Overcoming the World

(A)Everyone who believes that Jesus is the [a]Christ has been (B)born of God, and everyone who loves the [b]Father (C)loves the child born of Him. (D)By this we know that (E)we love the children of God, when we love God and [c]follow His commandments. For (F)this is the love of God, that we (G)keep His commandments; and (H)His commandments are not burdensome. For [d]whoever has been (I)born of God (J)overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who (K)believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the One who came (L)by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not [e]with the water only, but [f]with the water and [g]with the blood. It is (M)the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are (N)three that testify: [h]the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are [i]in agreement. (O)If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that (P)He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God (Q)has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has (R)made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us (S)eternal life, and (T)this life is in His Son. 12 (U)The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

This Is Written That You May Know

13 (V)These things I have written to you who (W)believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have (X)eternal life. 14 This is (Y)the confidence which we have [j]before Him, that, (Z)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, (AA)we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

16 If anyone sees his brother or sister [k]committing a sin not leading to death, (AB)he shall ask and [l]God will, for him, give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. (AC)There is sin leading to death; (AD)I am not saying that he should ask about that. 17 (AE)All unrighteousness is sin, and (AF)there is sin not leading to death.

18 (AG)We know that (AH)no one who has been born of God [m]sins; but He who was born of God (AI)keeps him, and (AJ)the evil one does not (AK)touch him. 19 (AL)We know that (AM)we are of God, and that (AN)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And (AO)we know that (AP)the Son of God has come, and has (AQ)given us understanding so that we may know (AR)Him who is true; and we (AS)are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (AT)This is the true God and (AU)eternal life.

21 (AV)Little children, guard yourselves from (AW)idols.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:1 I.e., Messiah
  2. 1 John 5:1 Lit one who has fathered
  3. 1 John 5:2 Lit do
  4. 1 John 5:4 Lit everything that
  5. 1 John 5:6 Lit in
  6. 1 John 5:6 Lit in
  7. 1 John 5:6 Lit in
  8. 1 John 5:8 A few late mss add ...in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit
  9. 1 John 5:8 Lit for the one thing
  10. 1 John 5:14 Lit toward
  11. 1 John 5:16 Lit sinning
  12. 1 John 5:16 Or God will give him life, that is, to those who...
  13. 1 John 5:18 Or sins continually

Vivamos en la fe

Si creen ustedes que Jesús es el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios y el Salvador, ustedes son hijos de Dios. Y el que ama al padre ama también a los hijos. Así que podemos medir el amor que sentimos hacia los hijos de Dios, hermanos nuestros en la fe, por el amor que sentimos hacia Dios y la obediencia que le rendimos. Amar a Dios es obedecer sus mandamientos; y esto no es difícil, porque el que es hijo de Dios puede vencer el pecado y las inclinaciones al mal, confiando en la ayuda que Cristo puede ofrecerle. ¡Nadie podrá jamás vencer en esta lucha sin creer que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios!

6-7 Nosotros sabemos que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios porque Dios lo proclamó con gran voz desde el cielo en el momento en que lo bautizaban y también cuando moría. ¡No sólo en su bautismo sino también a la hora de su muerte! Y el Espíritu Santo, siempre veraz, lo afirma también.

Así que tenemos tres testimonios: la voz del Espíritu Santo en nuestros corazones, la voz que habló desde el cielo cuando bautizaban a Jesús, y la voz que habló poco antes de su muerte. Y todos afirman lo mismo: que Jesucristo es el Hijo de Dios. Y si aceptamos el testimonio de los hombres que comparecen ante los tribunales, cuánto más no hemos de creer la gran afirmación de Dios: ¡que Jesús es su Hijo! 10 Creer esto es aceptar este testimonio en lo más íntimo del corazón; no creerlo equivale a llamar mentiroso a Dios, pues es no creer lo que él ha dicho acerca de su Hijo. 11 ¿Y qué es lo que ha dicho? Que nos ha dado vida eterna, y que esta vida está en su Hijo. 12 Así que el que tiene al Hijo de Dios tiene la vida; el que no tiene al Hijo, no tiene la vida.

Observaciones finales

13 A ustedes, que creen en el Hijo de Dios, les he escrito sobre estas cosas para que sepan que tienen la vida eterna. 14 Y estamos seguros de que él nos escuchará cuando le pidamos algo que esté de acuerdo con su voluntad. 15 Y si sabemos que él nos oye cuando le hablamos y cuando le presentamos nuestras peticiones, podemos estar seguros de que nos contestará.

16 Si ven que un hermano comete un pecado que no es mortal, pidan a Dios que lo perdone, y Dios le dará vida, si es cierto que su pecado no es mortal. Pero hay un pecado que sí es mortal, por el cual no digo que se pida. 17 Cualquier maldad es pecado, pero no me refiero a los pecados ordinarios. Me refiero al pecado mortal. 18 Nadie que forme parte de la familia de Dios peca de manera habitual, porque Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, lo tiene bien agarrado y el diablo no puede echarle mano.

19 Sabemos que somos hijos de Dios. El mundo que nos rodea está bajo el dominio de Satanás, 20 pero sabemos que Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, vino a ayudarnos a hallar y entender al Dios verdadero. Ahora estamos en Dios, porque estamos en su Hijo Jesucristo, que es también Dios verdadero y la vida eterna.

21 Hijitos, apártense de cualquier cosa que pueda desplazar a Dios de sus corazones. Amén.

Sinceramente, Juan.

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(A) that Jesus is the Christ(B) is born of God,(C) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(D) This is how we know(E) that we love the children of God:(F) by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(G) And his commands are not burdensome,(H) for everyone born of God(I) overcomes(J) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(K)

This is the one who came by water and blood(L)—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.(M) For there are three(N) that testify: the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony,(O) but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,(P) which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.(Q) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,(R) because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,(S) and this life is in his Son.(T) 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.(U)

Concluding Affirmations

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God(V) so that you may know that you have eternal life.(W) 14 This is the confidence(X) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.(Y) 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know(Z) that we have what we asked of him.(AA)

16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.(AB) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.(AC) I am not saying that you should pray about that.(AD) 17 All wrongdoing is sin,(AE) and there is sin that does not lead to death.(AF)

18 We know that anyone born of God(AG) does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one(AH) cannot harm them.(AI) 19 We know that we are children of God,(AJ) and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.(AK) 20 We know also that the Son of God has come(AL) and has given us understanding,(AM) so that we may know him who is true.(AN) And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.(AO)

21 Dear children,(AP) keep yourselves from idols.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 5:8 Late manuscripts of the Vulgate testify in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that testify on earth: the (not found in any Greek manuscript before the fourteenth century)