Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹⁸ Little children, it is the last time. And as you have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now there are many Antichrists come already. By this we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But this happened so that it might appear that they were not of us.

²⁰ And you have an anointing of the Holy Spirit, and you know all things. ²¹ I did not write to you as though you did not know the truth, but as knowing it, and as knowing also that no lie comes of truth. ²² Who is a liar, but he who denies that Jesus is Christ? He is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Whoever denies the Son, the same does not have the Father.

²⁴ Let therefore abide in you that which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will continue in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And the promise that he has promised us is eternal life.

²⁶ This I have written to you concerning those who deceive you.

²⁷ And the anointing that you have received from him dwells in you, and you need not that any man teach you – but as the anointing teaches you all things, and is true, and is no lie, and as it taught you, even so abide therein.

²⁸ And now babes, abide in him, so that when he appears we may be bold, and not be made ashamed before him at his coming.