1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was made known, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and which has been made known to us. 3 That which we have seen and heard we declare also to you, so you also will have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 Also, we are writing these things to you so that our joy will be complete. [1]
5 This is the message that we have heard from him and are proclaiming to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.
This is a letter that John wrote to Christians.
In this chapter John teaches that all Christians are still sinners. But God continues to forgive a Christian's sins. (See: sin and faith and forgive)
In this chapter John writes that God is light. Light is a metaphor for understanding and righteousness. (See: and righteous)
John also writes about people walking in the light or in the darkness. Walking is a metaphor for behaving or living. People who walk in the light understand what is righteous and do it. People who walk in the darkness may not understand what is righteous, and they do what is sinful.
The apostle John wrote this letter to believers. All instances of "you," "your," and "yours" include all believers and are plural. Here the words "we" and "us" refer to John and those who had been with Jesus. In verses 1-2 many pronouns like "that," "which," and "it" are used. They refer to "the Word of life" and "the eternal life." But, since these are names for Jesus, you can use pronouns that refer to a person like "who," "whom" or "he."
"which we have heard him teach"
This is repeated for emphasis. Alternate translation: "which we ourselves have seen"
This refers to Jesus Christ. Alternate translation: "the one who gives life" or "the one who causes people to live forever"
The word "life" throughout this letter refers to more than physical life. Here "life" refers to being alive spiritually.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God made the eternal life known to us" or "God made us able to know him, who is eternal life"
"we have seen it and testify about it" or "we have seen him and testify about him"
Here, "the eternal life" refers to the one who gives that life, Jesus. Alternate translation: "the one who enables us to live forever, who was with God the Father, and who has been made known to us"
This was when he lived on earth. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "and which the Father has made known to us" or "and who came to live among us"
Here the words "we," "us," and "our" refer to John and those who had been with Jesus.
"We say to you also what we have seen and heard"
"be our close friends. We are friends with God the Father"
It is not clear if John is including or excluding his readers. You may translate this either way.
These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus.
"to make our joy complete" or "to make ourselves completely happy"
Here the words "we" and "us" refer to all believers, including the people to whom John was writing. Unless otherwise stated, that is the meaning for the remainder of this book.
From here into the next chapter, John writes about fellowship—close relationships with God and other believers.
This is a metaphor that means that God is perfectly pure and holy. Cultures that associate goodness with light may be able to keep the idea of light without explaining the metaphor. Alternate translation: "God is purely righteous like pure light"
This is a metaphor that means that God never sins and is not evil in any way. Cultures that associate evil with darkness may be able to keep the idea of darkness without explaining the metaphor. Alternate translation: "in him there is nothing that is evil"
Here "walk" is a metaphor for how a person lives or behaves. Here "darkness" is a metaphor for "evil." Alternate translation: "do what is evil"
Here "walk" is a metaphor for how a person lives or behaves. Here "light" is a metaphor for "good" or "right." Alternate translation: "do what is good as God is perfectly good" or "do what is right as God is perfectly right"
This refers to the death of Jesus.
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
"never sin"
"are tricking" or "lying to"
The truth is spoken of as if it were an object that could be inside believers. Alternate translation: "we do not believe what God says is true"
"God is faithful"
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. John uses them to emphasize that God will surely forgive our sins. Alternate translation: "and will completely forgive us for what we have done wrong"
It is implied that a person who claims to be without sin would be calling God a liar since he said that everyone is a sinner. Alternate translation: "it is the same as calling God a liar, because he said we have all sinned"
"Word" here is a metonym for "message." Obeying and honoring God's word is spoken of as if his word were inside the believers. Alternate translation: "we do not understand God's word and do not obey what he says"
1 Children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the one who is righteous. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 The one who says "I know God" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him: 6 whoever says that he remains in God should himself also walk just as he walked.
