1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This passage isn't about withholding prayer from someone who messes up; it's a stark warning about the kind of hardened rebellion that severs one's connection to God. John distinguishes between sins that happen in our human frailty and a persistent, conscious turning away from God that he calls "sin leading to death," for which he explicitly states he doesn't advise praying. It's a call to discern the spirit behind actions, recognizing that some sins indicate a need for correction while others reveal a deeper spiritual crisis.
John is writing to encourage believers to live in light of their relationship with God, urging them to walk in truth and love and to discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. In this section, he's been talking about the assurance of salvation and the marks of true fellowship with God, contrasting those who are truly born of God with those who are not. This verse then addresses the community's responsibility towards a brother or sister who stumbles, differentiating between a sin that can be confessed and forgiven, and a graver, persistent sin that may indicate a lack of true faith.
Have you ever felt helpless watching a friend struggle with sin? This verse offers a powerful pathway forward through prayer, but with an important distinction.
John reminds us that prayer is not just a personal conversation with God; it's a force that can bring life to others. When we see a brother or sister stumbling into sin that 'does not lead to death'—meaning sin that doesn't sever their core relationship with God—we are called to intercede.
Asking for Life
The life John speaks of is spiritual life, the restoration of fellowship and right relationship with God. Our prayers have the potential to be the very means God uses to turn someone away from destructive paths and back towards Him.
John makes a stark contrast between two types of sin. What's the critical difference, and why does it matter for our prayers?
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 John 5:16 is available in the Sola app.
The phrase 'sin that leads to death' is a significant and often debated point. In the context of 1 John, it generally refers to a persistent, unrepentant rejection of God's truth and Christ—a state that ultimately results in spiritual death, or eternal separation from God.
A Deliberate Turning Away
This isn't about a single mistake or a momentary failing. It speaks to a hardened heart, a deliberate and ongoing rebellion against God that signifies a person may have so grieved the Holy Spirit that they are no longer truly part of the covenant community in a living way. John's caution isn't to discourage prayer, but to acknowledge that there are spiritual realities where persistent, willful sin hardens a person to God's call to repentance.
Understand the original words
adelphos · Greek Noun
A term generally referring to a fellow believer or a member of the covenant community of God's people.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Any departure from the moral law of God, whether in thought, word, or deed, manifesting as an offense against His holiness.
thanatos · Greek Noun
A state of spiritual alienation and physical or spiritual finality resulting from apostasy or persistent rebellion against God's grace.
aiteo · Greek Verb
To petition God in faith, seeking His intervention, mercy, or provision according to His will.
zoe · Greek Noun
The divine life granted by God to the believer, encompassing both present spiritual vitality and the promise of future resurrection and immortality.
This verse explains the path to forgiveness, highlighting that confession leads to cleansing, which is the opposite of unrepentant sin that 1 John 5:16 addresses.
Matthew 12:31-32Jesus speaks about the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit, providing a New Testament context for the idea of a sin that is ultimately not covered by prayer or forgiveness in the same way.
James 5:15-16This passage directly links the effectiveness of prayer for forgiveness to the confession of sin, reinforcing John's teaching on praying for a brother's sin.
Hebrews 6:4-6This text describes those who fall away after experiencing salvation, suggesting a state of apostasy that might be considered a 'sin leading to death' because they have rejected the sacrifice of Christ.
Proverbs 24:16This Old Testament proverb echoes the sentiment that the righteous may fall, but will rise again, contrasting with a fall that is final and unforgivable.
This passage isn't about withholding prayer from someone who messes up; it's a stark warning about the kind of hardened rebellion that severs one's connection to God. John distinguishes between sins that happen in our human frailty and a persistent, conscious turning away from God that he calls "sin leading to death," for which he explicitly states he doesn't advise praying. It's a call to discern the spirit behind actions, recognizing that some sins indicate a need for correction while others reveal a deeper spiritual crisis.
John is writing to encourage believers to live in light of their relationship with God, urging them to walk in truth and love and to discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. In this section, he's been talking about the assurance of salvation and the marks of true fellowship with God, contrasting those who are truly born of God with those who are not. This verse then addresses the community's responsibility towards a brother or sister who stumbles, differentiating between a sin that can be confessed and forgiven, and a graver, persistent sin that may indicate a lack of true faith.
John is writing to encourage believers to live in light of their relationship with God, urging them to walk in truth and love and to discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. In this section, he's been talking about the assurance of salvation and the marks of true fellowship with God, contrasting those who are truly born of God with those who are not. This verse then addresses the community's responsibility towards a brother or sister who stumbles, differentiating between a sin that can be confessed and forgiven, and a graver, persistent sin that may indicate a lack of true faith.
"If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that." — This passage isn't about withholding prayer from someone who messes up; it's a stark warning about the kind of hardened rebellion that severs one's connection to God. John distinguishes between sins…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
