English Standard Version

International Standard Version

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.

1My little children, I'm writing these things to you so that you might not sin. Yet if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus, the Messiah, one who is righteous.

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

2It is he who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world's.

3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

3This is how we can be sure that we have come to know him: if we continually keep his commandments.

4Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

4The person who says, "I have come to know him," but does not continually keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth has no place in that person.

5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

5But whoever continually keeps his commandments is the kind of person in whom God's love has truly been perfected. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God:

6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

6The one who says that he abides in him must live the same way he himself lived.

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.

7Dear friends, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning. This old commandment is the word you have heard.

8At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

8On the other hand, I am writing to you a new commandment that is truly in him and in you. For the darkness is fading away, and the true light is already shining.

9Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

9The person who says that he is in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

10Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

10The person who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no reason for him to stumble.

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.

11But the person who hates his brother is in the darkness and lives in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

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.

13I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known the one who has existed from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have overcome the evil one.

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.

14I have written to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known the one who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, because you are strong and because God's word remains in you and you have overcome the evil one.

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.

15Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father's love is not in him.

16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

16For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father but is from the world.

17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

17And the world and its desires are fading away, but the person who does God's will remains forever.

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.

18Little children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

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.

19They left us, but they were not part of us, for if they had been part of us, they would have stayed with us. Their leaving made it clear that none of them was really part of us.

20But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

20You have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things.

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.

21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because lies don't come from 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.

22Who is a liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? The person who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

23No one who denies the Son has the Father. The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.

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.

24What you have heard from the beginning must abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you will also abide in the Son and in the Father.

25And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

25The message that the Son himself declared to us is eternal life.

26I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

26I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

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.

27The anointing you received from God abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you this. Instead, because God's anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not a lie, abide in him, as he taught you to do.

28And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

28Even now, little children, abide in him. Then, when he appears, we will have confidence and will not turn away from him in shame when he comes.

29If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

29Since you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by God.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.