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God forgives our sins because of Jesus' death

2 I am writing this letter to you, my friends who are like my little children. I am writing to you because I do not want you to do wrong things. But if anyone among you does something wrong, there is someone who will speak to God on our behalf. That person is Jesus Christ, who always does only what is right. He will ask our Father God to forgive you. 2 Jesus died as a sacrifice to take the punishment for our sin. Then God could forgive us. Jesus did that not only for us. He did it for all people in the world, so that God could forgive them for their sins.

3 This is how we can be sure that we know God: If we obey God's commands, we know that we belong to him. 4 Someone may say, ‘I belong to God.’ But if he does not obey God's commands, that person is telling a lie. He is not living in the way that God's true message teaches us. 5 But anyone who obeys God's message shows that he really loves God completely. So this is how we know that we belong to God. 6 If we say that we are living in God's true way, then we must live in the way that Jesus lived. [ a ]

God tells us to love each other

7 My friends, I am telling you to love one another. When I write this to you, I am not giving you a new rule. It is an old rule that you have had for a long time. We gave it to you when you began to obey Christ. It is the same message that you have already heard. 8 But there is something new about it. This rule has become true in the way that Christ lived. Now it has also become true in your lives. God's true message has brought light to shine in your lives. You no longer live in the dark where you do bad things. 9 A person may say that he is living in the light. But if that person hates another believer, then he is telling a lie. He is still living in the dark. 10 Anyone who loves other believers shows that he is living in the light. There is nothing that will make him turn away from God. 11 But if someone hates other believers, he is still living in a bad way. He is like someone who is walking in the dark. He cannot see where he is going. He is like a blind person. He cannot understand God's true message. [ b ]

12 My little children, I am writing to you because God has forgiven your sins. He has done this because of Christ.

13 You who are older, like fathers, I am writing to you because you know Christ. He has always been there, since before the world began.

You who are young men, I am writing to you because you have won against Satan.

14 Yes, my children, I have written to you because you know God, our Father.

Fathers, I have written to you because you know Christ. He was already there before the world began.

Young men, I have written to you because you are strong. You continue to obey God's message, and you have won against Satan.

15 Do not live like people who do not know God. Do not love the wrong things that belong to this world. If anyone loves those things, it shows that they do not love God, their Father. 16 What are the wrong things that belong to this world? People want to do bad things to make themselves happy. People want to have things that they see, even bad things. People want to show other people how rich they are. These ideas do not come from God, our Father. They are the thoughts of people who belong to the world. 17 One day, those people and the things that they want will not be there any longer. But those who continue to do what God wants will live for ever.

People who are against Christ

18 My children, the world will soon end. [ c ] You have heard that the enemy of Christ will appear. You can see that many enemies of Christ have already appeared. This shows us that the world will end soon. 19 These people used to be in our group of believers. But they left us. They never really belonged to our group. If they had been true believers, they would have remained with us. When they left us, it showed clearly that none of them really belonged to us.

20 But Christ, the Holy One, has given you the Holy Spirit. As a result, you all know what is true. 21 That is why I am writing to you. It is not because you do not yet know God's true message. I am writing to you because you do know that true message. And you can be sure that there are no lies in it.

22 Who is the one who tells the worst lies? It is anyone who says that Jesus is not the Messiah. A person like that is the enemy of Christ. He is speaking against God, the Father, and against Jesus, his Son. 23 Anyone who says that Jesus is not God's Son does not belong to the Father. But anyone who accepts Jesus as the Son of God also belongs to the Father. [ d ]

24 As for you, always remember the true message that you heard at the beginning. If you continue to believe that message, you will continue to live with the Son and with the Father. 25 That is the real life that continues for ever. And that is what God has promised to give to us.

26 Some people are trying to lead you away from God's true message. I am writing these things to you so that you know about these people. 27 But Christ has given the Holy Spirit to you, and he continues to help you. So you do not need people to teach you what is true. The Holy Spirit himself teaches you everything about God's message. He helps you to know what is true. He does not tell you any lies. So you must remember what he has taught you. Continue to live together with Christ.

28 Yes, my children, continue to live with Christ. Then we will not be ashamed when he returns to this world. We will not be afraid to meet him.

29 You know that Christ only does what is right. So you should know this: Everyone who continues to do what is right has become a child of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2:6 If we believe in Jesus Christ and we trust God, this means that we belong to God. We are united with God and with Jesus. The way that we live shows whether we are true believers.
  2. 2:11 John tells Christians that they must live ‘in the light’. He means that they should live in a way that God says is right.
  3. 2:18 John was an old man. He wrote to his readers as if they were his children.
  4. 2:23 Some people say that they are Christians, but they do not believe in Jesus. John tells us what true Christians believe.

