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1 John 2:3-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 John 2:3-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 Now by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in him:(A) 6 whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked.(B)
A New Commandment
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.(C) 9 Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.(D) 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.(E)
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.(F)
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you are strong
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.(G)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world,(H)
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1 John 2:3-15
New International Version
1 John 2:3-15
New International Version
Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers
3 We know(A) that we have come to know him(B) if we keep his commands.(C) 4 Whoever says, “I know him,”(D) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.(E) 5 But if anyone obeys his word,(F) love for God[a] is truly made complete in them.(G) This is how we know(H) we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.(I)
7 Dear friends,(J) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.(K) This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command;(L) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing(M) and the true light(N) is already shining.(O)
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b](P) is still in the darkness.(Q) 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light,(R) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.(S) 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister(T) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.(U) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.(V)
Reasons for Writing
12 I am writing to you, dear children,(W)
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.(X)
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.(Y)
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome(Z) the evil one.(AA)
14 I write to you, dear children,(AB)
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.(AC)
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,(AD)
and the word of God(AE) lives in you,(AF)
and you have overcome the evil one.(AG)
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.(AH) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[d] is not in them.(AI)
Footnotes
- 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love
- 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 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.