Gr. pistis (see on Heb. 11:1). This is the only occurrence of this word in John’s Gospel or epistles. How can “our faith” enable us to overcome the world? John provides the answer in v. 5, where he implies that the faith to which he is referring is that which accepts Jesus as the Son of God. Such a faith appropriates the Saviour’s victory over the world and duplicates it in the life of the believer. It does not stop at mental assent but leads to positive action. Like the paralytic who was commanded to rise, we attempt what seems impossible (John 5:5-9). As our will chooses to rise from the thralldom of sin, the life-giving power of God comes into every moral fiber and enables us to accomplish what we by faith have willed. Were we to lie back and wait for the Lord to lift us up from sin, nothing would happen. Our faith must lay hold of His promises, and must desire, choose, and will to act upon them before that strength can aid us.

 Gr. nikaō (see on ch. 2:13). In the Greek there is an interesting play on the words nikē and nikaō, which may be rendered “this is the conquest that conquered the world.” The form of the verb would seem to refer to the time when the believers made their break with the world, since the apostle is speaking of their faith. There may also be an ultimate reference to the one great victory that enables Christians to conquer the world—Christ’s own victory over the devil—but that is not John’s primary thought in this verse.

Gr. nikē, “means for winning a victory,” “victory,” from nikaō, “to conquer” (see above under “overcometh”). Nikē occurs only here in the NT, but was common in classical Greek and was the name given to the Greek goddess of victory.

 Gr. kosmos (see on ch. 2:15).

 Gr. nikaō (see on ch. 2:13). The form of the verb in the Greek shows that victory in the new life may be continuous. Whenever the newly born Christian resists the tempter in the strength of Heaven, the adversary is defeated (James 4:7).

 See on ch. 3:9.

 John may have used this term rather than “whosoever,” to stress the comprehensive nature of the truth he is uttering (cf. John 3:6). Every right principle comes from God and is capable of overcoming worldly principles that come from Satan.

 Literally, “because.” John is about to give a further reason why the requirements of God are not a wearying and exhausting load. To the unaided human soul they are impossible to fulfill (Rom. 8:7), but to the born-again Christian (John 3:3) all things are possible (Mark 11:22-24; Phil. 4:13). He partakes of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and draws on the same resources that sustained Christ in His earthly life (TM 386; DA 123).