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you heard. 8 Yet I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Christ and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says that he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness; he does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, children, because your sins are forgiven because of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know the one who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the arrogance of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 The world and its desire are passing away. But whoever does the will of God will remain forever.
18 Children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not from us. For if they had been from us they would have remained with us. But when they went out, that showed they were not from us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and because no lie is from the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? That person is the antichrist, since he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son also has the Father. 24 As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 This is the promise he gave to us—eternal life. 26 I have written these things to you about those who would lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you everything and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, remain in him.
28 Now, children, remain in him so that when he appears we will have boldness and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born from him.
In this chapter John writes about both a specific antichrist and many antichrists. The word "antichrist" means "opposed to Christ." The antichrist is a person who will come in the last days and imitate Jesus's work, but he will do it for evil. Before this person comes, there will be many people who work against Christ; they too are called "antichrists." (See: antichrist and lastday and evil)
There are several groups of similar metaphors that are used throughout this chapter.
Being in God is a metaphor for having fellowship with God, and God's word and truth being in people is a metaphor for people knowing and obeying God's word.
Walking is a metaphor for behaving, not knowing where one is going is a metaphor for not knowing how to behave, and stumbling is a metaphor for sinning.
The light is a metaphor for knowing and doing what is right, and darkness and blindness are metaphors for not knowing what is right and doing what is wrong.
Leading people astray is a metaphor for teaching people things that are not true.
Here the word "we" refers to John and all believers.
John continues to write about fellowship and shows that it is possible because Jesus goes between believers and the Father.
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. Alternate translation: "You who are as dear to me as my own children"
"I am writing this letter"
"But when anyone sins." This is something that is likely to happen.
The word "advocate" here refers to Jesus. Alternate translation: "we have Jesus Christ, the one who is righteous, who speaks to the Father and asks him to forgive us"
"God is no longer angry with us because Jesus sacrificed his own life for our sins"
"We know that we know him" or "We know that we have a good relationship with him"
"if we obey what he commands"
"Anyone who says" or "The person who says"
"I have a good relationship with God"
"does not obey" or "disobeys"
"what God tells him to do"
The truth is spoken of as if it were an object that could be inside the believers. Alternate translation: "he does not believe what God says is true"
To keep someone's word here is an idiom for to obey. Alternate translation: "does what God tells him to do"
This can be stated in active form. Possible meanings are 1) "the love of God" refers to a person loving God, and "perfected" represents completely or fully. Alternate translation: "it is that person who loves God completely" or 2) "the love of God" refers to God loving people, and "perfected" represents completing its purpose. Alternate translation: "God's love has achieved its purpose in that person's life"
The phrase "we are in him" means that the believer has fellowship with God. Alternate translation: "When we obey what God says, we can be certain that we have fellowship with him" or "By this we know that are joined to God"
To remain in God means to continue to have fellowship with God. Alternate translation: "continues to have fellowship with God" or "stays joined to God"
Conducting one's life is spoken of as if it were walking on a path. Alternate translation: "must live as he lived" or "should also obey God just as Jesus Christ did"
John gives believers basic principles of fellowship—obedience and love.
"You people whom I love, I am" or "Dear friends, I am"
"I write to you to love one other, which is not a new thing to do but an old commandment that you have heard." John refers to Jesus's command to love one another.
Here, "beginning" refers to when they decided to follow Christ. Alternate translation: "from when you first believed in Christ"
"The old commandment is the message that you heard"
"But in one way the commandment I write to you is a new commandment"
"which is true, as shown in Christ's deeds and your deeds"
Here "darkness" is a metaphor for "evil," and "light" is a metaphor for "good." Alternate translation: "you are ceasing to do evil and you are doing more and more good"
Here the word "brother" refers to a fellow Christian.
"Anyone who says" or "Someone who claims." This does not refer to a specific person.
