¹² This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

²¹ And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.^[a]

³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection,^[a] and take delight in honoring each other.

²³ And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us^[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

All Christians

⁸ Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.^[a] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

⁹ But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other,^[a] for God himself has taught you to love one another.

Love One Another

¹¹ This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹² We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. ¹³ So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] if the world hates you.

¹⁴ If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers,^[b] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates another brother or sister^[c] is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

¹⁶ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister^[d] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.