I John 5:15 · Bible study
1 John 5:15 Commentary: The Certainty of Prayer Answered
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of 1 John 5:15: in what sense believers already have the petitions they ask. Greek analysis and commentary consensus on prayer assurance.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Assurance that God hears and answers prayers offered according to his will, giving present certainty of the answer.
- Key words: οἶδα (know, settled knowledge), ἀκούω (hear, implying heeding), αἴτημα (petition), ἔχω (have, present active indicative).
- Main debate: Does 'we have the petitions' mean present possession of the answer by faith, or a confident assurance of future fulfillment?
- Theological theme: Prayer as partnership with God's will, rooted in the believer's union with Christ and access to the Father.
- Best use: Encouraging believers to pray with boldness, certainty, and patience, grounded in God's character and promises.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
WEB World English Bible 2000
And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
KJV King James Version 1769
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and if we have known that He doth hear us, whatever we may ask, we have known that we have the requests that we have requested from Him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask: we know that we have the petitions which we request of him.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y si sabemos que él nos oye en cualquiera cosa que demandáremos, sabemos que tenemos las peticiones que le hubiéremos demandado.
E se sabemos que nos ouve em tudo o que pedimos, sabemos que alcançamos as coisas que lhe pedimos.
Et si nous savons qu’ il nous écoute, quelque chose que nous demandions, nous savons que nous possédons la chose que nous lui avons demandée.
Und so wir wissen, daß er uns hört, was wir bitten, so wissen wir, daß wir die Bitte haben, die wir von ihm gebeten haben.
En indien wij weten, dat Hij ons verhoort, wat wij ook bidden, zo weten wij, dat wij de beden verkrijgen, die wij van Hem gebeden hebben.
e se sappiamo ch’Egli ci esaudisce in quel che gli chiediamo, noi sappiamo di aver le cose che gli abbiamo domandate.
A jeźli wiemy, iż nas słyszy, o cokolwiek byśmy prosili, tedy wiemy, iż mamy te rzeczy, o któreśmy go prosili.
А когда мы знаем, что Он слушает нас во всем, чего бы мы ни просили, — знаем и то, что получаем просимое от Него.
既然 知道 他聽 我們 一切 所求的，就知道 我們所求 於 他的，無不得著。
And if we are certain that he gives ear to all our requests, we are equally certain that we will get our requests.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I John 5:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse expresses the believer's certainty that God answers prayer offered according to his will. Barnes and Calvin stress that the 'having' is a confident assurance of future fulfillment, not immediate possession of the thing requested. Barnes notes that prayer may relate to future events and answers can be delayed. Calvin adds that the faithful pray right and humble petitions consistent with God's rule. Clarke and Gill, by contrast, emphasize that faith anticipates the blessing so strongly that believers consider the answer as sure as if they already held it. Wesley says faith 'anticipates the blessings' before the event. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown take the present tense 'we have' literally: 'We have, as present possessions, everything whatsoever we desired from Him.' The core agreement is that the one who prays according to God's will can rest in the knowledge that the prayer is heard and will be answered in God's perfect time and way.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Present possession view: The present tense 'ἔχομεν' (we have) is read literally as present possession of the answer by faith; supported by Wesley, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, and Mark 11:24 (present tense 'received').
- Assurance of future answer view: The same present tense is read as a logical certainty of future fulfillment, consistent with New Testament examples of delayed answers (Lk 22:42; 2 Cor 12:8-9); supported by Barnes and Calvin.
What is clear: All interpreters agree that those who pray according to God's will can be certain their prayer is heard and will be answered in God's perfect time and way.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of 'having' the petitions | All agree this verse gives believers certainty that God answers prayer asked according to his will. | Some (Wesley, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) read the present tense 'we have' as immediate possession by faith; others (Barnes, Calvin, Clarke) argue it is a certainty of future answer, not the blessing itself. |
| Condition 'according to his will' | The condition restricts prayer to things God commands or promises, not our selfish desires. | Calvin stresses it as conformity to God's rule; Poole divides it into commands and promises; modern interpreters differ on whether it includes specific guidance for daily decisions. |
| Continuity with 'sin unto death' (vv16-17) | The prayer confidence of vv14-15 applies to intercession for others, with limits for sin leading to death. | Historic traditions interpret 'sin unto death' differently: as apostasy (Reformed), willful rejection of Christ (Catholic moral theology), or a specific defiance known to the original readers. |
Historical & Cultural Context
First John was written to counter false teachings and to strengthen believers' assurance of eternal life. In 5:13 John states his purpose: 'that you may know that you have eternal life.' The prayer passage that follows (vv14-17) flows directly from that assurance. The early Christian community faced both external persecution and internal division from those who denied Jesus as the Christ come in the flesh. Such threats could weaken confidence in prayer. John responds by grounding boldness in the character of God: he hears those who ask according to his will.
The phrase 'according to his will' echoes Jesus' own prayer in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) and picks up a theme from earlier in the epistle (1 John 3:22). For John, prayer is not a blank check but a conversation shaped by the will of God revealed in Christ and Scripture. The surrounding context (vv16-17) addresses intercessory prayer for a sinning brother, showing that prayer is communal, not merely private. The 'sin unto death' language likely reflects a situation John's readers recognized, possibly apostasy or persistent rejection of the Son (5:12). The overall context affirms that prayer, like faith and love, is a mark of those who are born of God and live in fellowship with him.
Literarily, verse 15 builds on verse 14 with a careful logical chain: boldness → asking according to His will → He hears → we know we have the petitions. The progression reinforces John's pastoral goal: to replace fear with confident, persistent prayer.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 1 John 5:15. The Greek text is stable across major manuscripts, and no alternative readings affect the interpretation. The early witnesses (e.g., Clement, Tertullian) quote the surrounding context without indicating variation here.
