The First of John
2 My little children, I am writing YOU these things that YOU may not commit a sin.*+ And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper*+ with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.+ 2 And he is a propitiatory+ sacrifice*+ for our sins,+ yet not for ours+ only but also for the whole world’s.+ 3 And by this we have the knowledge that we have come to know him, namely, if we continue observing his commandments.+ 4 He that says: “I have come to know him,”+ and yet is not observing his commandments,+ is a liar, and the truth is not in this [person].+ 5 But whoever does observe his word,+ truthfully in this [person] the love of God has been made perfect.+ By this we have the knowledge that we are in union with him.+ 6 He that says he remains in union+ with him is under obligation himself also to go on walking just as that one walked.+
7 Beloved ones, I am writing YOU, not a new commandment, but an old commandment+ which YOU have had from [the] beginning.+ This old commandment is the word which YOU heard. 8 Again, I am writing YOU a new commandment, a fact that is true in his case and in YOURS, because the darkness+ is passing away and the true light+ is already shining.
9 He that says he is in the light and yet hates+ his brother is in the darkness up to right now.+ 10 He that loves his brother remains in the light,+ and there is no cause for stumbling in his case.+ 11 But he that hates his brother is in the darkness and is walking in the darkness,+ and he does not know where he is going,+ because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing YOU, little children, because YOUR sins have been forgiven YOU for the sake of his name.+ 13 I am writing YOU, fathers, because YOU have come to know him who is from [the] beginning.+ I am writing YOU, young men,+ because YOU have conquered the wicked one.+ I write YOU, young children,+ because YOU have come to know the Father.+ 14 I write YOU, fathers,+ because YOU have come to know him who is from [the] beginning.+ I write YOU, young men, because YOU are strong+ and the word of God* remains in YOU+ and YOU have conquered the wicked one.+
15 Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world.+ If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him;+ 16 because everything in the world+—the desire of the flesh+ and the desire of the eyes+ and the showy display* of one’s means of life+—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.+ 17 Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire,+ but he that does the will+ of God remains forever.+
18 Young children, it is the last hour,+ and, just as YOU have heard that antichrist* is coming,+ even now there have come to be many antichrists;+ from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of our sort;+ for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us.+ But [they went out] that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort.+ 20 And YOU have an anointing* from the holy one;+ all of YOU have knowledge.+ 21 I write YOU, not because YOU do not know the truth,+ but because YOU know it,+ and because no lie originates with the truth.+
22 Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ?+ This is the antichrist,+ the one that denies the Father and the Son.+ 23 Everyone that denies the Son does not have the Father either.+ He that confesses+ the Son has the Father also.+ 24 As for YOU, let that which YOU have heard from [the] beginning remain in YOU.+ If that which YOU have heard from [the] beginning remains in YOU, YOU will also abide in union+ with the Son and in union with the Father.+ 25 Furthermore, this is the promised thing that he himself promised us, the life everlasting.+
26 These things I write YOU about those who are trying to mislead YOU.+ 27 And as for YOU, the anointing+ that YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU;+ but, as the anointing from him is teaching YOU about all things,+ and is true+ and is no lie, and just as it has taught YOU, remain in union+ with him. 28 So now, little children,+ remain in union+ with him, that when he is made manifest+ we may have freeness of speech+ and not be shamed away from him at his presence.*+ 29 If YOU know that he is righteous,+ YOU gain the knowledge that everyone who practices righteousness has been born from him.+