Easter · The Second Sunday of Easter (Quasimodo Geniti)
1 John 5:4-10
Paul in Ephesus
April 12, 2026
Overview & Insights
“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them.” (Acts 19:6)
This section and the one before it are a pair. They are both concerned with the relationship of Christianity to an imperfect form of the faith—“the baptism of John.” In this case Paul deals with the situation himself. These verses include also a brief description of his ministry in Ephesus, aspects of which are illustrated in the following section. But again we must turn to Paul’s letters to fill out our knowledge of these years. They show that his achievement in Ephesus was at the cost of much suffering (1 Cor. 15:32; 2 Cor. 1:8; 4:9ff.; 6:4ff.), including, perhaps, an imprisonment (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23) and a “flying visit” to Corinth in an attempt to bring order into that church’s troubled affairs (cf. 2 Cor. 12:14; 13:1; also 2 Cor. 2:1; see disc. on 21:21).
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Commentary
1 John 5 Commentary: Born of God and Believing in the Son Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on faith that overcomes the world and the threefold witness.
1 John 5:4 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators gathered verse by verse on victory through faith and the witness of the Spirit.
1 John 5:1-6 (Center for Excellence in Preaching) Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary covering verses 4 through 6 of this reading, on loving God by keeping his commands.
1 John 5 Resources (Precept Austin) Precept Austin
Study hub of commentaries, sermons, and word studies for the chapter.
Background & Word Study
1 John 5:4 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
1 John (Enter the Bible) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the setting and purpose of 1 John.
Books of 1-3 John Overview Video BibleProject
Animated overview of the themes running through John's letters.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What happens at Ephesus in Acts 19?
Paul finds disciples who knew only John's baptism; baptized now in the name of the Lord Jesus and receiving the Spirit through Paul's hands, they speak in tongues and prophesy.
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