Here to be "in the light" is a metaphor for doing what is right. Alternate translation: "he does what is right"
Here to be "in the darkness" is a metaphor for doing what is evil. Alternate translation: "does what is evil"
"nothing will cause him to stumble." The word "stumbling" is a metaphor that means to fail spiritually or morally. Alternate translation: "nothing will cause him to sin" or "he will not fail to do what is pleasing to God"
Here "walk" is a metaphor for how a person lives or behaves. Here to be "in the darkness" and "walks in the darkness" mean the same thing. This brings attention to how evil it is to hate a fellow believer. Alternate translation: "does what is evil"
This is a metaphor for the believer who is not living as a Christian should be living. Alternate translation: "he does not know what he should do"
"the darkness has made him unable to see." Darkness is a metaphor for sin or evil. Alternate translation: "sin has made it impossible for him to understand the truth"
John explains why he is writing his letter either to different age groups or to believers with differences in maturity. Try to use similar wording for these sentences, as they are written poetically.
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God forgives your sins"
"his name" refers to Christ and who he is. Alternate translation: "because of what Christ has done for you"
The word "fathers" here is possibly a metaphor referring to mature believers. Alternate translation: "I am writing to you, mature believers"
"you have a relationship with"
"the one who has always lived" or "the one who has always existed." It refers either to "Jesus" or to "God the Father."
This possibly refers to those who are no longer new believers but are growing in spiritual maturity. Alternate translation: "young believers"
The writer is speaking of the believers' refusal to follow Satan and of their frustrating his plans as if it were a matter of conquering him.
Here "strong" refers not to believers' physical strength, but to their faithfulness to Christ.
"Word of God" here is a metonym for the message from God. The writer refers to the believers' increased faithfulness to Christ and knowledge of him as if he were speaking of God's word existing in them. Alternate translation: "God's message continues to teach you" or "you know the word of God"
In 2:15-17 the word "world" refers to all the things people want to do that do not honor God. Alternate translation: "Do not behave like the people in the world who do not honor God, and do not love"
"the things that those who dishonor God want"
A person cannot love this world and all that dishonors God and love the Father at the same time.
"he does not love the Father"
"the strong desire to have sinful physical pleasure"
"the strong desire to have things that we see"
"does not come from the Father" or "is not how the Father teaches us to live"
"pass away" or "will one day not be here"
John warns about those who are against Christ.
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
The phrase "the last hour" refers to the time just before Jesus returns. Alternate translation: "Jesus will return soon"
"there are many people who are against Christ"
"have come, and because of this we know" or "have come, and because many antichrists have come, we know"
"They left us"
"but they did not really belong to us anyway" or "but they were not really part of our group in the first place." The reason they were not really part of the group is that they were not believers in Jesus.
"We know this because they would not have left us if they really had been believers"
In the Old Testament the word "anointing" referred to pouring oil on a person to set him apart to serve God.
John speaks of the Holy Spirit as if he were "an anointing" that the people have received from Jesus. The abstract noun "anointing" can be translated with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "But the Holy One has anointed you" or "But Jesus Christ, the Holy One, has given you his Spirit"
This refers to Jesus. Alternate translation: "Jesus, the Holy One"
Your language might allow you to use the abstract noun "knowledge" here. If your language requires you to state what it is that the readers know, be as general as possible. Alternate translation: "you all have knowledge" or "you all know what is true"
The abstract noun "truth" can be translated as an adjective. Alternate translation: "what is true ... no lie comes from what is true"
"Who is the liar? Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ." John used a question to emphasize who liars are. Alternate translation: "The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ is the liar"
"refuses to say that Jesus is the Christ" or "says that Jesus is not the Messiah"
"refuses to say the truth about the Father and the Son" or "rejects the Father and the Son."
These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus.
"belongs to the Father"
"speaks the truth about the Son"
"belongs to the Father"
Here the word "you" is plural and refers to the people to whom John wrote, as well as all believers. The word "he" is emphatic and refers to Christ.
John reminds believers to continue in what they have first heard.
