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Introduction

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,[a] whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.[b]

Living in the Light

This is the message we heard from Jesus[c] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

A New Commandment

Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer,[d] that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer[e] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children
    because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.[f]
13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith[g]
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
    because you have won your battle with the evil one.
14 I have written to you who are God’s children
    because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
    because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
    and you have won your battle with the evil one.

Do Not Love This World

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Warning about Antichrists

18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit,[h] and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ.[i] Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.[j] 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit,[k] and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit[l] teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Living as Children of God

28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.

29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life[m] is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers[n] does not belong to God.

Love One Another

11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters,[o] if the world hates you.

14 If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers,[p] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister[q] is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[r] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Greek What was from the beginning.
  2. 1:4 Or so that our joy may be complete; some manuscripts read your joy.
  3. 1:5 Greek from him.
  4. 2:9 Greek hates his brother; also in 2:11.
  5. 2:10 Greek loves his brother.
  6. 2:12 Greek through his name.
  7. 2:13 Or to you fathers; also in 2:14.
  8. 2:20 Greek But you have an anointing from the Holy One.
  9. 2:22a Or not the Messiah.
  10. 2:22b Or the antichrist.
  11. 2:27a Greek the anointing from him.
  12. 2:27b Greek the anointing.
  13. 3:9 Greek because his seed.
  14. 3:10 Greek does not love his brother.
  15. 3:13 Greek brothers.
  16. 3:14 Greek the brothers; similarly in 3:16.
  17. 3:15 Greek hates his brother.
  18. 3:17 Greek sees his brother.

The Word of Life

(A)That which was (B)from the beginning, (C)which we have heard, (D)which we have seen with our eyes, (E)which we looked upon and (F)have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— (G)the life (H)was made manifest, and we have seen it, and (I)testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, (J)which was with the Father and (K)was made manifest to us— (L)that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed (M)our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so (N)that our[a] joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

(O)This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that (P)God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (Q)If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and (R)do not practice the truth. But (S)if we walk in the light, (T)as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and (U)the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (V)If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and (W)the truth is not in us. (X)If we confess our sins, he is (Y)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and (Z)to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, (AA)we make him a liar, and (AB)his word is not in us.

Christ Our Advocate

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, (AC)we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (AD)He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but (AE)also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we (AF)keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments (AG)is a liar, and (AH)the truth is not in him, but whoever (AI)keeps his word, in him truly (AJ)the love of God is perfected. (AK)By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he (AL)abides in him (AM)ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The New Commandment

Beloved, I am writing you (AN)no new commandment, but (AO)an old commandment (AP)that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is (AQ)a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[b] (AR)the darkness is passing away and (AS)the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and (AT)hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[c] there is no (AU)cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and (AV)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 (AW)your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know (AX)him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because (AY)you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because (AZ)you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
    because you know (BA)him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because (BB)you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15 (BC)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (BD)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—(BE)the desires of the flesh and (BF)the desires of the eyes and pride of life[d]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And (BG)the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Warning Concerning Antichrists

18 Children, (BH)it is the last hour, and as you have heard that (BI)antichrist is coming, so now (BJ)many antichrists have come. (BK)Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 (BL)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for (BM)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, (BN)that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been (BO)anointed by (BP)the Holy One, and (BQ)you all have knowledge.[e] 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but (BR)he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is (BS)the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 (BT)No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let (BU)what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then (BV)you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us[f](BW)eternal life.

26 I write these things to you about (BX)those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But (BY)the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and (BZ)you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and (CA)is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that (CB)when he appears (CC)we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his (CD)coming. 29 If you know that (CE)he is righteous, you may be sure that (CF)everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

See (CG)what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called (CH)children of God; and so we are. The reason why (CI)the world does not know us is that (CJ)it did not know him. Beloved, we are (CK)God's children (CL)now, and what we will be (CM)has not yet appeared; but we know that (CN)when he appears[g] (CO)we shall be like him, because (CP)we shall see him as he is. And everyone who (CQ)thus hopes in him (CR)purifies himself as he is pure.

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; (CS)sin is lawlessness. You know that (CT)he appeared in order to (CU)take away sins, and (CV)in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; (CW)no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, (CX)let no one deceive you. (CY)Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (CZ)Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was (DA)to destroy the works of the devil. (DB)No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[h] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (DC)nor is the one who (DD)does not love his brother.

Love One Another

11 For (DE)this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, (DF)that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like (DG)Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? (DH)Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,[i] (DI)that the world hates you. 14 We know that (DJ)we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 (DK)Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that (DL)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that (DM)he laid down his life for us, and (DN)we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But (DO)if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet (DP)closes his heart against him, (DQ)how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not (DR)love in word or talk but in deed and (DS)in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, (DT)if our heart does not condemn us, (DU)we have confidence before God; 22 and (DV)whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and (DW)do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, (DX)that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and (DY)love one another, (DZ)just as he has commanded us. 24 (EA)Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,[j] and God[k] in him. And (EB)by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
  2. 1 John 2:8 Or that
  3. 1 John 2:10 Or it
  4. 1 John 2:16 Or pride in possessions
  5. 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts you know everything
  6. 1 John 2:25 Some manuscripts you
  7. 1 John 3:2 Or when it appears
  8. 1 John 3:9 Greek his
  9. 1 John 3:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 14, 16
  10. 1 John 3:24 Greek him
  11. 1 John 3:24 Greek he