1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
上帝的兒女
1你們看，父上帝何等愛我們，稱我們為祂的兒女！我們也實在是祂的兒女，世人之所以不認識我們，是因為他們不認識父上帝。 2親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們現在是上帝的兒女，將來如何還未顯明。但我們知道，當主顯現的時候，我們必會像祂，因為我們必見到祂的本體。 3凡心存這種盼望的人都會自潔，因為主是聖潔的。
4犯罪的人都違背上帝的律法，違背上帝的律法就是罪。 5你們知道，耶穌降世是為了除掉人的罪，祂自己並沒有罪。 6住在祂裡面的人不會一直犯罪；一直犯罪的人既沒見過祂也不認識祂。
7孩子們，不要受人迷惑，要知道行義的才是義人，正如主是公義的。 8一直犯罪的人是屬魔鬼的，因為魔鬼從起初便犯罪，但上帝兒子的顯現是為了摧毀魔鬼的工作。 9從上帝生的人不會繼續犯罪，因為他裡面有上帝的生命3·9 「上帝的生命」希臘文是「上帝的種子」。。他不能犯罪，因為他是從上帝生的。 10這樣，就可以看出誰是上帝的兒女，誰是魔鬼的兒女。凡不按公義行事、不愛弟兄姊妹的，都不是上帝的兒女。
彼此相愛
11我們應當彼此相愛，這是你們起初聽見的信息。 12不要步該隱的後塵。他屬於那惡者，殺害了自己的弟弟。他為什麼要殺害自己的弟弟呢？因為他的行為邪惡，而他弟弟秉行公義。
13弟兄姊妹，世人若恨你們，不要驚奇。 14我們因愛弟兄姊妹，便知道自己已經出死入生了。不愛弟兄姊妹的，仍然陷在死亡中。 15恨弟兄姊妹的就是殺人的，你們知道殺人的沒有永生。 16主耶穌為我們捨命，我們由此便知道什麼是愛，我們也應當為弟兄姊妹捨命。 17如果一個豐衣足食的人看見貧窮的弟兄姊妹，卻毫無憐憫之心，怎能說他愛上帝呢？ 18所以，孩子們啊，不要單在口頭上說愛人，總要以真誠的行動表現出來。
19-20這樣，我們必知道自己屬於真理，即使我們心中自責，也可以在上帝面前心安，因為上帝比我們的心大，祂知道一切。
21親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們若能凡事問心無愧，就可以在上帝面前坦然無懼。 22這樣，我們無論向上帝祈求什麼，都必得到，因為我們遵守祂的命令，做祂喜悅的事。 23其實上帝的命令是：我們要信祂兒子耶穌基督的名，遵照祂的命令彼此相愛。 24遵行上帝命令的人就住在上帝裡面，上帝也住在他裡面。我們藉著上帝賜給我們的聖靈知道：祂住在我們裡面。