This marks John's telling them how they should live as followers of Jesus instead of how those against Christ live.
"remember and believe what you have heard from the beginning." How they heard it, what they heard, and what "the beginning" means can be made explicit: Alternate translation: "continue to trust what we have taught you about Jesus just as you have trusted since you first became believers"
"what we taught you about Jesus when you first became believers"
The word "remains" is talking about relationship, not salvation. Alternate translation: "If you continue to trust what we first taught you"
To "remain in" means to continue to have fellowship with. See how you translated a similar phrase to "remain in" in [1 John 2:6]
"This is what he promised to give us—eternal life" or "He has promised to cause us to live forever"
The word "life" throughout this letter refers to more than physical life. Here "life" refers to being alive spiritually. See how you translated this in [1 John 1:1]
Here "lead you astray" is a metaphor for persuading someone to believe something that is not true. Alternate translation: "those who want to deceive you" or "those who want to make you believe lies about Jesus Christ"
Starting in verse 29, John introduces the idea of being born into God's family. The previous verses show that believers continue to sin; this part shows that believers also have the new nature, which cannot sin. It continues to show how believers can recognize each other.
This marks John's telling them something else about how they should live as followers of Jesus instead of following those who are against Christ.
John speaks of the Holy Spirit as if he were "the anointing" that the people have received from Jesus and remains in them. The abstract noun "anointing" can be translated with a verbal phrase. See how you translated "anointing" in [1 John 2:20]
Here the word "everything" is a generalization. Alternate translation: "because his anointing teaches you everything that you need to know" or "because his Spirit teaches you everything that you need to know"
This word is used here to mark a new part of the letter.
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
"we see him"
having no fear
"not be ashamed in his presence"
"when he comes again"
"has been born of God" or "is God's child"
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and this is what we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know him. [1]2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we will be. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. 4 Everyone who sins is committing acts of lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that Christ was revealed in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in him will keep on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen him or known him. 7 Children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8 The one who commits sin is from the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this reason the Son of God was revealed, so that he would destroy the devil's works. 9 Whoever has been born from God does not continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him. He cannot continue to sin because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and children of the devil are revealed: Whoever does not do what is righteous is not from God, neither is the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.
13 Do not be amazed, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer. You know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 By this we know love, because Christ laid down his life for us. We also ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world's goods, sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart of compassion from him, how does the love of God remain in him? 18 My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in actions and truth. 19 It is by this we know that we are from the truth, and we assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 Whatever we ask we will receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing before him. 23 This is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us this commandment. 24 The one who keeps God's commandments remains in him, and God remains in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit whom he gave to us.
God created all people, but people can only become children of God by believing in Jesus. (See: believe)
Cain was a son of the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve. He was jealous of his brother and murdered him. Readers may not know who Cain was if they have not read Genesis. It may help them if you explain this to them.
The verb "to know" is used in two different ways in this chapter. Sometimes it is used about knowing a fact, as in 3:2, 3:5, and 3:19. Sometimes it means to experience and understand someone or something, as in 3:1, 3:6, 3:16, and 3:20. Some languages have different words for these different meanings.
Many scholars believe this is about remaining in God's will and is not about being saved. (See: eternity and save)
In this part John tells the believers about their new nature, which cannot sin.
"Think about how our Father loves us so much"
"the Father called us his children"
Here this means people who belong to God through faith in Jesus.
Possible meanings are 1) "Because we are the children of God and because the world did not know God, it does not know us" or 2) "Because the world did not know God, it does not know us."
Here "the world" refers to people who do not honor God. What the world did not know can be made explicit: Alternate translation: "those who do not honor God do not know that we belong to God, because they did not know God"
"You people whom I love, we are" or "Dear friends, we are." See how you translated this in 1 John 2:7.
This can be stated in active form: Alternate translation: "God has not yet revealed"
This can mean here either "told," "demonstrated," or "shown."
