1 M y little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father— Jesus Christ righteous.

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2 A nd He '> that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for the whole world.

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. The Test of Knowing Him

3 A nd this is how we may discern '> daily, by experience] that we are coming to know Him: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments).

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

4 W hoever says, I know Him but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth '> of the Gospel] is not in him.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 B ut he who keeps (treasures) His Word, truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him:

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

6 W hoever says he abides in Him ought '> a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

7 B eloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard '> doctrine of salvation through Christ].

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

8 Y et I am writing you a new commandment, which is true (is realized) in Him and in you, because the darkness ( moral blindness) is clearing away and the true Light ( the revelation of God in Christ) is already shining.

Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

9 W hoever says he is in the Light and hates his brother '> born-again child of God his Father] is in darkness even until now.

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

10 W hoever loves his brother abides (lives) in the Light, and in It or in him there is no occasion for stumbling or cause for error or sin.

He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

11 B ut he who hates (detests, despises) his brother '> in Christ] is in darkness and walking (living) in the dark; he is straying and does not perceive or know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Their Spiritual State

12 I am writing to you, little children, because for His name’s sake your sins are forgiven.

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be aware of, and understand) Him Who from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have been victorious over the wicked. I write to you, boys (lads), because you have come to know (recognize and be aware) of the Father.

I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be conscious of, and understand) Him Who from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have been victorious over the wicked one.

I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. Do Not Love the World

15 D o not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 F or all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life —these do not come from the Father but are from the world.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

17 A nd the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Deceptions of the Last Hour

18 B oys (lads), it is the last time (hour, the end of this age). And as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, which confirms our belief that it is the final (the end) time.

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

19 T hey went out from our number, but they did not belong to us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But that it might be plain that they all are not of us.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

20 B ut you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know or you know all things.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

21 I write to you not because you are ignorant and do not perceive and know the Truth, but because you do perceive and know it, and that nothing false (no deception, no lie) is of the Truth.

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 W ho is liar as he who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah)? He is the antichrist (the antagonist of Christ), who '> habitually] denies and refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son.

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

23 N o one who '> habitually] denies (disowns) the Son even has the Father. Whoever confesses (acknowledges and has) the Son has the Father also.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Let Truth Abide in You

24 A s for you, keep in your hearts what you have heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the first dwells and remains in you, then you will dwell in the Son and in the Father.

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

25 A nd this is what He Himself has promised us—the life, the eternal.

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 I write this to you with reference to those who would deceive you.

These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

27 B ut as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides '> permanently] in you; then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him '> rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as has taught you.

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. The Children of God

28 A nd now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming.

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

29 I f you know (perceive and are sure) that He is righteous, you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously is born (begotten) of Him '> God].

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.