1 John 2:7–14

⁷Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command^aa but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word^ab you have heard. ⁸Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away^ac and the true light^ad is already shining.^{ae 9}The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister^af is in the darkness until now. ¹⁰The one who loves his brother or sister^ag remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.^{D 11}But the one who hates his brother or sister^ah is in the darkness, walks in the darkness,^ai and doesn’t know where he’s going,^aj because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

REASONS FOR WRITING

¹²I am writing to you, little children,

since your sins have been forgiven

on account of his name.^ak

¹³I am writing to you, fathers,

because you have come to know

the one who is from the beginning.^al

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have conquered the evil one.^am

¹⁴I have written to you, children,

because you have come to know the Father.

I have written to you, fathers,

because you have come to know

the one who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men,

because you are strong,

God’s word^an remains in you,

and you have conquered the evil one.