1 E very one who is believing that Jesus is the Christ, of God he hath been begotten, and every one who is loving Him who did beget, doth love also him who is begotten of Him:

Everyone who believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring).

2 i n this we know that we love the children of God, when we may love God, and His commands may keep;

By this we come to know (recognize and understand) that we love the children of God: when we love God and obey His commands (orders, charges)—.

3 f or this is the love of God, that His commands we may keep, and His commands are not burdensome;

For the love of God is this: that we do His commands. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous).

4 b ecause every one who is begotten of God doth overcome the world, and this is the victory that did overcome the world -- our faith;

For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.

5 w ho is he who is overcoming the world, if not he who is believing that Jesus is the Son of God?

Who is it that is victorious over the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ?

6 T his one is he who did come through water and blood -- Jesus the Christ, not in the water only, but in the water and the blood; and the Spirit it is that is testifying, because the Spirit is the truth,

This is He Who came by (with) water and blood '> His baptism and His death], Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—not by (in) the water only, but by (in) the water and the blood. And it is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is the Truth.

7 b ecause three are who are testifying [in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these -- the three -- are one;

So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;

8 a nd three are who are testifying in the earth], the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are into the one.

and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.

9 I f the testimony of men we receive, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that He hath testified concerning His Son.

If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.

10 H e who is believing in the Son of God, hath the testimony in himself; he who is not believing God, a liar hath made Him, because he hath not believed in the testimony that God hath testified concerning His Son;

He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony within himself. He who does not believe God has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.

11 a nd this is the testimony, that life age-during did God give to us, and this -- the life -- is in His Son;

And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12 h e who is having the Son, hath the life; he who is not having the Son of God -- the life he hath not.

He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

13 T hese things I did write to you who are believing in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that life ye have age-during, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God.

I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God '> the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know that you have life, yes, eternal life.

14 A nd this is the boldness that we have toward Him, that if anything we may ask according to his will, He doth hear us,

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

15 a nd if we have known that He doth hear us, whatever we may ask, we have known that we have the requests that we have requested from Him.

And if (since) we know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have the requests made of Him.

16 I f any one may see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give to him life to those sinning not unto death; there is sin to death, not concerning it do I speak that he may beseech;

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and will give him life. There is a sin to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

17 a ll unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death.

All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does not death.

18 W e have known that every one who hath been begotten of God doth not sin, but he who was begotten of God doth keep himself, and the evil one doth not touch him;

We know that anyone born of God does not practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him, and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch.

19 w e have known that of God we are, and the whole world in the evil doth lie;

We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

20 a nd we have known that the Son of God is come, and hath given us a mind, that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ; this one is the true God and the life age-during!

And we know that the Son of God has come to this world and has given us understanding and insight to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This is the true God and Life eternal.

21 L ittle children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—. Amen (so let it be).