Meaning, commentary and cross references
1 John 5:14
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
NIV · New International Version
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
WEB · World English Bible
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
What does 1 John 5:14 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on 1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him,.... Either in God, to whom prayer is made; or in the Son of God, through whose blood and righteousness believers in him have confidence with God at the throne of grace; they can come with boldness and intrepidity, and use freedom and liberty of speech, as the word here used signifies; especially when they have the Spirit of Christ with them, and are under the sprinklings of the blood of Christ, and have a comfortable assurance of being heard and answered; and this is what the Jews call , "the consideration", or "attention of prayer" (s), which they explain thus; "after a man has prayed, he judges in his heart that the holy blessed God will…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 1 John 5:14–17
A privilege belonging to faith in Christ, namely, audience in prayer: This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us, Jo1 5:14. The Lord Christ emboldens us to come to God in all circumstances, with all our supplications and requests. Through him our petitions are admitted and accepted of God. The matter of our prayer must be agreeable to the declared will of God.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on 1 John 5:13–15
14. Atque haec est fiducia quam habemus erga eum, quod si quid petierimus secundum voluntatem ejus, audit nos. 15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 15. Si autem novimus quod audit nos, quum quid petierimus; novimus quod habemus petitiones quas postulavimus ab eo. 13 These things have I written unto you As there ought to be a daily progress in faith, so he says that he wrote to those who had already believed, so that they might believe more firmly and with greater certainty, and thus enjoy a fuller confidence as to eternal life.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: 1 John 5:11–17 (WEB)
11The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. 16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I don’t say that he should make a request concerning this. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Cross references
- John 14:13
Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Jeremiah 29:12–13
You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
- Jeremiah 33:3
‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and difficult things, which you don’t know.’
- 1 John 3:21–22
Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;
- John 15:7
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
- Matthew 7:7–11
“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
- Matthew 21:22
All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
- Psalms 34:17
In the Baptist Catechism
- Q109. What is Prayer?
Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God, for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies.