Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 5:19

"We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one." — 1 John 5:19 (ASV)

The second affirmation builds on the first one (v.18), but emphasizes the positive consequence: “We know that we are children of God.” The author now openly identifies himself with the community of faith and stresses the personal quality of the relationships involved in fellowship (cf. 1:3) with the Father. We know we “belong to him.” And how is this known? It is not by boastful claims, like those made by the false teachers, but on the basis of the “tests of eternal life” that are substantiated by life and action. As we exhibit the marks of God’s family, we demonstrate that we belong to the Father. In contrast to the true community that belongs to God (cf. Jn 8:47) is the rest of the world, which lies under the control of the evil one (cf. 2:15–17). Clearly there is no middle ground for the author. To be born of God is to be safe from the power of the evil one. Not to be born of God is to be wholly under the power of the evil one.