Add parallel Print Page Options

Jesus Is Our Helper

My ·dear children [L little children; C a term of endearment], I write ·this letter [L these things] to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a ·helper [counselor; advocate; Rom. 8:34] in the presence of the Father—Jesus Christ, ·the One who does what is right [or the Righteous One]. He ·died in our place to take away [is the atoning sacrifice/T propitiation for] our sins [C his death pays the penalty and removes God’s anger from us; 4:10; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17], and not only our sins but the sins of ·all people [L the whole world].

We ·can be sure [know] that we know ·God [L him] if we ·obey [keep] his commands. Anyone who says, “I know ·God [L him],” but does not ·obey [keep] ·God’s [L his] commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if someone ·obeys [keeps] ·God’s teaching [L his word], then in that person ·God’s love [or love for God] has ·truly reached its goal [been fulfilled/perfected/completed]. This is how we can be sure we are ·living in God [L in him]: Whoever says that he ·lives [abides; remains] in God must ·live [L walk] as ·Jesus lived [L he walked].

The Command to Love Others

·My dear friends [L Beloved], I am not writing a new command to you but an old command you have had from the beginning [3:23; John 13:34]. It is the ·teaching [L word] you have already heard. But also I am writing a new command to you, ·and you can see its truth in Jesus [L which is true in him] and in you, ·because [or that] the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

Anyone who ·says [claims; C as do the false teachers; see 2:18–19], “I am in the light,” [C following God’s goodness and truthfulness] but hates a brother or sister [C fellow Christian], is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister ·lives [abides; remains] in the light and ·will not cause anyone to stumble in his faith [or he will not stumble in his faith; L there is no cause of stumbling in him; C the “stumbling” may be either by apostasy or sin; John 6:61; 16:1; Rom. 14:13; Rev. 2:14]. 11 But whoever hates a brother or sister is in darkness, ·lives [L walks] in darkness, and does not know where to go, because the darkness has ·made that person blind [L blinded his eyes].

12 I write to you, dear children [2:1],
    because your sins are forgiven ·through Christ [L on account of his name; C the name represents the person].
13 I write to you, fathers [C probably senior members of the congregation],
    ·because [or that] you know the One who existed from the beginning [C Christ; John 1:1].
I write to you, young people,
    ·because [or that] you have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] the Evil One.
14 I ·write [or have written] to you, children,
    ·because [or that] you ·know [have come to know] the Father.
I ·write [or have written] to you, fathers,
    ·because [or that] you ·know [have come to know] the One who existed from the beginning [2:13].
I ·write [or have written] to you, young people,
    ·because [or that] you are strong;
    the ·teaching [L word] of God ·lives [abides; remains] in you,
    and you have ·defeated [conquered; overcome] the Evil One.

15 Do not love the world or the things ·in [associated with] the world. If you love the world, the love ·of [or for] the Father is not in you [James 4:4]. 16 [L For] ·These are the ways of [All that is in/associated with] the world: ·wanting to please our sinful selves [L the desire/lust of the flesh], ·wanting the sinful things we see [L the desire/lust of the eyes], and ·being too proud of what we have [L the pride of life/possessions]. None of these come from the Father, but all of them come from the world. 17 The world and ·everything that people want in it [L its desire/lust] are passing away [1 Cor. 7:31], but the person who does ·what God wants [the will of God] ·lives [abides; remains] forever.

Reject the Enemies of Christ

18 My dear children [2:1], ·these are the last days [L it is the last hour; C suggesting urgency, though not claiming the end was near]. [L Just as] You have heard that the ·enemy of Christ [L antichrist] is coming, and now many ·enemies of Christ [L antichrists; C false teachers; 2:22; 2 John 7] are already here. This is how we know that ·these are the last days [L it is the last hour]. 19 ·These enemies of Christ were in our fellowship, but they left us [L They went out from us; C probably to form a rival fellowship]. They never really belonged to us [L But they were not of us]; [L For] if they had been a part of us, they would have ·stayed [remained; abided] with us. But they left, ·and this shows [or so that it would be shown] that none of them really belonged to us.

20 You have the ·gift [L anointing; C probably the Holy Spirit and/or the spiritual gift of the Word of God applied to their hearts; v. 24; 1 Sam. 16:13; Is. 61:1; John 16:13; 2 Cor. 1:21–22] that the Holy One gave you [L from the Holy One; C a reference to God the Father (Ps. 71:22) or more likely Jesus Christ (Mark 1:24; John 6:69)], so you all ·know the truth[a] [or have knowledge; L know]. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth but because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.

