1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
生命之道
1論到從太初就已經存在的生命之道，我們曾經耳聞目睹，親眼看過，親手摸過。 2這生命曾顯現過，我們看見了，現在做見證，向你們傳揚這原本與父同在、曾向我們顯現的永恆生命。 3我們把所見所聞傳給你們，使你們可以與我們相交。誠然，我們是與父和祂兒子耶穌基督相交。 4我們將這些話寫給你們，是要讓大家都充滿喜樂。
要活在光中
5我們從耶穌那裡聽見、現在傳給你們的信息就是：上帝是光，在祂裡面毫無黑暗。 6如果我們說與祂相交，卻仍過著黑暗的生活，就是撒謊，沒有遵行真理。 7如果我們生活在光明之中，像上帝在光明中一樣，就能夠彼此相交，上帝兒子耶穌的血能洗淨我們一切的罪。
8如果我們說自己沒有罪，便是自欺，真理就不在我們心中。 9如果我們承認自己的罪，上帝是信實公義的，必赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。 10我們如果說自己沒有犯過罪，就是把上帝看作說謊的，祂的道也不在我們心中。
