My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate(A) with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation(B) for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.(C)

God’s Commands

This is how we are sure(D) that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.(E) The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn't keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word,(F) truly in him the love of God is perfected.[a] This is how we know we are in Him:(G) The one who says he remains in Him(H) should walk just as He walked.

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command(I) but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message(J) you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away(K) and the true light(L) is already shining.(M)

The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother(N) is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother(O) remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.[b] 11 But the one who hates his brother(P) is in the darkness, walks in the darkness,(Q) and doesn’t know where he’s going,(R) because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Reasons for Writing

12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins have been forgiven
because of Jesus’ name.(S)
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the One who is from the beginning.(T)
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have had victory over the evil one.(U)
14 I have written to you, children,
because you have come to know the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the One who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
because you are strong,
God’s word(V) remains in you,
and you have had victory over the evil one.

A Warning about the World

15 Do not love the world(W) or the things that belong to[c] the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to[d] the world—the lust of the flesh,(X) the lust of the eyes,(Y) and the pride(Z) in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away,(AA) but the one who does God’s will(AB) remains forever.(AC)

The Last Hour

18 Children, it is the last hour.(AD) And as you have heard, “Antichrist(AE) is coming,” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

20 But you have an anointing(AF) from the Holy One,(AG) and all of you have knowledge.[e] 21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah?(AH) This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son can have the Father;(AI) he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.(AJ)

Remaining with God

24 What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son(AK) and in the Father.(AL) 25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.(AM) 26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

27 The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things(AN) and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.(AO)

God’s Children

28 So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears(AP) we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.(AQ) 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right(AR) has been born of Him.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:5 Or truly completed
  2. 1 John 2:10 Or in it
  3. 1 John 2:15 Lit things in
  4. 1 John 2:16 Lit that is in
  5. 1 John 2:20 Other mss read and 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.