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1 John 2:7-14
English Standard Version
1 John 2:7-14
English Standard Version
The New Commandment
7 Beloved, I am writing you (A)no new commandment, but (B)an old commandment (C)that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is (D)a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] (E)the darkness is passing away and (F)the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and (G)hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no (H)cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and (I)walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because (J)your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know (K)him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because (L)you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because (M)you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know (N)him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because (O)you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Footnotes
- 1 John 2:8 Or that
- 1 John 2:10 Or it
1 John 2:7-14
New International Version
1 John 2:7-14
New International Version
7 Dear friends,(A) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.(B) This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command;(C) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing(D) and the true light(E) is already shining.(F)
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[a](G) is still in the darkness.(H) 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[b] lives in the light,(I) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.(J) 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister(K) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.(L) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.(M)
Reasons for Writing
Footnotes
- 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.
- 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.
1 John 2:7-14
The Message
1 John 2:7-14
The Message
7-8 My dear friends, I’m not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you’ve known it from day one. It’s always been implicit in the Message you’ve heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness fading away and the True Light already blazing!
9-11 Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.
Loving the World
12-13 I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.
13-14 And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson