Limitless Word
Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
1 John 2:6 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.
  • KJV He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
  • NKJV He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
  • NASB the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, to walk just as He walked.
  • NLT Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Whoever claims to abide in Christ ought to live as Christ lived. Union with Christ shapes a Christlike walk.

Overview

To 'remain in him' carries an obligation: to walk as Jesus walked. Christ's life of obedience and love becomes the pattern for believers. This is not legalism but the natural expression of union with him, calling Christians to follow their Lord's example in daily conduct.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • 1 Pet 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
  • John 13:15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
  • 1 Cor 11:1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
  • John 15:4–6Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
  • 1 Jn 3:6No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
  • Eph 5:2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
  • Matt 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  • 1 Jn 1:6–7If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
  • 1 Jn 2:4If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
  • 1 Jn 2:28And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
  • Ps 85:13Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 John 2:6YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'

How 1 John 2:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.