1我的孩子们，我写这些话给你们是为了叫你们不要犯罪。如果有人犯了罪，在父那里我们有一位护慰者，就是那位义者——耶稣基督。 2祂为我们的罪作了赎罪祭，不只是为我们的罪，也是为全人类的罪。
3我们若遵行上帝的命令，就知道自己认识祂。 4若有人说“我认识祂”，却不遵行祂的命令，这人是说谎的，他心中没有真理。 5遵行主话语的人是真正全心爱上帝的人，我们借此知道自己是在主里面。 6所以，自称住在主里面的，就该在生活中效法基督。
新命令
7亲爱的弟兄姊妹，我写给你们的并不是一条新命令，而是你们起初接受的旧命令，这旧命令就是你们已经听过的真道。 8然而，我写给你们的也是新命令，在基督和你们身上都显明是真实的，因为黑暗渐渐过去，真光已经照耀出来。
9若有人说自己在光明中，却恨他的弟兄姊妹，他就仍然活在黑暗里。 10爱弟兄姊妹的人活在光明中，没有什么可以绊倒他2:10 “没有什么可以绊倒他”或译“他也不会绊倒别人”。。 11恨弟兄姊妹的人活在黑暗中，走在黑暗中，不知何去何从，因为黑暗弄瞎了他的眼睛。
12孩子们，我写信给你们，因为靠着祂的名，你们的罪已经得到赦免。 13父老们，我写信给你们，因为你们认识了从太初就存在的那位。年轻人，我写信给你们，因为你们已经战胜了那恶者。
14孩子们，我曾写信给你们，因为你们认识了父。父老们，我曾写信给你们，因为你们认识了从太初就存在的那位。年轻人，我曾写信给你们，因为你们刚强，上帝的道常存在你们心里，并且你们战胜了那恶者。
15不要爱世界和世上的事，因为人若爱世界，就不会再有爱父的心了。 16凡属世界的，如肉体的私欲、眼目的私欲和今生的骄傲都不是从父那里来的，而是从世界来的。 17这世界和其中一切的私欲都要过去，但遵守上帝旨意的人永远长存。
防备敌基督者
18孩子们，现在是末世了。你们从前听说敌基督者要来，其实现在许多敌基督者已经出现了，由此可知，现在是末世了。 19这些人是从我们中间出去的，但他们不属于我们。他们如果属于我们，就会留在我们当中了。他们的离去表明他们都不属于我们。
20你们从那位圣者领受了圣灵2:20 “圣灵”希腊文指“膏抹”。，所以你们明白真理。 21我写信给你们不是因为你们不明白真理，而是因为你们明白真理，并且知道真理里面绝对没有谎言。 22谁是说谎的呢？不就是那否认耶稣是基督的吗？那不承认父和子的就是敌基督者。 23凡否认子的，也否认了父；凡承认子的，也承认了父。
24你们务要把起初所听见的教导谨记在心，这样，你们必住在子和父里面。 25主应许给我们的是永生。 26以上的话是针对那些引诱你们离开正道的人写的。
顺从圣灵
27你们既然从主领受了圣灵，圣灵又住在你们心中，就不需要其他人来教导你们，因为圣灵必会在一切事上指引你们。圣灵的教导是真实的，没有虚假，你们要按圣灵的教导住在主里面。 28孩子们，你们要住在主里面。这样，当主显现的时候，就是祂再来的时候，我们便能坦然无惧，不会在祂面前羞愧。 29既然你们知道主是公义的，也该知道所有按公义行事的人都是上帝的儿女。
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 God2:5 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 sister2:9 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 sister2:10 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 Father2:15 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.
