1 John 5:19

(KJV) And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
(1611 KJV) And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickednesse.
(1587 Geneva Bible) We knowe that we are of God, and this whole world lieth in wickednesse.
(1526 Tyndale) We knowe that we are of god and that the worlde is altogedder set on wickednes.

Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
(1901 ASV) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
(AMP) We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.
(CEB) We know we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
(CEV) We are certain that we come from God and that the rest of the world is under the power of the devil.

(CSB) We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.

(ERV) We know that we belong to God, but the Evil One controls the whole world.
(ESV) We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
(GNB) We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.
(HCSB) We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
(JB PHILLIPS) We know that we ourselves are children of God, and we also know that the world around us is under the power of the evil one.
(LB) We know that we are children of God and that all the rest of the world around us is under Satan’s power and control.
(THE MESSAGE) We know that we are held firm by God; it’s only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One.
(NABRE) We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
(NASV) We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
(NCV) We know that we belong to God, but the Evil One controls the whole world.
(NET) We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
(NIRV) We know that we are children of God. We know that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
(NIV) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
(NKJV) We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
(NLV) We know that we belong to God, but the whole world is under the power of the devil.
(NLT) We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
(RSV) We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.
(VOICE) Have confidence in the fact that we belong to God, but also know that the world around us is in the grips of the evil one.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
οιδαμεν οτι εκ του θεου εσμεν και ο κοσμος ολος εν τω πονηρω κειται

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
οιδαμεν οτι εκ του θεου εσμεν και ο κοσμος ολος εν τω πονηρω κειται

Corrupted Manuscripts
None

Affected Teaching
Here is a great example where the modern version editors have interpolated this passage. According to the Webster 1828 Dictionary, the word interpolate has the following meaning:

2. To foist in; to insert, as a spurious word or passage in a manuscript or book; to add a spurious word or passage to the original.

In 1 John 5:19, the modern version editors have placed Satan in a position equal to that of God and that cannot happen. In the Textus Receptus, we have the following words “to ponero keitai” translated as “lieth in wickedness.” This is the proper translation from the Greek. It is the same three words in the Hort-Westcott critical text, yet in some of the modern versions, they have added words, via interpolation, which makes Satan appear to be the ruler of the world.

Now if you notice some of the modern versions what they have done to those three simple words:

Amplified Version - “power of the evil one.”
Contemporary English Version - “under the power of the devil.”
Easy Reading Version - “the Evil One controls the whole world.”
English Standard Version - “in the power of the evil one.”
Living Bible - “under Satan’s power and control.”
New American Standard Version - “lies in the power of the evil one.”
New Century Version - “Evil One controls the whole world.”
New International Version - “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
New Living Translation - “is under the control of the evil one.” (Chuck Swindoll’s Favorite version)

If you notice the words which have been added to the text such as “power,” “control,” and “one.” None of these words are found in the Textus Receptus or the Hort-Westcott Critical Text. These words were added and because they have been added, it conveys the idea that Satan is in absolute control of the world. While the world is nothing but a cesspool of sin, Satan does not have absolute control over it. God still controls this world and Satan is just a created being whom God has allowed to exist to bring about His plan to fruition. Satan is called the “god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4:4 but that does not mean he is ruling in the world. It means that when people commit evil acts, they are, in essence, doing obeisance to Satan because he is the architect of evil. The modern version editors have added words where they do not belong and that has resulted in the belief that Satan rules this world and he doesn’t. The term “evil one” is not even intimated in the Greek text. The word “ponero” may be translated “evil” but not “evil one.” The word is an adjective without a noun attached so the modern version translators thought they would help the text along and add “one” to “evil or wicked.” The bottom line is that these modern versions are teaching serious error when they teach that the world is under the power or control of Satan because God is still in control and is working out His plan of redemption in the midst of a wicked world.

Here is what the modern version editors did. In 1 John 5:18 we read “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” The word in the Greek for “wicked” is also “ponero” as in verse 19. However, in verse 18 it is the masculine gender and the nominative case which is the subject of either the complete sentence or a portion of it. You can see that the words “wicked one” fits the context of the passage perfectly because the masculine gender is focusing on a person and in this case it is Satan. In verse 19, it is the same word “ponero” but it is a dative without gender which is a different inflection than in verse 18. So the Greek experts in the modern versions, translated a different word the same way as they did in verse 18.

(NIV) 1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

(NIV) 1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

This is why the modern versions cannot be counted on for accuracy.

Psalm 24:1 (KJV) A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1 settles the question as to who owns and rules the world!

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