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1Jn_5:14, as the preliminary καί shows, is not the beginning of a new section (contrary to de Wette); but the thought expressed here is in close connection with the foregoing, inasmuch as the παῤῥησία is an essential element of the ζωὴ αἰώνιος . As in chap. 1Jn_3:21-22, so here also, παῤῥησία is the confidence which the believer experiences in the certainty that his prayer is heard.
αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ παῤῥησία does not mean: “hence arises also a happy spirit” (Ziegler), but “herein consists the confidence” (de Wette).
ἣν ἔχομεν πρὸς αὐτόν ] αὐτόν does not refer to the Son, but to God; though God is not previously mentioned as the subject, yet He is nevertheless considered as the principal subject, as the One who gives life through the Son.
ὅτι ] Lücke (with whom Ebrard agrees, with the incorrect remark that ὅτι does not depend on αὕτη , but simply on παῤῥησία ) supplies before ὅτι : “that we have the confidence;” but the concise thought of the apostle is thereby weakened, and besides the παῤῥησία is itself this confidence (Düsterdieck).
ἐάν τι αἰτώμεθα κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ] By means of κατὰ τ . θέλ . αὐτοῦ , i.e. τοῦ Θεοῦ , prayer is more particularly defined as to its substance and character.
ἀκούει ἡμῶν ] In chap. 1Jn_3:22 it is put instead of this: λαμβάνομεν ἀπ ̓ αὐτοῦ .
ἀκούειν includes the idea of granting, which, however, is not brought definitely out until the following verse.