22 Who is the liar? It is the person who ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] Jesus as the ·Christ [Messiah; Anointed One]. This is the ·enemy of Christ [L antichrist]: the person who ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] the Father and ·his [the] Son. 23 Whoever ·does not accept [denies; repudiates] the Son does not have the Father. But whoever ·confesses [acknowledges; accepts] the Son has the Father, too.

24 [L As for you] Be sure you ·continue to follow [abide/remain in] ·the teaching [L what] you heard from the beginning [C when they first became Christians; 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; Titus 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:2; Jude 17, 20]. If you ·continue to follow [abide/remain in] what you heard from the beginning, you will [L also; indeed] ·stay [abide; remain] in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is ·what the Son [L the promise which he himself] promised to us—·life forever [eternal life; 1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:1].

26 I ·am writing [or have written] ·this letter [L these things] about those people who are ·trying to lead you the wrong way [deceiving you; leading you astray]. 27 [L As for you] ·Christ gave you a special gift that is still in you [L The anointing that you received from him abides/remains in you; 2:20], so you do not need ·any other teacher [L anyone to teach you; Jer. 31:34]. [L But just as] His ·gift [L anointing] teaches you about everything, and it is true, not false. So ·continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you [L just as he taught you, abide/remain in him].

28 ·Yes [Now], my dear children [2:1], ·live [abide; remain] in him so that when ·Christ comes back [L he appears/is revealed], we can be ·without fear [confident] and not be ashamed [L of him] ·in his presence [at his coming]. 29 ·Since [If] you know that ·Christ [L he] is righteous, you know that all who ·do right [practice righteousness] ·are God’s children [L have been born of/begotten by him].

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:20 you … truth Some Greek copies read “so you know all things.”

My egō little children teknion, I am writing graphō these things houtos to you hymeis so that hina you may not sin hamartanō. But kai if ean anyone tis does sin hamartanō, we have echō an advocate paraklētos with pros the ho Father patēr, Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos the righteous one dikaios. · kai He autos is eimi the propitiation hilasmos for peri · ho our hēmeis sins hamartia, and de not ou for peri · ho ours hēmeteros only monon, but alla also kai for peri those of the ho entire holos world kosmos.

Now kai this houtos is how en we can be sure ginōskō that hoti we know ginōskō God autos: if ean we keep tēreō · ho his autos commandments entolē. The ho one who says legō, “ I know ginōskō God autos,” yet kai does tēreō not keep tēreō · ho his autos commandments entolē, is eimi a liar pseustēs and kai the ho truth alētheia is eimi not ou in en him houtos. But de whoever hos keeps tēreō his autos · ho word logos, truly alēthōs in en that person houtos is the ho love agapē of ho God theos brought to fulfillment teleioō. This is how en we can be sure ginōskō that hoti we are eimi in en him autos: the ho one who claims legō to abide menō in en God autos ought opheilō to walk peripateō just as kathōs Jesus ekeinos walked peripateō. · kai

Dear friends agapētos, it is not ou a new kainos commandment entolē that I write graphō to you hymeis, but alla an old palaios commandment entolē—one that hos you have had echō from apo the beginning archē. The ho old palaios commandment entolē · ho is eimi the ho message logos you have already heard akouō. Yet palin it is a new kainos commandment entolē that I write graphō to you hymeis, one hos that is eimi true alēthēs in en him autos and kai in en you hymeis, because hoti the ho darkness skotia is passing away paragō and kai the ho true alēthinos light phōs · ho is already ēdē shining phainō. The ho one who claims legō to be eimi in en the ho light phōs but kai goes on hating miseō · ho his autos brother adelphos is eimi still heōs in en the ho darkness skotia. 10 The ho one who loves agapaō · ho his autos brother adelphos is living menō in en the ho light phōs and kai in en him autos there is eimi no ou cause for stumbling skandalon. 11 But de the ho one who hates miseō · ho his autos brother adelphos is eimi in en the ho darkness skotia; · kai he walks peripateō in en the ho darkness skotia and kai does not ou know oida where pou he is going hypagō, because hoti the ho darkness skotia has blinded typhloō · ho his autos eyes ophthalmos.

