Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
7 My beloved ones, I am not writing a new command to you, but an old command which you have had from the very beginning. The old command is the word which you heard. 8 Again, however, I am writing a new command to you: it is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who says, “I am in the light,” while hating another family member, is still in darkness up to this very moment. 10 Anyone who loves another family member abides in the light, and there is no cause of offense in such a person. 11 Anyone who hates another family member is in the darkness, and walks about in the darkness. Such people have no idea where they are going, because the darkness has blinded their eyes.
12 I am writing to you, children,
because your sins are forgiven through his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have known the one who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I have written to you, children,
because you have known the father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have known the one who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young people,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have conquered the evil one.
People of the lie
15 Do not love the world, or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the father’s love is not in them. 16 Everything in the world, you see—the greedy desire of the flesh, the greedy desire of the eyes, the pride of life—none of this is from the father. It is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, with all its greedy desires. But anyone who does God’s will abides forever.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.