The Incarnate Word

What was (A)from the beginning, what we have (B)heard, what we have (C)seen with our eyes, what we (D)have looked at and (E)touched with our hands, concerning the (F)Word of Life— and (G)the life was revealed, and we have (H)seen and (I)testify and proclaim to you (J)the eternal life, which was (K)with the Father and was (L)revealed to us— what we have (M)seen and (N)heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our (O)fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (P)These things we write, so that our (Q)joy may be made complete.

God Is Light

(R)This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that (S)God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (T)If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we (U)lie and (V)do not practice the truth; but if we (W)walk in the Light as (X)He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and (Y)the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (Z)If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the (AA)truth is not in us. (AB)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and (AC)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 (AD)If we say that we have not sinned, we (AE)make Him a liar and (AF)His word is not in us.

Christ Is Our Advocate

(AG)My little children, I am (AH)writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, (AI)we have an [a](AJ)Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is (AK)the [b]propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also (AL)for the sins of the whole world.

(AM)By this we know that we have come to (AN)know Him, if we (AO)keep His commandments. The one who says, “(AP)I have come to (AQ)know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a (AR)liar, and (AS)the truth is not in him; but whoever (AT)follows His word, in him the (AU)love of God has truly been perfected. (AV)By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says that he (AW)remains in Him (AX)ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.

(AY)Beloved, I am (AZ)not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had (BA)from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. [c]On the other hand, I am writing (BB)a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because (BC)the darkness is passing away and (BD)the true Light is already shining. The one who says that he is in the Light and yet (BE)hates his (BF)brother or sister is in the darkness until now. 10 (BG)The one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling. 11 But the one who (BH)hates his brother or sister is in the darkness and (BI)walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has (BJ)blinded his eyes.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:1 Or Intercessor
  2. 1 John 2:2 I.e., means of reconciliation with God by atoning for sins; or sin-offering
  3. 1 John 2:8 Lit Again

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

That which was from the beginning,(A) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,(B) which we have looked at and our hands have touched(C)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared;(D) we have seen it and testify to it,(E) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,(F) which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,(G) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.(H) We write this(I) to make our[a] joy complete.(J)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

This is the message we have heard(K) from him and declare to you: God is light;(L) in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,(M) we lie and do not live out the truth.(N) But if we walk in the light,(O) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.(P)

If we claim to be without sin,(Q) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.(R) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins(S) and purify us from all unrighteousness.(T) 10 If we claim we have not sinned,(U) we make him out to be a liar(V) and his word is not in us.(W)

My dear children,(X) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate(Y) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,(Z) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(AA)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

We know(AB) that we have come to know him(AC) if we keep his commands.(AD) Whoever says, “I know him,”(AE) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.(AF) But if anyone obeys his word,(AG) love for God[c] is truly made complete in them.(AH) This is how we know(AI) we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.(AJ)

Dear friends,(AK) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.(AL) This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command;(AM) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing(AN) and the true light(AO) is already shining.(AP)

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[d](AQ) is still in the darkness.(AR) 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[e] lives in the light,(AS) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.(AT) 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister(AU) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.(AV) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.(AW)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
  2. 1 John 1:7 Or every
  3. 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love
  4. 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.
  5. 1 John 2:10 The Greek word for brother and sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 3:10; 4:20, 21.