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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 John 5:15

An amplification of the second limitation. “We have our requests” not always as we pray but as we would pray were we wiser. God gives not what we ask but what we really need. cf. Shak., Ant. and Cleop. i. ii.:

“We, ignorant of ourselves,

Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers

Deny us for our good; so find we profit,

By losing of our prayers”.

Prayer is not dictation to God but ἀνάβασις νοῦ πρὸς Θεὸν καὶ αἴτησις τῶν προσηκόντων παρὰ Θεοῦ (Joan. Damasc. De. Fid. Orthod., iii. 24). Clem. Alex.: “Non absolute dixit quod petierimus sed quod oportet petere'.

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See also 1 John 5:15 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 15. _AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US_] Seeing we are satisfied that he hears the prayer of faith, requesting the things which himself has promised; _we know_, consequently, _that we have_ _the p...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US - That is, if we are assured of this as a true doctrine, then, even though we may not “see” immediately that the prayer is answered, we may have the utmost confidence th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    VI. CONCLUSION CHAPTER 5:14-21 The conclusion of this great Epistle mentions first the practical confidence which a believer may have, the outcome of that relationship and fellowship with the Father...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    CONCLUSION. A reminder of the writer's purpose, an assertion of the value and also the limitations of intercessory prayer, and a summary of the teaching of the epistle. 1 JOHN 5:13. THAT. LIFE: John...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that, if we ask anything which is in accordance with his will, he hears us; and, if we know that he hears anything that we ask, we know that we pos...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    LOVE WITHIN THE DIVINE FAMILY (1 John 5:1-2)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IF. App-118. PETITIONS. App-134. Compare Matthew 7:7; John 14:13; John 15:7. DESIRED. have desired. Same as "ask", 1 John 5:14. o

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Intercessory Love the Fruit of Faith and of the Possession of Life 13 17. Eternal life, faith, and brotherly love shewing boldness in intercession, are the leading ideas of this section. We have had m...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Conclusion and Summary Some modern writers consider that 1 John 5:13 constitutes the conclusion of the Epistle, the remainder (14 21) being a postscript or appendix, analogous to chap. 21. of the Gos...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    13–21. CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY Some modern writers consider that 1 John 5:13 constitutes the conclusion of the Epistle, the remainder (14–21) being a postscript or appendix, analogous to chap. 21 of t...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    15. For παρʼ αὐτοῦ ([805][806][807]) read ἈΠ ̓ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ ([808][809]). [810]1[811] omit from ἩΜΩ͂Ν to ἩΜΩ͂Ν: _homoeoteleuton_. [805] 5th century. Brought by Cyril Lucar, Patriarch of Constantinople, fro...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    13–17. INTERCESSORY LOVE THE FRUIT OF FAITH AND OF THE POSSESSION OF LIFE 13–17. Eternal life, faith, and brotherly love shewing boldness in intercession, are the leading ideas of this section. We hav...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

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  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2469 ANSWERS TO PRAYER 1 John 5:14. _This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

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  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

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  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 15. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US. That is, if we know that he hears us as with open ears, then we know that he will grant our petitions; the things that we asked will be by us received....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

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  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

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  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

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  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

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  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

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  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

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  • John Darby's Synopsis

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  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

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  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

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  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

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  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

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  • Sermon Bible Commentary

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  • Summarized Bible Commentary

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

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  • The Biblical Illustrator

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  • The Pulpit Commentaries

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  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Jeremiah 15:12; Jeremiah 15:13; Luke 11:10; Luke 11:9; Mark 11:24;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Whatsoever we ask. The whole phrase is governed by the verb hear. If we know that He heareth our every petition....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

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  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    We have — Faith anticipates the blessings. The petitions which we asked of him — Even before the event. And when the event comes, we know it comes in answer to our prayer....

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Old Testament