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1 John 2
Wycliffe Bible
1 John 2
Wycliffe Bible
2 My little sons, I write to you these things, that ye sin not. But if any man sinneth, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ [just],
2 and he is the forgiveness for our sins; and not only for our sins [and he is helping for our sins; soothly not only for ours], but also for the sins of all the world.
3 And in this thing we know, that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith that he knoweth God, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and truth is not in him.
5 But the charity of God is perfect verily in him, that keepeth his word [Forsooth who keepeth his word, verily in him is perfect charity]. In this thing we know, that we be in him, if we be perfect in him.
6 He that saith, that he dwelleth in him, he oweth to walk, as he walked.
7 Most dear brethren, I write to you, not a new commandment, but the old commandment, that ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word, that ye heard.
8 Again I write to you a new commandment, that is true both in him and in you; for darknesses be passed, and very light shineth now [and very light now shineth].
9 He that saith, that he is in light, and hateth his brother, is in darknesses yet [is in darkness till to yet].
10 He that loveth his brother, dwelleth in light, and cause of stumbling is not in him [and offence is not in him].
11 But he that hateth his brother, is in darknesses, and wandereth in darknesses, and knoweth not whither he goeth; for darknesses have blinded his eyes.
12 Little sons, I write to you, that your sins be forgiven to you for his name.
13 Fathers, I write to you, for ye have known him, that is from the beginning. Young men, I write to you, for ye have overcome the wicked. I write to you, young children [I write to you, infants, or young children], for ye have known the Father.
14 I write to you, brethren, for ye have known him, that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, for ye be strong, and the word of God dwelleth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked.
15 Do not ye love the world, nor those things that be in the world [neither those things that be in the world]. If any man loveth the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.
16 For all thing that is in the world, is covetousness of flesh, and covetousness of eyes, and pride of life, which is not of the Father, but it is of the world.
17 And the world shall pass, and the covetousness of it; but he that doeth the will of God, dwelleth without end [dwelleth into without end].
18 My little sons, the last hour is; and as ye have heard, that antichrist cometh, now many antichrists be made; wherefore we know [whereof we know], that it is the last hour.
19 They went forth from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they had dwelt with us; but that they be known, that they be not all of us [but that they be known, that they be not of us].
20 But ye have anointing of the Holy Ghost, and know all things. [But ye have unction of the Holy Ghost, and know all things.]
21 I wrote not to you, as to men that know not the truth, but as to men that know it, and for each lying is not of truth.
22 Who is a liar, but this that denieth that Jesus is not Christ? This is antichrist, that denieth the Father, and the Son.
23 For each that denieth the Son, hath not the Father; but he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath also the Father.
24 That thing that ye heard at the beginning, dwell it in you [That thing that ye heard from the beginning, dwell in you]; for if that thing dwelleth in you [for if it shall dwell in you], which ye heard at the beginning, [and] ye shall dwell in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise, that he promised to us everlasting life.
26 I wrote these things to you, of them that deceive you,
27 and that the anointing which ye received of him, dwell in you. And ye have not need, that any man teach you, but as his anointing teacheth you of all things, and it is true, and it is not lying; and as he taught you, dwell ye in him.
28 And now, ye little sons, dwell ye in him, that when he shall appear, we have trust, and be not confounded of him in his coming.
29 If ye know that he is just, know ye that also each that doeth rightwiseness, is born of him.
1 John 2
International Children’s Bible
1 John 2
International Children’s Bible
Jesus Is Our Helper
2 My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He is the Righteous One. He defends us before God the Father. 2 Jesus died in our place to take away our sins. And Jesus is the way that all people can have their sins taken away, too.
3 If we obey what God has told us to do, then we are sure that we truly know God. 4 If someone says, “I know God!” but does not obey God’s commands, then he is a liar. The truth is not in him. 5 But if someone obeys God’s teaching, then God’s love has truly arrived at its goal in him. This is how we know that we are following God: 6 Whoever says that God lives in him must live as Jesus lived.
