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Now by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments. 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; 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) whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked.(B)

A New Commandment

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. 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) 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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Footnotes

  1. 2.8 Or that
  2. 2.10 Or in it