Reception History
In the early church, Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian cited 1 John 5:16-18, showing that these verses were treated as integral to the epistle (Cambridge Bible). During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther used verse 15 to teach assurance in prayer over against doubt and works-righteousness. The Wesleyan tradition highlighted the present-tense confidence, with Wesley writing 'faith anticipates the blessings.' In modern times, the verse is a touchstone for prayer teaching across traditions, though debate persists over whether 'having' refers to the answer itself or the certainty of it. The verse continues to comfort believers who struggle with unanswered prayer by anchoring them in God's faithful character.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The ground of prayer: asking according to His will (v14). Confidence does not come from the intensity of our desire but from agreement with God's revealed purposes.
- The gift of assurance: we know He hears (v15a). The verb 'know' (οἶδα) implies settled, experiential certainty. When prayer lines up with God's will, we do not wonder if He listened; we rest in the fact that He did.
- The present possession: we have the petitions (v15b). Faith claims the answer as a reality before it appears. This is not presumption but trust in the faithfulness of the One who promised.
Five-point outline
- The basis of confident prayer: abiding in Christ and his Word (1 John 3:22-24).
- The condition of answered prayer: asking 'according to his will' (v14). This sets the boundaries of our requests.
- The certainty of being heard: the present tense 'he hears' assures ongoing access.
- The possession of the answer: the present tense 'we have' invites us to thank God for the answer before it materialises.
- The extension to intercession: the same confidence fuels prayer for others, especially for brothers and sisters in sin (v16).
Illustration hooks
- A parent’s promise: A child asks for something a parent has already agreed to give, the child knows it is as good as done. When we pray God’s promises back to Him, we rest in His faithful character.
- A farmer’s hope: A farmer plants seed and already counts the harvest as certain, even though months of waiting remain. Faith, like the farmer, treats God’s promise as the reality that determines the future.
- A legal document: A signed contract transfers ownership immediately, even if the property changes hands later. Prayer in Christ’s name is like that: the answer is ours by covenant before we see it.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I know if I am praying 'according to His will' when I am not sure what God wants?
- What do I do with prayers that seem unanswered, does this verse mean I did not have enough faith?
- Does 'having the petitions' mean I should always get exactly what I ask for, or does God sometimes give something better?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the heart of John’s teaching on prayer and assurance. It invites us to examine not only what we ask but also how we hold the answer. The group should move from observing the words to applying their confidence in daily prayer.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 14-15. Circle the verbs that show action or certainty. What is the logical chain from one verse to the next?
- What difference does it make that the condition for prayer is 'according to his will'? How do we discover God’s will in specific situations?
- John uses the word 'know' twice in verse 15. What kind of knowing is he talking about? How does it differ from hoping or wishing?
- What do you think it means to 'have the petitions' right now? Is this a feeling, a decision, or something else? Share an example from your experience.
- Barnes and Calvin say the answer may be delayed. How does waiting fit with 'having' now? How does Mark 11:24 (also present tense) help?
- Verses 16-17 apply this prayer confidence to interceding for a brother or sister in sin. Why might we hesitate to pray for someone's restoration? What does this tell us about the community dimension of prayer?
- How can our small group encourage each other to pray with the boldness John describes, especially when we are not sure of the outcome?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Proverbs 15:29 | Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. |
| Jeremiah 15:12 | Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and bronze? |
| Jeremiah 15:13 | I will give your substance and your treasures for a plunder without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders. |
| Mark 11:24 | Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. |
| Luke 11:9 | “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. |
| Luke 11:10 | For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. |
| I John 5:18 | We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him. |
| I John 5:20 | We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke stresses that when we pray for what God has promised, we can count the answer as sure as if we already held it. God does not postpone the gift; He gives the mercy exactly when we need it and ask for it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that knowing God hears a prayer does not mean the exact thing asked for is already given. The answer may be delayed for reasons that test faith, respect others, or allow further growth. Still, the believer can be fully confident that a real answer will come at the best time.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary defends the final verses of 1 John as authentic, citing manuscript evidence and quotations from second-century writers. It then highlights verse 19 as the second of three certainties believers possess: Christians know they belong to God, while the whole world remains under the power of the evil one, a personal adversary. This creates a total separation between the church and the world.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators focus on the certainty that comes from knowing God hears our requests. For them, this knowledge is not just about being heard; it directly produces the confidence that we already possess the very things we have asked for.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses the strong confidence believers have that God hears and will answer prayers made according to His will. So certain is this assurance that they count the requested mercy as already in hand, trusting God’s own timing and way for its fulfillment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that prayers offered in faith according to God's will are not lost—we already possess them as present realities. Like Hannah and Jehoshaphat, believers can rejoice over the answer before it visibly arrives, recognizing the outcome as secured by their past prayers.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads the "sin unto death" not as a fixed category of sins but as a form of sinning so visibly destructive that the observer recognizes the brother has cut himself off from Christ's life. In such a case, the apostle withholds any encouragement to pray, though he does not explicitly forbid it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes a careful distinction between sins that lead to death and those that do not. For a believer who sees a brother commit the latter, prayer can restore life. But for the sin unto death, he notes Scripture gives no instruction to pray, leaving that case to God's judgment alone.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the entire phrase "whatsoever we ask" falls under the control of the verb "hear." The point is not about the asking itself but about the assurance that God hears each petition we bring.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that faith does not simply wait for blessings but already holds them in anticipation. We possess in our hearts what we have asked of God, even before the outward event arrives. When the answer comes, we recognize it as a direct response to our prayer.