The Command to Love Others
7 My dear friends, I am not writing a new command to you. It is the same command you have had since the beginning. It is the teaching you have already heard. 8 But I am writing a new command to you. This command is true; you can see its truth in Jesus and in yourselves. The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 Someone says, “I am in the light.”[a] But if he hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him that will cause him to do wrong. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in darkness. He lives in darkness and does not know where he is going. The darkness has made him blind.
12 I write to you, dear children,
because your sins are forgiven through Christ.
13 I write to you, fathers,
because you know the One who existed from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have defeated the Evil One.
14 I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know the One who existed from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong;
the word of God lives in you,
and you have defeated the Evil One.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 These are the evil things in the world: wanting things to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, being too proud of the things we have. But none of those things comes from the Father. All of them come from the world. 17 The world is passing away. And everything that people want in the world is passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever.
Reject the Enemies of Christ
18 My dear children, the end is near! You have heard that the Enemy of Christ is coming. And now many enemies of Christ are already here. So we know that the end is near. 19 Those enemies of Christ were in our group. But they left us. They did not really belong with us. If they were really part of our group, then they would have stayed with us. But they left. This shows that none of them really belonged with us.
20 You have the gift[b] that the Holy One gave you. So you all know the truth.[c] 21 Why do I write to you? Do I write because you do not know the truth? No, I write this letter because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.
22 So who is the liar? It is the person who says Jesus is not the Christ. A person who says Jesus is not the Christ is the enemy of Christ. He does not believe in the Father or in his Son. 23 If anyone does not believe in the Son, he does not have the Father. But whoever accepts the Son has the Father, too.
24 Be sure that you continue to follow the teaching that you heard from the beginning. If you continue in that teaching, you will stay in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what the Son promised to us—life forever.
26 I am writing this letter about those people who are trying to lead you the wrong way. 27 Christ gave you a special gift. You still have this gift in you. So you do not need any other teacher. The gift he gave you teaches you about everything. This gift is true, not false. So continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you.
28 Yes, my dear children, live in him. If we do this, we can be without fear on the day when Christ comes back. We will not need to hide and be ashamed when he comes. 29 You know that Christ is righteous. So you know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
1 John 2
New International Version
1 John 2
New International Version
2 My dear children,(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,(C) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(D)
Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers
3 We know(E) that we have come to know him(F) if we keep his commands.(G) 4 Whoever says, “I know him,”(H) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.(I) 5 But if anyone obeys his word,(J) love for God[a] is truly made complete in them.(K) This is how we know(L) we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.(M)
7 Dear friends,(N) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.(O) This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command;(P) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing(Q) and the true light(R) is already shining.(S)
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b](T) is still in the darkness.(U) 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light,(V) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.(W) 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister(X) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.(Y) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.(Z)
Reasons for Writing
12 I am writing to you, dear children,(AA)
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.(AB)
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.(AC)
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome(AD) the evil one.(AE)
14 I write to you, dear children,(AF)
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.(AG)
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,(AH)
and the word of God(AI) lives in you,(AJ)
and you have overcome the evil one.(AK)
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.(AL) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[d] is not in them.(AM) 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,(AN) the lust of the eyes,(AO) and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away,(AP) but whoever does the will of God(AQ) lives forever.
Warnings Against Denying the Son
18 Dear children, this is the last hour;(AR) and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming,(AS) even now many antichrists have come.(AT) This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us,(AU) but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.(AV)
20 But you have an anointing(AW) from the Holy One,(AX) and all of you know the truth.[e](AY) 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it(AZ) and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.(BA) 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.(BB)
24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning(BC) remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.(BD) 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.(BE)
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.(BF) 27 As for you, the anointing(BG) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things(BH) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.(BI)
God’s Children and Sin
28 And now, dear children,(BJ) continue in him, so that when he appears(BK) we may be confident(BL) and unashamed before him at his coming.(BM)
29 If you know that he is righteous,(BN) you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.(BO)
Footnotes
- 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love
- 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.
- 1 John 2:10 The Greek word for brother and sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 3:10; 4:20, 21.
- 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love
- 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts and you know all things
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
2001 by Terence P. Noble
International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.