1 John 5: 14 And this is the confidence (parrhesia) that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions ( REQUESTS EFFECTS/ OR THE PRODUCTS, FRUIT OR RESULTS OF OUR REQUESTS) that we desired of him.
Verse 14 uses the word parrhesia for “confidence”.
Parrhesia is fearless confidence, frankness, plainness, and transparency in speech and deed through one who is free and whole in Christ. Only one who is whole can be transparent, confident and bold.
In verse 14, John discusses parrhesia in light of confidently obtaining from God.
Verse 14 also says that parrhesia comes by our asking in accordance to God’s will.
Verse 15 is a a powerful scripture.
“And if we know that he hear us.” The word know is “oida”, which is instinctive or gut feeling knowledge.
This is the type of knowing, that we know, that we know. I don’t have to attend college to know that a girl’s dress is red. This is what “oida’ means.
Oida, in verse 15, is in the perfect tense. The perfect tense is a completed event but with results still in impact today.
If we ask anything according to God’s will we instinctively know that He has heard us; it’s a done deal!
Verse 15 …We have the petitions ( REQUESTS EFFECTS/ OR THE COMPLETED RESULTS, PRODUCTS OR FRUIT OF OUR REQUESTS) that we desired of him.
The word “petitions” is the Strong’s word # 155 “aitema”. It is only found 3 times in the NT. It is defined as the “tangible, completed and answered effects, outcomes, fruit, and results of our petitions.
1 Cor 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, ( grace effects or results) but the same Spirit.
6 And there are diversities of operations ( energy effect, results, or products), but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
When we minister by Spirit of God, everything occurs by faith and the superhuman labor of God, also known as grace.
God makes Himself not just responsible to execute a charismatic gift. He also brings the effect or the visible result, outcome, product, or fruit, from the energizing of the charismatic gift. This is the word “operations” found in verse 6.
6 And there are diversities of operation ( energy effects, products, outcomes & results), but it is the same God which worketh ( energizes) all in all.
Operations, is the word “energamaton”, or the visible completed product, outcome, or result.
Verse six is a promise that what God has labored IN US through charismatic gifts, He will also energize OUT THROUGH US, as a tangible products, outcomes, fruit or results.
Effects of God grace IN US ( charismatic gifts); effects of God’s completed work, fruit, result, or products out FROM US. Both things occur automatically by God’s grace.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions ( REQUESTS EFFECTS/ OR THE RESULTS OR PRODUCTS OF OF OUR REQUESTS) that we desired of him.
The asking is a CHARISMATIC GIFT and the receiving is a CHARISMATIC OPERATION, RESULT, OUTCOME, and OR PRODUCT. Both are produced by God. We can receive the gift proportional to our faith. We can receive the fruit, or result, likewise proportional to our faith, since God energizes both.
I believe that this is the concept of producing 30, 60 or 100 fold fruit. How much fruit, products or results can we believe God to bring to us? Both the receiving and producing are charismatic gifts which are energized in proportion to our faith.
Hence the writer correctly translates petitions as a request effect, or the request which automatically produces, fruit, product, or result in proportion to our faith and obedience.
Jose and Mary Alvarez 