1 John

The Prologue to the Letter

1:1 This is what we proclaim to you:1 what was from the beginning,2 what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life—1:2 and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce3 to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).4 1:3 What we have seen and heard we announce5 to you too, so that6 you may have fellowship7 with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). 1:4 Thus8 we are writing these things so that9 our10 joy may be complete.11

God Is Light, So We Must Walk in the Light

1:5 Now12 this is the gospel13 message14 we have heard from him15 and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.16 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking17 in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing18 the truth. 1:7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses19 us from all sin.20 1:8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin,21 we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous,22 forgiving23 us our sins and cleansing24 us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. 2:1 (My little children,1 I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.2) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate3 with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One,4 2:2 and he himself is the atoning sacrifice5 for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.6

Keeping God’s Commandments

2:3 Now7 by this we know that we have come to know God:8 if we keep his commandments. 2:4 The one who says “I have come to know God”9 and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. 2:5 But whoever obeys his10 word, truly in this person11 the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. 2:6 The one who says he resides12 in God13 ought himself to walk14 just as Jesus15 walked.

2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning.16 The old commandment is the word that you have already17 heard. 2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him18 and in you, because19 the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.20 2:9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates21 his fellow Christian22 is still in the darkness. 2:10 The one who loves his fellow Christian23 resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.24 2:11 But the one who hates his fellow Christian25 is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.26

Words of Reassurance

2:12 I am writing to you,27 little children, that28 your sins have been forgiven because of his29 name. 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, that30 you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that31 you have conquered the evil one.32 2:14 I have written to you, children, that33 you have known the Father.34 I have written to you, fathers, that35 you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that36 you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 2:16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions)37 is not from the Father, but is from the world. 2:17 And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains38 forever.