1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. And if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
2And he is the sacrifice that takes away our sins. And not ours only, but also the sins of the whole world.
3And this is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.
4Anyone who says, "I know him," and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But in whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly made complete. This is how we know that we are in him.
6Whoever says he remains in him ought to walk as he walked.
7Brothers and sisters, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning.
8Again, I am writing a new commandment to you. It is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light now shines.
9Whoever says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even now.
10Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
11But whoever hates his brother is in darkness. He walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.
14I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him 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.
15Do 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.
16For everything that is in the world - the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17And the world is passing away, and its desire with it. But whoever does the will of God remains for ever.
18Little children, it is the last time. You have heard that antichrist will come, and even now there are many antichrists. By this 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 have stayed with us. But they went out, so that it might be shown clearly that they were not all of us.
20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth.
22Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father. But whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
24So let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
25And this is the promise that he has promised us: eternal life.
26I have written these things to you about those who are leading you astray.
27But the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. That same anointing teaches you about all things, and it is true and is no lie. So, just as it has taught you, remain in him.
28And now, little children, remain in him. Then, when he appears, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does righteousness is born of him.