12 I am writing graphō to you hymeis, my children teknion, because hoti your hymeis sins hamartia are forgiven aphiēmi · ho on account of dia · ho his autos name onoma. 13 I am writing graphō to you hymeis, fathers patēr, because hoti you know ginōskō him ho who is from apo the beginning archē. I am writing graphō to you hymeis, young men neaniskos, because hoti you have overcome nikaō the ho evil one ponēros. 14 I have written graphō to you hymeis, my children paidion, because hoti you know ginōskō the ho Father patēr. I have written graphō to you hymeis, fathers patēr, because hoti you know ginōskō him ho who is from apo the beginning archē. I have written graphō to you hymeis, young men neaniskos, because hoti you are eimi strong ischuros, and kai the ho word logos of ho God theos abides menō in en you hymeis, and kai you have overcome nikaō the ho evil one ponēros.

15 Do not love agapaō the ho world kosmos or mēde the ho things in en the ho world kosmos. If ean anyone tis loves agapaō the ho world kosmos, the ho love agapē of the ho Father patēr is eimi not ou in en him autos. 16 For hoti all pas that ho is in en the ho world kosmos the ho desire epithumia of the ho flesh sarx, · kai the ho desire epithumia of the ho eyes ophthalmos, · kai the ho pride alazoneia of ho possession bios is eimi not ou from ek the ho Father patēr but alla from ek the ho world kosmos. 17 · kai The ho world kosmos is passing away paragō with kai all ho its autos desires epithumia, but de the ho one who does poieō the ho will thelēma of ho God theos remains menō for eis all ho time aiōn.

18 My children paidion, it is eimi the last eschatos hour hōra! And kai just as kathōs you heard akouō that hoti the Antichrist antichristos would come erchomai, even kai now nyn many polys antichrists antichristos have appeared ginomai. Therefore hothen we know ginōskō that hoti it is eimi the last eschatos hour hōra. 19 They went out exerchomai from ek us hēmeis but alla they were eimi not ou of ek us hēmeis; for gar if ei they had been eimi of ek us hēmeis, they would an have continued menō with meta us hēmeis. But alla they went out from us that hina it might become plain phaneroō that hoti none ou of them are eimi of ek us hēmeis. 20 But kai you hymeis have echō an anointing chrisma from apo the ho Holy hagios One , and kai you all pas know oida the truth. 21 I write graphō to you hymeis, not ou because hoti you do not ou know oida the ho truth alētheia, but alla because hoti you do know oida it autos and kai because hoti no ou lie pseudos comes eimi from ek the ho truth alētheia. 22 Who tis is eimi the ho liar pseustēs but ei mē the ho one who denies arneomai that hoti Jesus Iēsous is eimi the ho Christ Christos? This one houtos is eimi the ho Antichrist antichristos, the ho one who denies arneomai the ho Father patēr and kai the ho Son hyios. 23 No oude one pas who ho denies arneomai the ho Son hyios has echō the ho Father patēr. The ho one who confesses homologeō the ho Son hyios has echō the ho Father patēr also kai. 24 Let menō what hos you hymeis heard akouō from apo the beginning archē abide menō in en you hymeis. If ean what hos you heard akouō from apo the beginning archē abides menō in en you hymeis, then kai you hymeis will abide menō in en the ho Son hyios and kai in en the ho Father patēr. 25 And kai this houtos is eimi the ho promise epangelia that hos he autos made epangellomai to us hēmeis · ho eternal aiōnios life zōē. · ho

26 I have written graphō these things houtos to you hymeis concerning peri those ho who are trying to deceive planaō you hymeis. 27 But kai the ho anointing chrisma you hymeis received lambanō from apo him autos abides menō in en you hymeis, and kai you have echō no ou need chreia that hina anyone tis teach didaskō you hymeis. But alla as hōs · ho his autos anointing chrisma teaches didaskō you hymeis about peri all pas things , and kai is eimi true alēthēs and kai not ou a lie pseudos, · kai just as kathōs it has taught didaskō you hymeis, abide menō in en him autos.

28 And kai now nyn, dear children teknion, abide menō in en him autos, so that hina when ean he appears phaneroō we may have echō confidence parrēsia and kai not be put to shame in apo his autos presence when en · ho he autos comes parousia. 29 If ean you know oida that hoti he is eimi righteous dikaios, you also kai know ginōskō that hoti everyone pas who ho practices poieō · ho righteousness dikaiosynē has been born gennaō of ek him autos.