1 John 5:4

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God
Which may be understood either of persons born; of God; or of the new creature, or principle of grace wrought in them, particularly faith hereafter mentioned, which is an heaven born grace, the gift of God, and the operation of his Spirit: this

overcometh the world;
the god of the world, Satan; the lusts which are in the world; false prophets gone forth into the world; and the wicked men of the world, who by temptations, snares, evil doctrines, threatenings, promises, and ill examples, would avert regenerate ones from observing the commands of God; but such are more than conquerors over all these, through Christ that has loved them:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "your faith"; great things, heroic actions, and wonderful victories, are ascribed to faith; see ( Hebrews 11:33 Hebrews 11:34 ) ; which must not be understood of the grace itself, as separately considered, but of Christ the object of it, as supported, strengthened, assisted, and animated by him: and then it does wonders, when it is enabled to hold Christ, its shield, in its hand, against every enemy that opposes.

1 John 5:4 In-Context

2 In this we know that we love the sons of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is Jesus, the Christ, who came by water and blood; not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is he that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.