Easter Season · Sixth Sunday of Easter · Year B
1 John 5:1-6
Paul in Ephesus
May 2, 2027
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
Commentary on 1 John 5:1-6 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary reading of faith that conquers the world and love that keeps God's commands.
1 John 5:1-6 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed commentary linking love of God and neighbor and the Spirit's victory over the world.
1 John 5 - Faith and the Life of Faith Enduring Word · David Guzik
Guzik's evangelical notes on overcoming faith and the witness of water, blood, and Spirit.
1 John 5:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on being born of God and loving God's children.
Background & Word Study
1 John (book introduction) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the letters of John (background use).
Overview: 1-3 John BibleProject
Animated overview of the themes running through the Johannine letters.
1 John 5:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek-English interlinear for word study on nikao (conquer) and gennao (born of God).
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
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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