1 John 2:1–17

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an * advocate v with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the * propitiation w for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. x

God’s Commands

3 This is how we are sure y that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. z 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, a truly in him the love of God is perfected. b This is how we know we are in Him: c 6 The one who says he remains in Him d should * walk just as He walked.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command e but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message f you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away g and the true light h is already shining. i

9 The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother j is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother k remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. l 11 But the one who hates his brother m is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, n and doesn’t know where he’s going, o because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Reasons for Writing

12 I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins have been forgiven

because of Jesus’ name. p

13 I am writing to you, fathers,

because you have come to know

the One who is from the beginning. q

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have had victory over the evil one. r

14 I 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 s remains in you,

and you have had victory over the evil one.

A Warning about the World

15 Do not love the * world t or the things that belong to u the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to v the world—the lust of the flesh, w the lust of the eyes, x and the pride y in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, z but the one who does God’s will a remains forever. b

*
v	Jn 14:26
*
w	Ro 3:25 2 Co 5:21 Heb 2:17 1 Jn 4:10
x	Mt 26:13 Mt 28:19–20 Mk 14:9 Ro 1:8
y	Jn 13:35 1 Jn 2:5 1 Jn 3:19 1 Jn 3:24 1 Jn 4:2 1 Jn 4:6 1 Jn 4:13 1 Jn 5:2
z	Jn 14:15 Jn 15:10
a	Jn 14:23
b	2:5 Or truly completed
c	Jn 6:56 Jn 14:20 Jn 15:1–7 Ro 8:1 2 Co 5:17 Eph 2:10 Php 1:1
d	Jn 15:4–7 1 Jn 2:24 1 Jn 2:27–28 1 Jn 3:6 1 Jn 3:24 1 Jn 4:13 1 Jn 4:15–16
*
e	Mk 7:8 Jn 13:34 2 Jn 5
f	Lk 6:47 Jn 1:1
g	Ro 13:12 1 Co 7:31 1 Jn 2:17
h	Jn 1:9 Jn 3:19–21 Jn 8:12 Jn 12:46
i	Jn 1:5 Jn 12:35–36 Re 22:5
j	1 Jn 2:11 1 Jn 3:15 1 Jn 4:20
k	Ro 12:10 1 Th 4:9 Heb 13:1 1 Pe 1:22 1 Jn 3:10 1 Jn 3:14–17 1 Jn 4:20–21
l	2:10 Or in it
m	Le 19:17 1 Jn 3:15 1 Jn 4:20
n	1 Jn 1:6
o	Jn 14:6
p	Ps 25:11 Lk 24:47 Ac 2:38 Ac 10:43
q	1 Jn 1:1
r	Jn 16:33 Jn 17:15 Eph 6:10 1 Jn 2:14 1 Jn 4:4 1 Jn 5:4–5 Re 2:7
s	1 Jn 1:10
*
t	Jn 15:19 Jn 17:16 Ro 12:2 Jas 1:27 Jas 4:4
u	2:15 * things in
v	2:16 * that is in
w	Ro 13:14 Eph 2:3 1 Pe 4:2 2 Pe 2:18
x	Ge 3:6 Pr 27:20
y	Jas 4:16
z	1 Jn 2:8
a	Mk 3:35 Eph 6:6 1 Th 4:3 1 Pe 2:15
b	Jn 8:35 Jn 12:34 2 Co 9:9 1 Pe 1:25