1 John 2
New Matthew Bible
Christ is our advocate. Of true love, and how it is tried.
2 My little children, these things I write to you so that you do not sin. Yet if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father: Jesus Christ the Righteous, 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of all the world.
3 And hereby are we sure that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 4 He who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 Whoever keeps his word, in him is the love of God perfected in deed. And thereby we know that we are in him. 6 He who says he abides in him ought to walk even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but that old commandment that you heard from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, a thing that is true in him and also in you. For the darkness is past and the true light now shines. 9 He who says that he is in the light and yet hates his brother, is in darkness even until this time. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of evil in him. 11 He who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he goes because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 Babes, I write to you because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write to you fathers because you know him who was from the beginning. I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you little children because you know the Father. 14 I write to you fathers because you know him who was from the beginning. I write to you young men because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome that wicked one.
15 See that you love not the world, neither 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 (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of goods) is not of the Father, but of the world. 17 And the world is vanishing away, and the desires of it. But he who fulfils the will of God endures forever.
18 Little children, it is the last time. And as you have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now there are many Antichrists come already. By this we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But this happened so that it might appear that they were not of us.
20 And you have an anointing of the Holy Spirit, and you know all things. 21 I did not write to you as though you did not know the truth, but as knowing it, and as knowing also that no lie comes of truth. 22 Who is a liar, but he who denies that Jesus is Christ? He is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son, the same does not have the Father.
24 Let therefore abide in you that which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will continue in the Son and in the Father. 25 And the promise that he has promised us is eternal life.
26 This I have written to you concerning those who deceive you.
27 And the anointing that you have received from him dwells in you, and you need not that any man teach you – but as the anointing teaches you all things, and is true, and is no lie, and as it taught you, even so abide therein.
28 And now babes, abide in him, so that when he appears we may be bold, and not be made ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, know also that he who follows righteousness is born of him.
1 John 2
English Standard Version
Christ Our Advocate
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, (A)we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 (B)He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but (C)also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we (D)keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments (E)is a liar, and (F)the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever (G)keeps his word, in him truly (H)the love of God is perfected. (I)By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he (J)abides in him (K)ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
The New Commandment
7 Beloved, I am writing you (L)no new commandment, but (M)an old commandment (N)that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is (O)a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] (P)the darkness is passing away and (Q)the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and (R)hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no (S)cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and (T)walks 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,
because (U)your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know (V)him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because (W)you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because (X)you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know (Y)him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because (Z)you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 (AA)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (AB)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—(AC)the desires of the flesh and (AD)the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And (AE)the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18 Children, (AF)it is the last hour, and as you have heard that (AG)antichrist is coming, so now (AH)many antichrists have come. (AI)Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 (AJ)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for (AK)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, (AL)that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been (AM)anointed by (AN)the Holy One, and (AO)you all have knowledge.[d] 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but (AP)he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is (AQ)the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 (AR)No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let (AS)what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then (AT)you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us[e]—(AU)eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about (AV)those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But (AW)the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and (AX)you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and (AY)is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that (AZ)when he appears (BA)we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his (BB)coming. 29 If you know that (BC)he is righteous, you may be sure that (BD)everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Footnotes
- 1 John 2:8 Or that
- 1 John 2:10 Or it
- 1 John 2:16 Or pride in possessions
- 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts you know everything
- 1 John 2:25 Some manuscripts you
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.