1 M y little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor 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 is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for 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 T his is how we know that we 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 O ne who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t 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, God’s love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how 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 h e who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like 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 rothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

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 A gain, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.

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 H e who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even 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 H e who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion 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 he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t 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 write to you, little children, because your sins are 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 write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little 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 is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

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 on’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t 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, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

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 with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains 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 L ittle children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final 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 didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to 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 Y ou have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

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 don’t know the truth, but because you 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 he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he 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, the same doesn’t have the Father. He 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 T herefore, as for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father.

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 promised us, the 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 would lead you astray.

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 remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain 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, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him 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 who practices righteousness has been 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].