A New Translation of the First Letter of

John

Based on the Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 with references to the Papyrus fragments of the Chester Beatty collections, c. 3^rd Century A.D. and the Sinaitic Manuscript of the 4^th Century.

Some notes on this translation:

Thou vs. YOU: Many people today have a hard time understanding the Elizabethan usage of thou, thee, thy, etc. For this reason, we have chosen to avoid this archaic language. At the same time, we need to be able to fulfill the purpose of those words, which was to distinguish between a singular you and a plural YOU. Following the example of other translations, we have used all capital letters to indicate plural (more than one person addressed), and small letters to indicate singular (one person addressed).

Words in italics: Following the example of other translations, we have used italics for words that are not in the original text, but which are essential to the sense of the original when translated into English. Unlike other translations, however, we have NOT added words which alter the meaning of the original.

Words in (parentheses): These are not part of the biblical text, but are notes of explanation from the translator.

Perfect vs. Complete: Many English versions use the word “perfect” both as a verb and as an adjective, to translate a particular Greek root. We have also used it occasionally, but it should be understood as perfect in the sense of “complete” and not in the sense of “without flaw.”

1 John 1

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked at, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life,

2 --and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and announce to YOU the everlasting life, which was pertaining to the Father, and was manifested to us--

3 that which we have seen and heard we announce to YOU also, so that YOU also may have fellowship with us: and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:

4 and we are writing these things so that our joy may be full.

5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, yet walk in the darkness, we are lying, and are not doing the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we are misleading ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2

1 My little children, I am writing these things to YOU so that YOU might not sin. And if anyone sin, we have a comforter pertaining to the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 and he is the atonement for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.

4 The one who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in that one;

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in him:

6 The one who says he abides in him, ought also himself to walk as he walked.

7 Beloved, I am writing to YOU not a new commandment, but an old commandment which YOU had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which YOU heard.

8 Again, a new commandment I am writing to YOU, which is true in him and in YOU; because the darkness is going away, and the true light is already shining.

9 The one who says he is in the light, but hates his brother, is in the darkness until now.

10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.

11 But 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.

12 I am writing to YOU, little children, because YOUR sins are forgiven YOU through his name.

13 I am writing to YOU, fathers, because YOU have known him who is from the beginning. I am writing to YOU, young men, because YOU have conquered the evil one. I have written to YOU, young children, because YOU have known the Father.

14 I have written to YOU, fathers, because YOU have known him who is from the beginning. I have written to YOU, young men, because YOU are strong, and the word of God remains in YOU, and YOU have conquered the evil one.

15 Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 Because all that is in the world, the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the bragging about means of living, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

17 And the world is going away, and its desire also: but the one doing the will of God remains for ever.

18 Young children, it is the last hour: and just as YOU heard that antichrist is coming, and now many antichrists have come to be; from which we know that it is the last hour.

19 They came out of us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us: but they went out so that they might appear clearly, that they all are not of us.

20 And YOU have an anointing from the Holy One, and YOU have known all those.

21 I did not write to YOU because YOU have not known the truth, but because YOU have known it, and because no lie is from the truth.

22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

23 Everyone denying the Son does not have the Father: the one who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.

24 That which YOU heard from the beginning, let that remain in YOU. If that which YOU heard from the beginning remains in YOU, YOU also will remain in the Son and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise which he promised us: the life everlasting.

26 I have written these things to YOU about those who mislead YOU.

27 But the anointing which YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU have no need that anyone teach YOU; but as his anointing is teaching YOU about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it taught YOU, remain in him.

28 And now, little children, remain in him; so that, if he should appear, we might have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If YOU know that he is righteous, YOU know that everyone doing righteousness has been born of him.

1 John 3

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and we are. Because of this, the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been shown what we shall be. We know that, if he should appear, we will be like him; because we will see him just as he is.

3 And every one having this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

4 Every one committing sin is also committing lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

5 And YOU know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Every one remaining in him does not sin: Every one sinning has not seen him or known him.

7 Little children, let no one mislead YOU: the one doing righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous:

8 The one committing sin is from the devil; because the devil is sinning from the beginning. For this, the Son of God was manifested, so that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Every one born of God does not commit sin, because his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 By this the children of God are apparent, and the children of the devil: every one not doing righteousness is not of God, neither the one who does not love his brother.

11 Because this is the message which YOU heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:

12 not like Cain, who was of the evil one, and slaughtered his brother. And for what did he slaughter him? Because his works were evil, but his brother's righteous.

13 Do not be surprised (literally “do not wonder”), brethren, if the world hates YOU.

14 We know that we have passed over from death into life, because we love the brethren. The one who does not love remains in death.

15 Every one hating his brother is a murderer: and YOU know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

16 By this we have known love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoever has the world's means of living, and looks at his brother having need, and shuts up his compassions from him, how does the love of God remain in him?

18 Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

19 By this we will know that we are of the truth, and will persuade our heart before him:

20 because if our heart finds fault with us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart does not find fault with us, we have boldness toward God;

22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment; that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he gave us commandment.

24 And the one keeping his commandments remains in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

1 John 4

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 By this YOU know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in flesh, is of God

3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which YOU heard is coming; and now it is in the world already.

4 YOU are of God, little children, and have conquered them: because greater is he that is in YOU than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

6 We are of God: the one who knows God hears us; whoever is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another: because love is of God; and every one who loves is born of God, and knows God.

8 The one who does not love has not known God; because God is love.

9 In this was the love of God manifested in us: because God has sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him.

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son the atonement for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12 No one has seen God at any time: if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love, having been perfected, is in us:

13 By this we know that we are remaining in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son, Savior of the world.

15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love; and the one remaining in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

17 In this, love has been perfected with us, so that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because just as he is, we are also in this world.

18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear has punishment; and the one who fears has not been perfected in love.

19 We love, because he first loved us.

20 If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar: for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God, love his brother also.

1 John 5

1 Every one believing that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him who bore, also loves the one who is born of him.

2 In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy.

4 Because all that is born of God conquers the world: and this is the conquest that has conquered the world: our faith.

5 But who is the one conquering the world, if not the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and by the blood.

7 And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

8 Because there are three bearing witness, the Spirit and the water and the blood: and the three are for one (purpose).

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he has borne witness concerning his Son.

10 The one believing in the Son of God has the witness in him: the one not believing God has made him a liar; because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning his Son.

11 And the witness is this, that God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in his Son.

12 The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I wrote these things to YOU, so that YOU might know that YOU have everlasting life, to YOU who believe in the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us:

15 and if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the things which we have asked from him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not to death, he will ask, and will give him life for those who sin not to death. There is a sin to death: it is not about that sin that I am saying that he should request.

17 All unrighteousness is sin, and is sin not to death.

18 We know that everyone born of God does not sin; but the one who was born of God watches himself, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, so that we know the true One, and we are in the true One, in his Son Jesus Christ: This is the true God, and everlasting life.

21 Little children, keep YOURSELVES from idols.