1 John 2
New King James Version
The Test of Knowing Christ
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, (A)we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And (B)He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but (C)also for the whole world.
The Test of Knowing Him
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a (D)liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But (E)whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [a]is perfected (F)in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 (G)He who says he abides in Him (H)ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
7 [b]Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had (I)from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard [c]from the beginning. 8 Again, (J)a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, (K)because the darkness is passing away, and (L)the true light is already shining.
9 (M)He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 (N)He who loves his brother abides in the light, and (O)there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who (P)hates his brother is in darkness and (Q)walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Their Spiritual State
12 I write to you, little children,
Because (R)your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is (S)from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have (T)known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because (U)you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15 (V)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (W)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, (X)the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And (Y)the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Deceptions of the Last Hour
18 (Z)Little children, (AA)it is the last hour; and as you have heard that (AB)the[d] Antichrist is coming, (AC)even now many antichrists have come, by which we know (AD)that it is the last hour. 19 (AE)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for (AF)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out (AG)that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20 But (AH)you have an anointing (AI)from the Holy One, and (AJ)you[e] know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 (AK)Who is a liar but he who denies that (AL)Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 (AM)Whoever denies the Son does not have the (AN)Father either; (AO)he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Let Truth Abide in You
24 Therefore let that abide in you (AP)which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, (AQ)you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 (AR)And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to [f]deceive you. 27 But the (AS)anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and (AT)you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing (AU)teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you [g]will abide in Him.
The Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that [h]when He appears, we may have (AV)confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 (AW)If you know that He is righteous, you know that (AX)everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Footnotes
- 1 John 2:5 has been completed
- 1 John 2:7 NU Beloved
- 1 John 2:7 NU omits from the beginning
- 1 John 2:18 NU omits the
- 1 John 2:20 NU you all know.
- 1 John 2:26 lead you astray
- 1 John 2:27 NU omits will
- 1 John 2:28 NU if
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
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.