Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
I. Prologue
Chapter 1
The Word of Life[a]
1 What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life—(A)
2 for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—(B)
3 what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.(C)
4 We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.(D)
II. God As Light
God Is Light. 5 Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light,[b] and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.(E) 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.(F) 8 If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves,[c] and the truth is not in us.(G) 9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.(H) 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.(I)
Chapter 2
Christ and His Commandments. 1 My children,[d] I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.(J) 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.(K) 3 The way we may be sure[e] that we know him is to keep his commandments.(L) 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.(M) 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:(N) 6 whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived.
The New Commandment.[f] 7 Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.(O) 8 And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you,[g] for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.(P) 9 Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.(Q) 10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.(R) 11 Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Members of the Community.[h] 12 I am writing to you, children, because your sins have been forgiven(S) for his name’s sake.[i]
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one.(T)
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 men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things of the world.[j] If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.(U) 16 For all that is in the world, sensual lust,[k] enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.(V)
Antichrists. 18 Children, it is the last hour;[l] and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. Thus we know this is the last hour.(W) 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;[m] if they had been, they would have remained with us. Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. 20 But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one,[n] and you all have knowledge.(X) 21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.(Y) 22 [o]Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.(Z) 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.(AA)
Life from God’s Anointing. 24 (AB)Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.[p] 25 And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.(AC) 26 I write you these things about those who would deceive you. 27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.
Children of God. 28 [q]And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 29 If you consider that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.