The word "him" refers to Christ. Having hope in Christ means expecting that because of Christ, what is hoped for will happen. Alternate translation: "Everyone who has this hope because of Christ" or "Everyone who trusts Christ to fulfill this hope"
The phrase "this hope" refers to the hope of being like Christ, as mentioned in the previous verse. Here to have hope is to confidently expect something good. Alternate translation: "who confidently expects in Christ to become like Christ" or "who confidently waits for Christ to cause him to become like Christ"
"keeps himself pure because Christ is pure"
This page has intentionally been left blank.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Christ appeared" or "the Father revealed Christ"
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. See how you translated "remains in God" in [1 John 2:6]
John uses the words "seen" and "known" to say that the person who sins has never met Christ in a spiritual sense. A person behaving according to his sinful nature cannot know Christ. Alternate translation: "No one ... has ever truly believed in him"
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
Here "lead you astray" is a metaphor for persuading someone to believe something that is not true. Alternate translation: "do not let anyone fool you" or "do not let anyone deceive you"
"He who does what is right is pleasing to God just as Christ is pleasing to God."
"belongs to the devil" or "is like the devil"
This refers to the very earliest time of creation before humans first sinned. Alternate translation: "since the earliest time of creation"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God revealed his Son"
This is an important title for Jesus that describes his relationship to God.
For now John ends this section on the new birth and the new nature which cannot sin.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Whoever God has made his child"
This speaks of the Holy Spirit, whom God gives to believers and who makes them able to resist sin and do what pleases God as if he were a physical seed that is planted in the earth and grows. Alternate translation: "the Holy Spirit"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has given him new spiritual life" or "he is a child of God"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are"
"whoever does not do what is righteous is not from God; whoever does not love his brother is also not from God" or "those who are from God do what is right, and those who are from God love their brothers"
Here "brother" means fellow Christians.
This page has intentionally been left blank.
Cain and Abel were the first sons of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman.
"We should not do as Cain did"
This refers to Cain's younger brother Abel.
John uses a question to teach his audience. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "He killed him because"
The words "works were" are also understood in the second phrase. Alternate translation: "Cain's works were evil and his brother's works were righteous" or "Cain did evil things and his brother did what was right"
"my fellow believers." John's readers were both male and female.
Here the word "world" refers to the people who do not honor God. Alternate translation: "if those who do not honor God hate you who do honor God"
The conditions of living and of being dead are spoken of as if they were physical locations that a person could leave from and go to. The abstract nouns "life" and "death" can be translated with verbal phrases. Alternate translation: "we are no longer spiritually dead but are spiritually alive"
The word "life" throughout this letter refers to more than physical life. Here "life" refers to being alive spiritually. See how you translated this in [1 John 1:1]
"is still spiritually dead"
John speaks of a person who hates another believer as if he were a murderer. Since people commit murder because they hate other people, God considers anyone who hates to be as guilty as someone who kills a person. Alternate translation: "Whoever hates another believer is as guilty as someone who kills a person"
"Eternal life" does refer to believers living forever after they have died, but it is also the power that God gives believers in this life to help them to stop sinning and to do what please him. Here eternal life is spoken of as if it were a person that could live in someone. Alternate translation: "a murderer does not have the power of spiritual life"
This expression means "Christ willingly gave his life for us" or "Christ willingly died for us"
material possessions like money, food, or clothing
"realizes a fellow believer needs help"
Here "heart" is a metonym for "thoughts" or "emotions." Here "shuts up his heart of compassion" is a metaphor for no longer showing someone compassion. Alternate translation: "does not show him compassion" or "does not willingly help him"
John uses a question to teach his audience. Alternate translation: "God's love is not in him"
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
The phrases "in word" and "in tongue" both refer to what a person says. Alternate translation: "do not just say that you love people, but show that you truly love people by helping them"
The words "let us love" are understood here. Alternate translation: "let us love in actions and truth"
Here John probably means that believers' ability to love God and each other sincerely (1 John 3:18) is a sign that their new life has indeed originated from the truth about Christ.
