What does 1 John 1:9 mean?

1 John 1:9 (KJV) reads: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." — This verse is from 1 John in the New Testament. Read the full in-depth commentary at thelivingsword.org/commentary/1-john/1/9.

What is the context of 1 John 1:9?

1 John 1:9 is found in 1 John chapter 1, verse 9. 1 John is part of the New Testament. Read the full chapter at thelivingsword.org/read/1-john/1.

Commentary on 1 John 1:9 — The Living Sword

Q: What does "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive u…" mean in the Bible?

This is 1 John 1:9 from the King James Version. Read the full in-depth commentary and application notes at The Living Sword Bible: thelivingsword.org/commentary/1-john/1/9.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (King James Version)

This page contains an in-depth Bible commentary on 1 John 1:9 — covering historical context, meaning, and application. The full AI-powered commentary is available in the interactive Bible reader.

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About this Passage

1 John 1:9 is verse 9 of chapter 1 in the Book of 1 John, part of the New Testament. In the King James Version (1611), it reads: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 (King James Version): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 appears in the Book of 1 John, New Testament, chapter 1, verse 9. The Book of 1 John was written by Peter the apostle (c. AD 65–68 (shortly before Peter's death)). 2 Peter is written with the urgency of a man who knows he is about to die: 'I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside' (1:13-14). Peter's primary concern is the danger of false teachers who will 'secretly introduce destructive heresies' and lead many astray. Chapter 1 contains the famous passage on Scripture' Key themes in 1 John include: false teaching, day of the Lord, patience, knowledge. To study 1 John 1:9 in depth — including word-by-word analysis in the original Greek, cross-references, multiple translations (KJV, WEB, Geneva, ASV, YLT, Darby), and AI-powered commentary — visit The Living Sword Bible at thelivingsword.org.

Study 1 John 1:9 at The Living Sword

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