1 John

Assures believers of eternal life through faith in Jesus and commands love for God and one another.

Chapter 2

1 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:

*Dear kids, I'm writing this so you don't do wrong things. If someone does make a mistake, we have someone to help us talk to God, named Jesus Christ, who is fair and just.

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

*He is the solution for our mistakes, not just for us but for everyone's wrongdoings in the world.

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

*We understand that we truly know him if we follow his rules.

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

*If someone says they know Him but doesn't follow His rules, they are not telling the truth and the truth isn't in them.

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

*But whoever follows God's promises, God's love becomes complete in them; we know then that we are part of Him.

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

*Whoever says they live with him should also walk the same way he did.

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.

*Dear friends, I'm not giving you a new rule, but an old one you already knew from the start. This old rule is the message you've heard since the very 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.

*Once more, I give you a new rule: it's real in both Him and you. This is because the darkness is gone, and true light is shining now.

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

*Who says they're in the light but hates their brother is still in darkness right now.

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

*If you love your brother, you stay in the light, and he won't cause any problems.

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.

*But if someone hates their brother, they are in the dark, walking in darkness, and don't know where they're going because the darkness has made their eyes unable to see.

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

*I'm writing to you, little ones, because your mistakes are forgiven since it's because of his name.

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.

*I am writing to the fathers because they already know the one who has been around since the start. I am writing to the young men because you have defeated the evil one. I am writing to the little children because you know 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.

*I wrote this message to the parents because they know God from the start. I also wrote it to the young people because you're strong, God's word stays with you, and you defeated the evil 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.

*Don't like the world or its stuff. If you do, God's love isn't in your heart.

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.

*Everything in the world, like wanting things, desiring what we see, and being proud, comes from the world, not God.

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

*The world and its desires fade away, but those who follow God's wishes stay forever.

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.

*Dear kids, this is the final period: and just like you've been told, the one who opposes Christ will come soon. There are already many of them, which tells us that this is truly the end.

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.

*They left us and weren't part of us; if they were, they would have stayed. But they left to show they weren't fully with us.

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

*But you have a special guidance from the Holy Spirit, and you understand everything.

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.

*I wrote this for you because you understand what's true, and not because you don't. Truth doesn't include lies.

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

*Who lies if they say Jesus isn't the Messiah? That person is antichrist, who denies both 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.

*Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; whoever accepts the Son also has the Father.

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.

*Keep what you heard at the start, and it will help you stay connected to the Son and the Father.

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

*This is the promise he gave: eternal life.

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

*I wrote this to inform you about those who may lead you astray.

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.

*But the special gift you got from him stays with you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. This gift teaches you everything, is true, not a lie, and just like it has taught you before, you should stay connected to 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.

*And now, dear kids, stay close to him; so when he comes back, we can be confident and won't feel embarrassed in front of him.

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

*If you know someone is good, you also know that anyone who does good things comes from the same source.

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