你们看,父所赐给我们的是何等的爱,为要使我们被称为“神的儿女”,而我们就是神的儿女[a]。世人之所以不认识我们,是因为不认识父[b] 各位蒙爱的人哪,现在我们是神的儿女,将来会怎样,尚未显明。[c]我们已经知道的是:基督[d]显现的时候,我们就会像他,因为我们将看见他的本相。 每一个对基督[e]怀有这盼望的,都会使自己纯洁,正如基督[f]是纯洁的。

凡是犯罪的,也是行恶[g]的;罪就是恶[h] 你们知道,基督[i]曾经显现,是为了除去罪孽[j];在他里面并没有罪。 凡是住在基督[k]里面的,就不继续犯罪;凡是继续犯罪的,就未曾看到他,也未曾认识他。

孩子们哪,不要让任何人迷惑你们。行义的人是公义的,正如基督[l]是公义的。 继续犯罪的人属于魔鬼,因为魔鬼从起初就一直犯罪。为此,神的儿子显现了,是为了废除魔鬼的作为。 凡是由神所生的,不继续犯罪,因为神的种子住在他里面;他也不能继续犯罪,因为他是由神所生的。 10 从这一点,谁是神的儿女,谁是魔鬼的儿女就清清楚楚了。

爱的命令

凡是不行公义的,就不属于神;不爱自己弟兄的,也不属于神。 11 因为你们从起初所听见的信息是这样的:我们要彼此相爱。 12 不要像该隐,他属于那恶者,杀了自己的弟弟[m]。他为什么杀弟弟呢?因为他自己的行为是恶的,而他弟弟的行为是义的。 13 弟兄们,如果世界恨你们,不要感到惊奇。 14 我们知道,因为我们爱弟兄,我们就已经出死入生了;那不爱弟兄的,就住在死亡中。 15 凡是恨自己弟兄的,就是杀人的,而你们知道:凡是杀人的,就没有永恒的生命住在他里面。

彼此相爱

16 我们从这一点就知道了爱:基督[n]为我们舍弃了自己的生命,我们也应该为弟兄舍弃生命。 17 但如果有人拥有世界的财产,看见自己的弟兄有需要,却封闭情感,那么,属神的爱怎么能住在他里面呢?

18 孩子们哪,让我们不在语言或口头上相爱,而在行为和真理中相爱, 19 从这一点我们就会知道我们属于真理。 20 就算我们的心责备自己,我们在神面前也可以安心,因为神比我们的心更大,并且他知道一切。

21 各位蒙爱的人哪,如果我们的心不责备我们,我们在神面前就可以坦然无惧, 22 这样,凡是我们所求的,就会从他得着;因为我们遵守他的命令,行他看为可喜悦的事。 23 而神的命令是这样的:我们要信他儿子耶稣基督的名,并且照着他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。 24 遵守神[o]命令的,就住在神[p]里面,神[q]也住在他里面;而且我们从这一点就知道神[r]住在我们里面,是藉着他所赐给我们的圣灵。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰一书 3:1 有古抄本没有“而我们就是神的儿女”。
  2. 约翰一书 3:1 父——原文直译“他”。
  3. 约翰一书 3:2 有古抄本附“但”。
  4. 约翰一书 3:2 基督——原文直译“他”。
  5. 约翰一书 3:3 基督——原文直译“他”。
  6. 约翰一书 3:3 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  7. 约翰一书 3:4 恶——原文直译“不法”。
  8. 约翰一书 3:4 恶——原文直译“不法”。
  9. 约翰一书 3:5 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  10. 约翰一书 3:5 罪孽——有古抄本作“我们的罪孽”。
  11. 约翰一书 3:6 基督——原文直译“他”。
  12. 约翰一书 3:7 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  13. 约翰一书 3:12 弟弟——原文直译“兄弟”。
  14. 约翰一书 3:16 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  15. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。
  16. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。
  17. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。
  18. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。

Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.

Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.

And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy.

Whosoever committeth sin committeth also iniquity; and sin is iniquity.

And you know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; and whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him.

Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just.

He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God, committeth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not just, is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother.

11 For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just.

13 Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.

16 In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

19 In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight shall persuade our hearts.

20 For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God:

22 And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.