Jesus Is Our Helper

2 My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father. 2 Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.

3 If we obey what God has told us to do, then we are sure that we know him. 4 If we say we know God but do not obey his commands, we are lying. The truth is not in us. 5 But when we obey God’s teaching, his love is truly working in us. This is how we know that we are living in him. 6 If we say we live in God, we must live the way Jesus lived.

Jesus Told Us to Love Others

7 My dear friends, I am not writing a new command to you. It is the same command you have had since the beginning. This command is the teaching you have already heard. 8 But what I write is also a new command. It is a true one; you can see its truth in Jesus and in yourselves. The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

9 Someone might say, “I am in the light,” but if they hate any of their brothers or sisters in God’s family, they are still in the darkness. 10 Those who love their brothers and sisters live in the light, and there is nothing in them that will make them do wrong. 11 But whoever hates their brother or sister is in darkness. They live in darkness. They don’t know where they are going, because the darkness has made them blind.

12 I write to you, dear children,
because your sins are forgiven through Christ.
13 I write to you, fathers,
because you know the one who existed from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you have defeated the Evil One.
14 I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know the one who existed from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you are strong.
The word of God lives in you,
and you have defeated the Evil One.

15 Don’t love this evil world or the things in it. If you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and all the things that people want in the world are passing away. But whoever does what God wants will live forever.

Don’t Follow the Enemies of Christ

18 My dear children, the end is near! You have heard that the enemy of Christ is coming. And now many enemies of Christ are already here. So we know that the end is near. 19 These enemies were in our group, but they left us. They did not really belong with us. If they were really part of our group, they would have stayed with us. But they left. This shows that none of them really belonged with us.

20 You have the gift [ a ] that the Holy One [ b ] gave you. So you all know the truth. 21 Do you think I am writing this letter because you don’t know the truth? No, I am writing because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.

22 So who is the liar? It is the one who says Jesus is not the Messiah. Whoever says that is the enemy of Christ—the one who does not believe in the Father or in his Son. 23 Whoever does not believe in the Son does not have the Father, but whoever accepts the Son has the Father too.

24 Be sure that you continue to follow the teaching you heard from the beginning. If you do that, you will always be in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what the Son promised us—eternal life.

26 I am writing this letter about those who are trying to lead you into the wrong way. 27 Christ gave you a special gift. You still have this gift in you. So you don’t need anyone to teach you. The gift he gave you teaches you about everything. It is a true gift, not a false one. So continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you.

28 Yes, my dear children, live in him. If we do this, we can be without fear on the day when Christ comes again. We will not need to hide and be ashamed when he comes. 29 You know that Christ always did what was right. So you know that all those who do what is right are God’s children.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:20 gift Literally, “anointing.” This might mean the Holy Spirit. Or it might mean teaching or truth as in verse 24. Also in verse 27.
  2. 1 John 2:20 Holy One God or Christ.

2 My 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:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7 Brethren, 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.

8 Again, 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.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But 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.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13 I 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.

14 I 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.

15 Love 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.

16 For 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.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

18 Little 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.

19 They 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.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24 Let 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.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But 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.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Christ Is Our Advocate

2 ( A ) My little children, I am ( B ) writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, ( C ) we have an [ a ] ( D ) Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is ( E ) the [ b ] propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also ( F ) for the sins of the whole world.

3 ( G ) By this we know that we have come to ( H ) know Him, if we ( I ) keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “ ( J ) I have come to ( K ) know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a ( L ) liar, and ( M ) the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever ( N ) follows His word, in him the ( O ) love of God has truly been perfected. ( P ) By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says that he ( Q ) remains in Him ( R ) ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.

7 ( S ) Beloved, I am ( T ) not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ( U ) from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 [ c ] On the other hand, I am writing ( V ) a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because ( W ) the darkness is passing away and ( X ) the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says that he is in the Light and yet ( Y ) hates his ( Z ) brother or sister is in the darkness until now. 10 ( AA ) The one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling. 11 But the one who ( AB ) hates his brother or sister is in the darkness and ( AC ) walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has ( AD ) blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, ( AE ) little children, because ( AF ) your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him ( AG ) who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because ( AH ) you have overcome ( AI ) the evil one. I have written to you, children, because ( AJ ) you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him ( AK ) who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are ( AL ) strong, and the ( AM ) word of God remains in you, and ( AN ) you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love ( AO ) the world nor the things in the world. ( AP ) If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, ( AQ ) the lust of the flesh and ( AR ) the lust of the eyes and ( AS ) the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 ( AT ) The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who ( AU ) does the will of God continues to live forever.

