1 John 2:4 cpdv — Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Catholic Public Domain Version

"Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. "

— 1 John 2:4, Catholic Public Domain Version

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1 John 2:4 in Other Translations

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1 John 2 — Context

1

My little sons, this I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone has sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One.

2

And he is the propitiation for our sins. And not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world.

3

And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments.

4

Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5

But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him.

6

Whoever declares himself to remain in him, ought to walk just as he himself walked.

7

Most beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but the old commandment, which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word, which you have heard.

1 John 2:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 John 2:4 say?
1 John 2:4 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ”
Where is 1 John 2:4 in the Bible?
1 John 2:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 John, chapter 2, verse 4.
Who wrote 1 John?
1 John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of 1 John about?
John writes to help believers know they have eternal life. Three tests run through the letter: do you walk in the light, love one another, and confess that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh? Where these are present, assurance follows.
What are the major themes of 1 John?
1 John explores themes including Assurance, Love, Light, Truth vs. Error, Eternal Life. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 John 2:4.
What translation should I read 1 John 2:4 in?
1 John 2:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 John 2:4?
1 John 2:4 reads (CPDV): “Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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