People living according to the truth is spoken of as they were "from the truth." Alternate translation: "we are living according the way Jesus taught us" or "we belong to him who is true"
The word "heart" here refers to feelings. Alternate translation: "we do not feel guilty"
Here "hearts" is a metonym for people's thoughts or consciences. Here "hearts condemn us" is a metaphor for feeling guilty. Alternate translation: "if we know that we have sinned and as a result feel guilty"
Here "hearts" is metonym for people's thoughts or consciences. For God to be "greater than our hearts" means that God knows more than a person. Therefore he can judge things better than a person can. The effect of this truth is probably that God is more merciful than our consciences would suppose. Alternate translation: "God knows more than we do"
"You people whom I love, if" or "Dear friends, if." See how you translated this in 1 John 2:7.
Here "before him" represents God's opinion or what he thinks about something. Alternate translation: "do the things that are pleasing to him" or "do what pleases him"
The abstract noun "commandment" can be stated as "command." Alternate translation: "This is what God commands us to do: Believe ... just as he commanded us to do"
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. See how you translated "remains in God" in [1 John 2:6]
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. Alternate translation: "God continues to have fellowship with us"
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you will know the Spirit of God—every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world. [1]4 You are from God, children, and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us. He who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. 8 The person who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 Because of this the love of God was revealed among us, that God has sent his only Son into the world so that we would live because of him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and that he sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also should love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us some of his Spirit. 14 Also, we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. 16 Also, we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in this love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 Because of this, this love has been made perfect among us, so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because as he is, just so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love. Instead, perfect love throws out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. But the one who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love because God first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God" but hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 Also, this is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his own brother.
This word "spirit" is used in different ways in this chapter. Sometimes the word "spirit" refers to spiritual beings. Sometimes it refers to the character of something. For example "the spirit of the antichrist," "the spirit of truth," and "the spirit of error" refer to what is typical of the antichrist, truth, and error. "The Spirit" (written with a capital "S") and "the Spirit of God" refer to God. (See: antichrist)
If people love God, they should show it in the way they live and the way they treat other people. Doing this may assure us that God has saved us and that we belong to him, but loving others does not save us. (See: save)
John gives a warning against false teachers who teach against Christ's having had a human body and teachers who talk the way those who love the world talk.
"You people whom I love, do not believe" or "Dear friends, do not believe." See how you translated this in 1 John 2:7.
Here, the word "spirit" refers to a spiritual power or being that gives a person a message or prophecy. Alternate translation: "do not trust every prophet who claims to have a message from a spirit"
Here, the word "spirits" refers to a spiritual power or being that gives a person a message or prophecy. Alternate translation: "think carefully about what the prophet says"
Here "flesh" represents the human body. Alternate translation: "has come as a human being" or "has come in a physical body"
"These are prophets opposed to Christ, whom you have heard are coming, and now are already in the world"
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
"have not believed the false teachers"
"God, who is in you, is"
Here "the one" refers to the devil. Here "the world" represents the people of the world. Alternate translation: "the devil who is in the people of the world"
"They" refers to the false teachers. "From the world" is in contrast to being from God. "The world" represents all things that oppose God. Alternate translation: "They are of the world"
Here "from the world" is in contrast to being from God. Here "the world" represents all things that oppose God. Alternate translation: "therefore what the false teachers say is of the world"
The words "the world" are a metonym for people who do not obey God. Alternate translation: "so the people who do not obey God listen to them"
This page has intentionally been left blank.
John continues to teach about the new nature. He teaches his readers about God's love and loving one another.
"You people whom I love, let us love" or "Dear friends, let us love." See how you translated "Beloved" in 1 John 2:7.
"believers are to love other believers"
"and because those who love their fellow believers have become God's children and know him"
"because God causes us to love each other"
This is a metaphor which means someone has a relationship to God like a child to his father.
