1st John Chapter 5 verse 21 Holy Bible

ASV 1stJohn 5:21

`My' little children, guard yourselves from idols.
read chapter 5 in ASV

BBE 1stJohn 5:21

My little children, keep yourselves from false gods.
read chapter 5 in BBE

DARBY 1stJohn 5:21

Children, keep yourselves from idols.
read chapter 5 in DARBY

KJV 1stJohn 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
read chapter 5 in KJV

WBT 1stJohn 5:21


read chapter 5 in WBT

WEB 1stJohn 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
read chapter 5 in WEB

YLT 1stJohn 5:21

Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.
read chapter 5 in YLT

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 21. - Keep yourselves from idols; or, guard yourselves from the idols. In verse 18 we had τηρεῖ; here the verb is φυλάξατε. The aorist, rather than the present imperative, is used to make the command more forcible, although the guarding is not momentary, but will have to continue (Compare μείνατε ἐν ἐμοί, John 15:4; τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσατε John 14:15). What is the meaning of "the idols" τῶν εἰδώλων here? In answering this question it will be well to hold fast to the common canon of exegesis, that where the literal interpretation makes good sense, the literal interpretation is probably right. Here the literal interpretation makes excellent sense. Ephesus was famous for its idols. To be "temple-keeper of the great Artemis" (Acts 19:35) was its pride. The moral evils which had resulted from the abuse of the right of sanctuary had caused the Roman senate to cite the Ephesians and other states to submit their charters to the government for inspection. Ephesus had been the first to answer to the summons, and had strenuously defended its claims. It was famous, moreover, for its charms and incantations; and folly of this kind had found its way into the Christian Church (Acts 19:13-20). As so often happens with converts from a religion full of gross superstition, a good many of the superstitious observances survived the adoption of Christianity. With facts such as these before us, we can hardly be wrong in interpreting "the idols" quite literally. The apostle's "little children" could not live in Ephesus without coming constantly in contact with these polluting but attractive influences. They must have absolutely nothing to do with them: "Guard yourselves and abjure ἀπό them." Of course, this literal interpretation places no limit on the application of the text. To a Christian anything is an idol which usurps the place of God in the heart, whether this be a person, or a system, or a project, or wealth, or what not. All such usurpations come within the sweep of the apostle's injunction, "Guard yourselves from your idols."

Ellicott's Commentary