1 John 5:17

17 Any kind of wrongdoing is sin; but there is sin which is not unto death.

1 John 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 5:17

All unrighteousness is sin
All unrighteousness against God or man is a sin against the law of God, and the wrath of God is revealed against it, and it is deserving of death; yet all unrighteousness is not unto death, as the sins of David, which were unrighteousness both to God and man, and yet they were put away, and he died not; Peter sinned very foully, and did great injustice to his dear Lord, and yet his sin was not unto death; he had repentance unto life given him, and a fresh application of pardoning grace:

and there is a sin not unto death;
this is added for the relief of weak believers, who hearing of a sin unto death, not to be prayed for, might fear that theirs were of that kind, whereas none of them are; for though they are guilty of many unrighteousnesses, yet God is merciful to them and forgives, ( Hebrews 8:12 ) , and so they are not unto death.

1 John 5:17 In-Context

15 And since we know that He listens to us, then whatever we ask, we know that we have the things which we have asked from Him.

16 If any one sees a brother man committing a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask and God shall give him life--for those who do not sin unto death. There is such a thing as sin unto death; for that I do not bid him make request.

17 Any kind of wrongdoing is sin; but there is sin which is not unto death.

18 We know that no one who is a child of God lives in sin, but He who is God's Child keeps him, and the Evil one cannot touch him.

19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the Evil one.