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1 John 2
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

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, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 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; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.

A New Commandment

7 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. 8 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. 9 Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister,[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister[c] lives in the light, and in such a person[d] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates another believer[e] is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

12 I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
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.

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; 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire[f] are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.

Warning against Antichrists

18 Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know 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. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge.[g] 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?[h] This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he has promised us,[i] eternal life.

26 I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you. 27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him.[j]

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.

Children of God

29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:8 Or that
  2. 1 John 2:9 Gk hating a brother
  3. 1 John 2:10 Gk loves a brother
  4. 1 John 2:10 Or in it
  5. 1 John 2:11 Gk hates a brother
  6. 1 John 2:17 Or the desire for it
  7. 1 John 2:20 Other ancient authorities read you know all things
  8. 1 John 2:22 Or the Messiah
  9. 1 John 2:25 Other ancient authorities read you
  10. 1 John 2:27 Or it
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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. 1 John 2:5 Or truly completed
  2. 1 John 2:10 Or in it
  3. 1 John 2:15 Lit things in
  4. 1 John 2:16 Lit that is in
  5. 1 John 2:20 Other mss read and you know all things
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New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.