1 John 5:17

All unrighteousness ¹  is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death. ² 

De 5:32; De 12:32; Isa 1:18; Eze 18:26-32; Ro 5:20,21; Jas 1:15; Jas 4:7-10; 1Jo 3:4; 1Jo 5:16

¹ tn The meaning of ἀδικία (adikia) here is “unrighteousness” (BDAG 20 s.v. 2). It refers to the opposite of that which is δίκαιος (dikaios, “right, just, righteous”) which is used by the author to describe both God and Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9; 2:2, 29). Here, having implied that sins committed by believers (sins “not to death”) may be prayed for and forgiven, the author does not want to leave the impression that such sin is insignificant, because this could be viewed as a concession to the views of the opponents (who as moral indifferentists have downplayed the significance of sin in the Christian’s life).

² tn Grk “a sin not to death.”