1 John 1:1-2:14

English Standard Version

The Word of Life

1 ^(A)That which was ^(B)from the beginning, ^(C)which we have heard, ^(D)which we have seen with our eyes, ^(E)which we looked upon and ^(F)have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²^(G)the life ^(H)was made manifest, and we have seen it, and ^(I)testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, ^(J)which was with the Father and ^(K)was made manifest to us— ³^(L)that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed ^(M)our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴And we are writing these things so ^(N)that our^[a] joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

⁵^(O)This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that ^(P)God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶^(Q)If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and ^(R)do not practice the truth. ⁷But ^(S)if we walk in the light, ^(T)as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and ^(U)the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸^(V)If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and ^(W)the truth is not in us. ⁹^(X)If we confess our sins, he is ^(Y)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and ^(Z)to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say we have not sinned, ^(AA)we make him a liar, and ^(AB)his word is not in us.

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, ^(AC)we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ²^(AD)He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but ^(AE)also for the sins of the whole world. ³And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we ^(AF)keep his commandments. ⁴Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments ^(AG)is a liar, and ^(AH)the truth is not in him, ⁵but whoever ^(AI)keeps his word, in him truly ^(AJ)the love of God is perfected. ^(AK)By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶whoever says he ^(AL)abides in him ^(AM)ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The New Commandment

⁷Beloved, I am writing you ^(AN)no new commandment, but ^(AO)an old commandment ^(AP)that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. ⁸At the same time, it is ^(AQ)a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because^[b] ^(AR)the darkness is passing away and ^(AS)the true light is already shining. ⁹Whoever says he is in the light and ^(AT)hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him^[c] there is no ^(AU)cause for stumbling. ¹¹But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and ^(AV)walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

¹²I am writing to you, little children,
    because ^(AW)your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
¹³I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know ^(AX)him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because ^(AY)you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because ^(AZ)you know the Father.
¹⁴I write to you, fathers,
    because you know ^(BA)him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because ^(BB)you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.