The phrase "God is love" a metaphor which means "the character of God is love." Alternate translation: "Those who do not love their fellow believers do not know God, because the character of God is to love people"
"Because of this ... among us: God has sent his only Son." The phrase "Because of this" refers to the phrase "that God has sent his only Son."
The noun "love" can be translated as a verb. This phrase can be made active. Alternate translation: "God showed that he loves us"
"to enable us to live eternally because of what Jesus did"
"The true demonstration of love was not that" or "This is true love: not that
By dying on the cross as a sacrifice, Christ satisfied God's wrath against our sin. The phrase "atoning sacrifice" can translated with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that satisfied his wrath against our sins"
"You people whom I love, if" or "Dear friends, if." See how you translated this in 1 John 2:7.
"since God loved us in this way"
"believers are to love other believers"
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. See how you translated "remains in God" in [1 John 2:6]
"God's love is complete in us"
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. See how you translated "remains in God" in [1 John 2:6]
The word "remains" is understood from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "and he remains in us"
Your translation may be clearer if you omit either "by this" or "because." Alternate translation: "We know ... us because he gave" or "By this we know ... us: he gave"
"because he gave us his Spirit" or "because he has put his Holy Spirit in us." This phrase, however, does not imply that God has less of his Spirit after he has given us some.
"And we apostles have seen the Son of God and tell everyone that God the Father has sent his Son to save people on this earth"
These are important titles that describe the relationship between God and Jesus.
"Anyone who says the truth about Jesus, that he is the Son of God"
This is an important title for Jesus that describes his relationship to God.
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. See how you translated "remains in God" in [1 John 2:6]
The word "remains" is understood from the previous phrase. Alternate translation: "and he remains in God" (See: Ellipsis)
This is a metaphor which means "the character of God is love." See how you translated this in [1 John 4:8]
"those who continue to love others"
To remain in someone means to continue to have fellowship with him. See how you translated "remains in God" in [1 John 2:6]
This can be stated in active form. Possible meanings are 1) "Because of this" refers back to [1 John 4:16]
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has made his love for us complete"
"because the relationship that Jesus has with God is the same relationship we have with God in this world"
Here "love" is described as a person with the power to remove fear. God's love is perfect. Alternate translation: "Instead, when our love is complete, we are no longer afraid"
"because we would be afraid only if we thought that he would punish us"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "But when a person is afraid that God will punish him, his love is not complete"
This page has intentionally been left blank.
"hates a fellow believer"
If two negative statements in a row are confusing, this can be translated differently. Alternate translation: "the one who hates his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen"
This page has intentionally been left blank.
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born from God, and whoever loves a father also loves the child born from him. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is love for God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who is born from God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the one who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. He came not only by water, but also by water and blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three are in agreement. [1]9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son. 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 And the testimony is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I have written to you these things so that you will know that you have eternal life—to you who believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Also, this is the confidence we have before him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 Also, if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask of him—we know that we have whatever we have asked of him. 16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not result in death, he must pray, and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not result in death. There is a sin that results in death; I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin that does not result in death.
18 We know that whoever has been born from God does not sin. But the one who was born from God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are from God, and we know that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 But we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. Also, we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life. 21 Children, keep yourselves from idols.
When people believe in Jesus, God makes them his children and gives them eternal life. (See: believe)
People who believe in Jesus should obey God's commands and love his children.
This seems to refer to behaviors that will result in a person experiencing spiritual death, that is, to be separated from God forever. (See: death)
The phrase "the evil one" refers to Satan. God has allowed him to rule the world, but ultimately God is in control over everything. God keeps his children safe from the evil one. (See: satan)
John continues to teach his readers about God's love and the love believers are to have because they have this new nature from God.
