Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Faith in the Son of God

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is God’s child. The person who loves the Father also loves the Father’s children. How do we know that we love God’s children? We know because we love God and we obey his commands. Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us. Everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. It is our faith that wins the victory against the world. So the one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is the One who came with water[a] and with blood.[b] He did not come by water only. He came by both water and blood. And the Spirit says that this is true. The Spirit is the truth. So there are three witnesses:[c] the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three witnesses agree. We believe people when they say something is true. But what God says is more important. And he has told us the truth about his own Son. 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has the truth that God told us. Anyone who does not believe makes God a liar. He does not believe what God told us about his Son. 11 This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life. But the person who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

We Have Eternal Life Now

13 I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now. 14 We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), then God cares about what we say. 15 God listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us the things that we ask from him.

16 Suppose someone sees his brother in Christ sinning (sin that does not lead to eternal death). That person should pray for his brother who is sinning. Then God will give the brother life. I am talking about people whose sin does not lead to eternal death. There is sin that leads to death. I do not mean that a person should pray about that sin. 17 Doing wrong is always sin. But there is sin that does not lead to eternal death.

18 We know that anyone who is God’s child does not continue to sin. The Son of God keeps him safe, and the Evil One cannot hurt him. 19 We know that we belong to God. But the Evil One controls the whole world. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding. Now we can know God, the One who is true. And our lives are in that true God and in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and he is eternal life. 21 So, dear children, keep yourselves away from false gods.

Footnotes

  1. 5:6 water This probably means the water of Jesus’ baptism.
  2. 5:6 blood This probably means the blood of Jesus’ death.
  3. 5:7 So . . . witnesses A few very late Greek copies and the Latin Vulgate read “in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three witnesses agree. And there are three witnesses on earth.”

勝了世界的就是信心

凡信耶穌是基督的,都是從神而生;凡愛生他之神的,也必愛從神生的。 我們若愛神,又遵守他的誡命,從此就知道我們愛神的兒女。 我們遵守神的誡命,這就是愛他了,並且他的誡命不是難守的。 因為凡從神生的,就勝過世界。使我們勝了世界的,就是我們的信心。 勝過世界的是誰呢?不是那信耶穌是神兒子的嗎? 這藉著水和血而來的,就是耶穌基督;不是單用水,乃是用水又用血。 並且有聖靈作見證,因為聖靈就是真理。 作見證的原來有三,就是聖靈、水與血,這三樣也都歸於一。 我們既領受人的見證,神的見證更該領受[a]了,因神的見證是為他兒子作的。 10 信神兒子的,就有這見證在他心裡;不信神的,就是將神當做說謊的,因不信神為他兒子作的見證。 11 這見證就是神賜給我們永生,這永生也是在他兒子裡面。 12 人有了神的兒子,就有生命;沒有神的兒子,就沒有生命。

若照著主的旨意求主就聽我們

13 我將這些話寫給你們信奉神兒子之名的人,要叫你們知道自己有永生。 14 我們若照他的旨意求什麼,他就聽我們,這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。 15 既然知道他聽我們一切所求的,就知道我們所求於他的,無不得著。 16 人若看見弟兄犯了不至於死的罪,就當為他祈求,神必將生命賜給他;有至於死的罪,我不說當為這罪祈求。 17 凡不義的事都是罪,也有不至於死的罪。

當遠避偶像

18 我們知道凡從神生的,必不犯罪,從神生的必保守自己[b],那惡者也就無法害他。 19 我們知道我們是屬神的,全世界都臥在那惡者手下。 20 我們也知道神的兒子已經來到,且將智慧賜給我們,使我們認識那位真實的;我們也在那位真實的裡面,就是在他兒子耶穌基督裡面。這是真神,也是永生。 21 小子們哪,你們要自守,遠避偶像。

Footnotes

  1. 約翰一書 5:9 「該領受」原文作「大」。
  2. 約翰一書 5:18 有古卷作:那從神生的必保護他。

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(A) that Jesus is the Christ(B) is born of God,(C) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(D) This is how we know(E) that we love the children of God:(F) by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(G) And his commands are not burdensome,(H) for everyone born of God(I) overcomes(J) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(K)

This is the one who came by water and blood(L)—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.(M) For there are three(N) that testify: the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony,(O) but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,(P) which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.(Q) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,(R) because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,(S) and this life is in his Son.(T) 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.(U)

Concluding Affirmations

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God(V) so that you may know that you have eternal life.(W) 14 This is the confidence(X) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(Y) 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know(Z) that we have what we asked of him.(AA)

16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.(AB) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.(AC) I am not saying that you should pray about that.(AD) 17 All wrongdoing is sin,(AE) and there is sin that does not lead to death.(AF)

18 We know that anyone born of God(AG) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one(AH) cannot harm them.(AI) 19 We know that we are children of God,(AJ) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.(AK) 20 We know also that the Son of God has come(AL) and has given us understanding,(AM) so that we may know him who is true.(AN) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(AO)

21 Dear children,(AP) keep yourselves from idols.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)