1 John 5:16

Prayer Sin Fellowship and the church Forgiveness

¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.

¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.
KJV: If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
WEB: If 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.
ASV: If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and [God] will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.
DARBY: If any one see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life, for those that do not sin unto death. There is a sin to death: I do not say of that that he should make a request.
BLB: If anyone should see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and He will give to him life—to those sinning not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he should implore concerning that.

ÅB: Dersom noen ser sin bror gjøre en synd som ikke er til døden, da skal han be, og han skal gi ham liv - jeg mener dem som ikke synder til døden. Der er synd til døden; det er ikke om den jeg sier at han skal be.
OTB: Hvis noen ser sin bror eller søster begå en synd som ikke fører til død, skal han be, og Gud vil, for ham, gi liv til dem som begår synd som ikke fører til død. Det er synd som fører til død; jeg sier ikke at han skal be for den.
B1930: Dersom nogen ser sin bror gjøre en synd som ikke er til døden, da skal han bede, og han skal gi ham liv - jeg mener dem som ikke synder til døden. Der er synd til døden; det er ikke om den jeg sier at han skal bede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hebrews 6:4–6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Read in context
1 Samuel 2:25
If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.
Read in context
Jeremiah 11:14
As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me in their time of disaster.
Read in context
Hebrews 10:26–31
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
Read in context
Mark 3:28–30
Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.
Read in context
Luke 12:10
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Read in context
Matthew 12:31–32
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Read in context
2 Peter 2:20–22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.
Read in context