"is a child of God"
"When we love God and do what he commands, then we know that we love his children"
"Because when we do what he commands, that is true love for God"
"what he commands is not difficult"
"heavy" or "crushing" or "difficult"
"all children of God overcome"
"has victory over the world," "succeeds against the world," or "refuses to do the evil things unbelievers do"
This passage uses "the world" to refer to all the sinful people and the evil systems in the world. Alternate translation: "everything in the world that is against God"
"And this is what gives us the power to resist whatever would lead us to sin against God: our faith" or "And it is our faith that gives us the power to resist whatever would lead us to sin against God"
John used this question to introduce something he wanted to teach. Alternate translation: "I will tell you who overcomes the world:"
This does not refer to a specific person but to anyone who believes this. Alternate translation: "Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God"
This is an important title for Jesus that describes his relationship to God.
John teaches about Jesus Christ and what God said about him.
"Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood." Here "water" is probably a metonym for the baptism of Jesus, and "blood" stands for Jesus's death on the cross. Alternate translation: "God showed that Jesus Christ is his son at Jesus's baptism and his death on the cross"
Here "water" is probably a metonym for the baptism of Jesus, and "blood" stands for Jesus's death on the cross. Alternate translation: "God did not show us Jesus was his son just through his baptism, but through his baptism and his death on the cross"
This page has intentionally been left blank.
This page has intentionally been left blank.
The idiom to "receive the testimony" means to believe what another person testifies concerning something that he has seen. The abstract noun "testimony" can be translated with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: "If we believe what men testify" or "If we believe what men say about what they have seen"
the testimony of God is more important and more reliable
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
"Whoever believes in Jesus knows for sure Jesus is the Son of God"
"has called God a liar"
"because he has not believed that God has told the truth about his Son"
"This is what God says"
The word "life" throughout this letter refers to more than physical life. Here "life" refers to being alive spiritually. See how you translated this in [1 John 1:1]
"this life is through his Son" or "we will live forever if we are joined with his Son" or "we will live forever if we are united with his Son"
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God.
Being in a close relationship to the Son is spoken of as having the Son. Alternate translation: "He who believes in the Son of God has eternal life. He who does not believe in the Son of God does not have eternal life"
This begins the end of John's letter. He tells his readers the last purpose for his letter and gives them some final teachings.
"this letter"
Here "name" is a metonym for the Son of God. Alternate translation: "to you who trust in the Son of God"
This is an important title for Jesus that describes his relationship to God.
The abstract noun "confidence" can be stated as "confident." Alternate translation: "we are confident in God's presence because we know that"
"if we ask for the things that God desires"
"we know that we will receive that for which we have asked God"
"a fellow believer"
The word "life" throughout this letter refers to more than physical life. Here "life" refers to being alive spiritually. See how you translated this in [1 John 1:1]
This refers to eternal death, that is, eternity spent away from God's presence.
This page has intentionally been left blank.
John closes his letter, reviewing what he has said about the new nature of believers, which cannot sin, and he reminds them to keep themselves from idols (5:21).
The phrase "the evil one" refers to Satan, the devil.
Lying in someone's power represents being controlled or ruled by him. Alternate translation: "the whole world is controlled by the evil one"
Here "world" represents all the people who rebel against God. Alternate translation: "all the people of the world are under the power"
This is an important title for Jesus that describes his relationship to God.
"has enabled us to understand the truth"
Being "in" someone represents having a close relationship with him, that is being united to him or belonging to him. The phrase "him who is true" refers to the true God, and the phrase "in his Son Jesus Christ" explains how we are in him who is true. Alternate translation: "we are united to him who is true by being united to his Son Jesus Christ"
"the true one" or "the real God"
Possible meanings are 1) "This one" refers to Jesus Christ, or 2) "This one" refers to the one true God.
He is called "eternal life" becasue he gives us eternal life. Alternate translation: "and the one who gives eternal life"
John was an elderly man and their leader. He used this expression to show his love for them. See how you translated this in [1 John 2:1]
"stay away from idols" or "do not worship idols"