1 John 1:5-2:11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
II. God As Light
God Is Light. 5 Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light,[a] and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.(A) 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.(B) 8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves,[b] and the truth is not in us.(C) 9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.(D) 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.(E)
Chapter 2
Christ and His Commandments. 1 My children,[c] I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.(F) 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.(G) 3 The way we may be sure[d] that we know him is to keep his commandments.(H) 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.(I) 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:(J) 6 whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived.
The New Commandment.[e] 7 Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.(K) 8 And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you,[f] for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.(L) 9 Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.(M) 10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.(N) 11 Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Members of the Community.[g]
Footnotes
- 1:5–7 Light is to be understood here as truth and goodness; darkness here is error and depravity (cf. Jn 3:19–21; 17:17; Eph 5:8). To walk in light or darkness is to live according to truth or error, not merely intellectual but moral as well. Fellowship with God and with one another consists in a life according to the truth as found in God and in Christ.
- 1:8–10 Denial of the condition of sin is self-deception and even contradictory of divine revelation; there is also the continual possibility of sin’s recurrence. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ are assured through acknowledgment of them and repentance.
- 2:1 Children: like the term “beloved,” this is an expression of pastoral love (cf. Jn 13:33; 21:5; 1 Cor 4:14). Advocate: for the use of the term, see Jn 14:16. Forgiveness of sin is assured through Christ’s intercession and expiation or “offering”; the death of Christ effected the removal of sin.
- 2:3–6 The way we may be sure: to those who claim, “I have known Christ and therefore I know him,” our author insists on not mere intellectual knowledge but obedience to God’s commandments in a life conformed to the example of Christ; this confirms our knowledge of him and is the love of God…perfected. Disparity between moral life and the commandments proves improper belief.
- 2:7–11 The author expresses the continuity and freshness of mutual charity in Christian experience. Through Christ the commandment of love has become the light defeating the darkness of evil in a new age. All hatred as darkness is incompatible with the light and Christian life. Note also the characteristic Johannine polemic in which a positive assertion is emphasized by the negative statement of its opposite.
- 2:8 Which holds true in him and among you: literally, “a thing that holds true in him and in you.”
- 2:12–17 The Christian community that has experienced the grace of God through forgiveness of sin and knowledge of Christ is armed against the evil one.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.