1 V edete quale amore ci ha manifestato il Padre, dandoci di essere chiamati figli di Dio! E tali siamo. Per questo il mondo non ci conosce: perché non ha conosciuto lui.

See what '> an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

2 C arissimi, ora siamo figli di Dio, ma non è stato ancora manifestato ciò che saremo. Sappiamo che quando egli sarà manifestato saremo simili a lui, perché lo vedremo come egli è.

Beloved, we are now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall '> as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.

3 E chiunque ha questa speranza in lui, si purifica come egli è puro.

And everyone who has this hope on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

4 C hiunque commette il peccato trasgredisce la legge: il peccato è la violazione della legge.

Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

5 M a voi sapete che egli è stato manifestato per togliere i peccati; e in lui non c’è peccato.

You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin '> essentially and forever].

6 C hiunque rimane in lui non persiste nel peccare; chiunque persiste nel peccare non l’ha visto, né conosciuto.

No one who abides in Him '> in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who sins has either seen or known Him.

7 F iglioli, nessuno vi seduca. Chi pratica la giustizia è giusto, come egli è giusto.

Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.

8 C olui che persiste nel commettere il peccato proviene dal diavolo, perché il diavolo pecca fin dal principio. Per questo è stato manifestato il Figlio di Dio: per distruggere le opere del diavolo.

he who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil.

9 C hiunque è nato da Dio non persiste nel commettere peccato, perché il seme divino rimane in lui, e non può persistere nel peccare perché è nato da Dio.

No one born (begotten) of God '> habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

10 I n questo si distinguono i figli di Dio dai figli del diavolo: chiunque non pratica la giustizia non è da Dio; come pure chi non ama suo fratello.

By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).

11 P oiché questo è il messaggio che avete udito fin dal principio: che ci amiamo gli uni gli altri.

For this is the message (the announcement) which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another,

12 N on come Caino, che era dal maligno e uccise il proprio fratello. Perché lo uccise? Perché le sue opere erano malvagie e quelle di suo fratello erano giuste.

not be like Cain who from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds (activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his brother’s were righteous (virtuous).

13 N on vi meravigliate, fratelli, se il mondo vi odia.

Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred.

14 N oi sappiamo che siamo passati dalla morte alla vita, perché amiamo i fratelli. Chi non ama rimane nella morte.

We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in death.

15 C hiunque odia suo fratello è omicida; e voi sapete che nessun omicida possiede in se stesso la vita eterna.

Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding ( persevering) within him.

16 D a questo abbiamo conosciuto l’amore: egli ha dato la sua vita per noi; anche noi dobbiamo dare la nostra vita per i fratelli.

By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the love: that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay lives down for brothers '> in Him].

17 M a se qualcuno possiede dei beni di questo mondo e vede suo fratello nel bisogno e non ha pietà di lui, come potrebbe l’amore di Dio essere in lui?

But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?

18 F iglioli, non amiamo a parole né con la lingua, ma con i fatti e in verità.

Little children, let us not love in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

19 D a questo conosceremo che siamo della verità e renderemo sicuro il nostro cuore davanti a lui.

By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,

20 P oiché se il nostro cuore ci condanna, Dio è più grande del nostro cuore e conosce ogni cosa.

Whenever our hearts in '> tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. '> we are in God’s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything.

21 C arissimi, se il {nostro} cuore non ci condanna, abbiamo fiducia davanti a Dio;

And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us, we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,

22 e qualunque cosa chiediamo la riceviamo da lui, perché osserviamo i suoi comandamenti e facciamo ciò che gli è gradito.

And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we '> watchfully] obey His orders and '> habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.

23 Q uesto è il suo comandamento: che crediamo nel nome del Figlio suo, Gesù Cristo, e ci amiamo gli uni gli altri secondo il comandamento che ci ha dato.

And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.

24 C hi osserva i suoi comandamenti rimane in Dio e Dio in lui. Da questo conosciamo che egli rimane in noi: dallo Spirito che ci ha dato.

All who keep His commandments abide in Him, and He in them. '> They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He lives and makes His home in us: by the Spirit Whom He has given us.