Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 John 2
Christ Our Advocate
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Knowing God and Keeping His Commands
By this we know that we have come to know him: if we keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But whoever keeps his word, in that person the love of God has truly been brought to completion. By this we know that we are in him: whoever says they remain in him ought to walk just as he walked.
An Old and New Commandment
Beloved, I am not writing you a new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word you heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says they are in the light and hates a brother or sister is still in darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in that person. But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded their eyes.
What Remains and What Passes Away
I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know the one who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I have written to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you know the one 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 overcome the evil one.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in that person. For everything in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desire, but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Antichrists and the Anointing
Children, it is the last hour. As you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from 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 it might become clear that none of them are of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know. I am writing to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise he made to us: eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. Rather, as his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie, just as it taught you, remain in him.
Children of God
And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.