1 John 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible
2 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. 2 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
3 This is how we are sure(D) that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.(E) 4 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. 5 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) 6 The one who says he remains in Him(H) should walk just as He walked.
7 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. 8 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)
9 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 John 2:5 Or truly completed
- 1 John 2:10 Or in it
- 1 John 2:15 Lit things in
- 1 John 2:16 Lit that is in
- 1 John 2:20 Other mss read and you know all things
1 John 2
GOD’S WORD Translation
2 My dear children, I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father. 2 He is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Those Who Know Christ Obey His Commandments
3 We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments. 4 The person who says, “I know him,” but doesn’t obey his commandments is a liar. The truth isn’t in that person. 5 But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God’s love is perfected. That’s how we know we are in Christ. 6 Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived.
7 Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard. 8 On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining.
9 Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. 10 Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light. 11 Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark.
Don’t Love the World
12 I’m writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ.
13 I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Christ who has existed from the beginning.
I’m writing to you, young people, because you have won the victory over the evil one.
14 I’ve written to you, children, because you know the Father.
I’ve written to you, fathers, because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning.
I’ve written to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word lives in you. You have won the victory over the evil one.
15 Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them. 16 Not everything that the world offers—physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles—comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and 17 the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever.
Live in Christ
18 Children, it’s the end of time. You’ve heard that an antichrist is coming. Certainly, many antichrists are already here. That’s how we know it’s the end of time. 19 They left us. However, they were never really part of us. If they had been, they would have stayed with us. But by leaving they made it clear that none of them were part of us.
20 The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge. 21 I’m writing to you because you know the truth, not because you don’t know the truth. You know that no lie ever comes from the truth.
22 Who is a liar? Who else but the person who rejects Jesus as the Messiah? The person who rejects the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Everyone who rejects the Son doesn’t have the Father either. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father. 24 Make sure that the message you heard from the beginning lives in you. If that message lives in you, you will also live in the Son and in the Father. 25 Christ has given us the promise of eternal life.
26 I’m writing to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 The anointing you received from Christ lives in you. You don’t need anyone to teach you something else. Instead, Christ’s anointing teaches you about everything. His anointing is true and contains no lie. So live in Christ as he taught you to do.
We Are God’s Children
28 Now, dear children, live in Christ. Then, when he appears we will have confidence, and when he comes we won’t turn from him in shame. 29 If you know that Christ has God’s approval, you also know that everyone who does what God approves of has been born from God.
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