cross-examining the Scriptures, it is most likely that the “sin that leads to death” in 1 John 5:16 is referring to blatant rejection and unrepentance towards the Gospel. This is a sin that genuine Christians are unable to commit as they are protected by God. 3 Alfred Plummer, The Epistles of St. John (University Press, 1886), 122. 4 Daniel L. Akin, 1, 2, 3 John , vol. 38, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 210.

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3 Akin, Daniel L. 1, 2, 3 John . Vol. 38. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001. Plummer, Alfred. The Epistles of St. John . University Press, 1886. Plummer, Alfred. The Epistles of St. John . University Press, 1886. Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1 John . The Pulpit Commentary. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909. Spurgeon, Charles. Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John . Edited by Elliot Ritzema. Spurgeon Commentary Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

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