1 John 2
2
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers
3We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5But if anyone obeys his word, love for God#2:5 Or word, God’s love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister#2:9 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15, 17; 4:20; 5:16. is still in the darkness. 10Anyone who loves their brother and sister#2:10 The Greek word for brother and sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in 3:10; 4:20, 21. lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Reasons for Writing
12I am writing to you, dear 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.
14I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I 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 lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
On Not Loving the World
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father#2:15 Or world, the Father’s love is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Warnings Against Denying the Son
18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.#2:20 Some manuscripts and you know all things 21I do not write 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 the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
26I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
God’s Children and Sin
28And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
1 John 2
2
Keeping the New Commandment
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you in order that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, 2and he#Or “he himself” (emphatic) is the propitiation#Or “expiation”; or “atoning sacrifice” for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4The one who says “I have come to know him,” and does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in this person. 5But whoever keeps his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. 6The one who says that he resides in him ought also to walk#Some manuscripts have “to walk in this way” just as that one walked.
7Dear friends, 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 message which you have heard. 8Again, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you, because#Or perhaps “that” the darkness is passing away and the true light already is shining. 9The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves his brother resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But the one who 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.
Encouragement and Assurance
12I am writing to you, little children, because#Or “that” your sins have been forgiven you on account of his name. 13I am writing to you, fathers, because#Or “that” you have known the One who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because#Or “that” you have conquered the evil one. 14I have written to you, children, because#Or “that” you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because#Or “that” you have known the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because#Or “that” you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
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, 16because everything that is in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance of material possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away, and its desire,#Or “and the desire for it” but the one who does the will of God remains forever#Literally “for the age”.
Departure of the False Teachers
18Children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, by which we know that 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 remained with us. But they went out#*This is an understood repetition of the phrase “they went out” from the beginning of v. 19, in order that it might be shown that all of them are not of us.
20And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21I have not written to you because#Or “that” you do not know the truth, but because#Or “that” you do know it, and because#Or “that” every lie is not of the truth. 22Who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This person is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must 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 which he himself promised us: eternal life. 26These things I have written to you concerning the ones who are trying to deceive you.
27And as for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not have need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you reside#*By form the verb could also be imperative: “just as it has taught you, reside in him” in him.
God’s Children
28And now, little children, remain in him, so that whenever he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming. 29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone#Some manuscripts have “everyone also” who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.
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