1 ¶ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 I n this know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ, is come in flesh is of God:

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

3 A nd every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ, is come in flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come, and that now it is already in the world.

and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.

4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

5 T hey are of the world; therefore, they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

6 W e are of God; he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. Anyone that loves is born of God and knows God.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God.

8 H e that does not love does not know God, for God is charity.

He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.

9 I n this was the charity of God demonstrated in us, in that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10 I n this does the charity consist, not because we had loved God, but because he loved us and has sent his Son to be the reconciliation for our sins.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11 B eloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.

12 N o one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and his charity is completed in us.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

13 I n this we know that we abide in him, and he in us, in that he has given us of his Spirit.

By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14 ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.

15 W hosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.

16 A nd we have known and believed the charity that God has in us. God is charity, and he that abides in charity abides in God, and God in him.

We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

17 ¶ In this the charity with us is made perfect, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, that as he is, so are we in this world.

In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world.

18 I n charity there is no fear; but charity that is perfect casts out fear; because fear has torment; from which he that fears is not complete in charity.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 W e love him, because he first loved us.

We love him, because he first loved us.

20 I f anyone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he that does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

21 A nd we have this commandment from him, That he who loves God loves his brother also.

This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.