1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.7Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1 John 2
English Standard Version
Christ Our Advocate
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (Ro 8:34; 1Ti 2:5; Heb 7:25)2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (Joh 1:29; Joh 4:42; Joh 11:51; Joh 12:32; Ro 3:25; 2Co 5:18; Col 1:20; 1Jo 4:10; 1Jo 4:14)3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (Joh 14:15; Joh 15:10)4Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (Joh 8:44; 1Jo 1:8)5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: (Joh 14:23; 1Jo 3:24; 1Jo 4:12; 1Jo 4:13; 1Jo 5:2; 1Jo 5:3)6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (Mt 11:29; Joh 15:4; Joh 15:7)
The New Commandment
7Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. (Le 19:18; 1Jo 2:24; 1Jo 3:11; 2Jo 1:5)8At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[1] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. (Joh 1:9; Joh 8:12; Joh 13:34; Ro 13:12; Eph 5:8; 1Th 5:4)9Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (Tit 3:3; 1Jo 3:14; 1Jo 4:20)10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[2] there is no cause for stumbling. (Pr 4:19; Joh 11:10; 2Pe 1:10)11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1Jo 1:6)12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. (Lu 24:47; Ac 10:43; Ac 13:38)13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. (Joh 14:7; Eph 6:10; 1Jo 1:1; 1Jo 5:4)14I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1Jo 2:13)
Do Not Love the World
15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (Ro 12:2; 2Ti 4:10; Jas 4:4)16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[3]—is not from the Father but is from the world. (Ec 4:8; Ec 5:11; Ro 13:14; Eph 2:3; 1Pe 4:2; 2Pe 2:18)17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1Co 7:31)
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. (Mt 24:5; Mt 24:24; 1Ti 4:1; 2Ti 3:1; Jas 5:3; 2Pe 3:3; 1Jo 2:22; 1Jo 4:1; 1Jo 4:3; 2Jo 1:7; Jud 1:18)19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. (De 13:13; Joh 17:12; Ac 20:30; 1Co 11:19)20But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.[4] (Mr 1:24; Joh 14:26; 2Co 1:21; 1Jo 2:27)21I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (1Jo 2:18; 1Jo 4:3; 2Jo 1:7)23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (1Jo 4:15; 1Jo 5:1; 2Jo 1:9)24Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. (Joh 14:23; 1Jo 1:3; 1Jo 3:11; 2Jo 1:6)25And this is the promise that he made to us[5]—eternal life. (Joh 17:2)26I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. (1Jo 3:7; 2Jo 1:7)27But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (Jer 31:34; Joh 14:17; Heb 8:11; 1Jo 2:20)