1 M y little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

My 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.

2 a nd He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

And 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.

3 B y this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

And 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).

4 T he one who says, “ I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

Whoever 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.

5 b ut whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

But 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:

6 t he one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Whoever 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.

7 B eloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.

Beloved, 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].

8 O n the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.

Yet 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.

9 T he one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.

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

10 T he one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

Whoever 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.

11 B ut the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

But 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.

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

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

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

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.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been 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 evil one. Do Not Love the World

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.

15 D o not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Do 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.

16 F or all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

For 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.

17 T he world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

And 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.

18 C hildren, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

Boys (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.

19 T hey went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

They 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.

20 B ut you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know or you know all things.

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

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.

22 W ho is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Who 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.

23 W hoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

No one who '> habitually] denies (disowns) the Son even has the Father. Whoever confesses (acknowledges and has) the Son has the Father also.

24 A s for you, 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. The Promise Is Eternal Life

As 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.

25 T his is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

And this is what He Himself has promised us—the life, the eternal.

26 T hese things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

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

27 A s for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

But 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.

28 N ow, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

And 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.

29 I f you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

If 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].