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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.

Christ Is Our Advocate

My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action]. And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world.

And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings), is a liar, and the truth [of the divine word] is not in him. But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know [for certain] that we are in Him: whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.

Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard [before from us].(A) On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true and realized in Christ and in you, because the darkness [of moral blindness] is clearing away and the true Light [the revelation of God in Christ] is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet [a]habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who [b]loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin]. 11 But the one who habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children (believers, dear ones), because your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake [you have been pardoned and released from spiritual debt through His name because you have confessed His name, believing in Him as Savior]. 13 I am writing to you, fathers [those believers who are spiritually mature], because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men [those believers who are growing in spiritual maturity], because you have been victorious and have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children [those who are new believers, those spiritually immature], because you have come to know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the word of God remains [always] in you, and you have been victorious over the evil one [by accepting Jesus as Savior].

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.

18 Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One [you have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit], and all of you know [the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards us from error]. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie [nothing false, no deception] is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies and repudiates the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses and acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that remain in you [keeping in your hearts that message of salvation] which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you too will remain in the Son and in the Father [forever].

The Promise Is Eternal Life

25 This is the promise which He Himself promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you with reference to those who are trying to deceive you [seducing you and leading you away from the truth and sound doctrine]. 27 As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But just as His anointing teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as His anointing has taught you, [c]you must remain in Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him].

28 Now, little children (believers, dear ones), remain in Him [with unwavering faith], so that when He appears [at His return], we may have [perfect] confidence and not be ashamed and shrink away from Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is absolutely righteous, you know [for certain] that everyone who practices righteousness [doing what is right and conforming to God’s will] has been born of Him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:9 This focuses more on the self-centered, hateful actions (not the emotion) of someone who habitually cultivates an obstructionistic attitude, and ignores the command to act in a way that expresses unselfish Christian love (see note v 10).
  2. 1 John 2:10 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
  3. 1 John 2:27 Or you are abiding.