18 Children, ( AV ) it is the last hour; and just as you heard that ( AW ) antichrist is coming, ( AX ) even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 ( AY ) They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out , ( AZ ) so that [ d ] it would be evident that they all are not of us. 20 [ e ] But you have an ( BA ) anointing from ( BB ) the Holy One, and ( BC ) you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but ( BD ) because you do know it, and [ f ] because no lie is ( BE ) of the truth. 22 Who is the liar except ( BF ) the one who denies that Jesus is the [ g ] Christ? This is ( BG ) the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 ( BH ) Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, see that what you heard ( BI ) from the beginning remains in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also ( BJ ) will remain in the Son and in the Father.

The Promise Is Eternal Life

25 ( BK ) This is the promise which He Himself [ h ] made to us: eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to ( BL ) deceive you. 27 And as for you, the ( BM ) anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing ( BN ) teaches you about all things, and is ( BO ) true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, [ i ] you remain in Him.

28 Now, ( BP ) little children, remain in Him, so that when He ( BQ ) appears, we may have ( BR ) confidence and ( BS ) not [ j ] draw back from Him in shame [ k ] at His ( BT ) coming. 29 If you know that ( BU ) He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness also ( BV ) has been born of Him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:1 Or Intercessor
  2. 1 John 2:2 I.e., means of reconciliation with God by atoning for sins; or sin-offering
  3. 1 John 2:8 Lit Again
  4. 1 John 2:19 Lit they would be revealed
  5. 1 John 2:20 Lit And
  6. 1 John 2:21 Or you know that no lie
  7. 1 John 2:22 I.e., Messiah
  8. 1 John 2:25 Lit promised us
  9. 1 John 2:27 Or remain in Him (a command)
  10. 1 John 2:28 Lit be put to shame from Him
  11. 1 John 2:28 Or in His presence

2 My dear children, ( A ) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate ( B ) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, ( C ) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ( D )

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

3 We know ( E ) that we have come to know him ( F ) if we keep his commands. ( G ) 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” ( H ) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ( I ) 5 But if anyone obeys his word, ( J ) love for God [ a ] is truly made complete in them. ( K ) This is how we know ( L ) we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. ( M )

7 Dear friends, ( N ) I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. ( O ) This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; ( P ) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing ( Q ) and the true light ( R ) is already shining. ( S )

9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister [ b ] ( T ) is still in the darkness. ( U ) 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister [ c ] lives in the light, ( V ) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ( W ) 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister ( X ) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. ( Y ) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. ( Z )

Reasons for Writing

12 I am writing to you, dear children, ( AA )
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. ( AB )
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning. ( AC )
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome ( AD ) the evil one. ( AE )

14 I write to you, dear children, ( AF )
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning. ( AG )
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong, ( AH )
and the word of God ( AI ) lives in you, ( AJ )
and you have overcome the evil one. ( AK )

On Not Loving the World

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. ( AL ) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father [ d ] is not in them. ( AM ) 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, ( AN ) the lust of the eyes, ( AO ) and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, ( AP ) but whoever does the will of God ( AQ ) lives forever.

Warnings Against Denying the Son

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; ( AR ) and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, ( AS ) even now many antichrists have come. ( AT ) This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, ( AU ) but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. ( AV )

20 But you have an anointing ( AW ) from the Holy One, ( AX ) and all of you know the truth. [ e ] ( AY ) 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it ( AZ ) and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. ( BA ) 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. ( BB )

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning ( BC ) remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. ( BD ) 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life. ( BE )

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. ( BF ) 27 As for you, the anointing ( BG ) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things ( BH ) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. ( BI )

God’s Children and Sin

28 And now, dear children, ( BJ ) continue in him, so that when he appears ( BK ) we may be confident ( BL ) and unashamed before him at his coming. ( BM )

29 If you know that he is righteous, ( BN ) you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. ( BO )

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love
  2. 1 John 2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister ( adelphos ) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16.
  3. 1 John 2:10 The Greek word for brother and sister ( adelphos ) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 3:10; 4:20, 21.
  4. 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love
  5. 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts and you know all things
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