1 我的孩子们， 我写这些给你们， 是要你们不犯罪。如果有人犯了罪， 在父的面前我们有一位维护者， 就是那义者耶稣基督。
2 他为我们的罪作了赎罪祭， 不仅为我们的罪， 也为全人类的罪。
3 我们若遵守 神的命令， 这样， 就知道我们已经认识他。
4 凡是说"我已经认识他"， 却不遵守他命令的， 就是说谎的人， 真理就不在他里面了。
5 然而凡是遵守他的道的， 他爱 神的心就的确在他里面完全了。这样， 我们就知道我们是在 神里面了。
6 凡说自己是住在他里面的， 就应该照着他所行的去行。
7 亲爱的， 我写给你们的， 不是一条新命令， 而是你们本来就有的旧命令。这旧命令就是你们听过的道。
8 然而， 因为黑暗渐渐消逝， 真光已在照耀， 我写给你们的也是一条新命令， 这在 神和在你们来说， 都是真的。
9 凡是说自己在光明中， 却恨他的弟兄的， 他到现在还在黑暗里。
10 凡是爱弟兄的， 就是住在光明中， 在光明中他就不会跌倒。
11 凡是恨弟兄的， 就是在黑暗里， 也在黑暗里行事。他不知道往哪里去， 因为黑暗弄瞎了他的眼睛。
12 孩子们， 我写信给你们， 因为你们的罪因着主的名已经得到赦免。
13 父老们， 我写信给你们， 因为你们认识太初就存在的那一位。青年们， 我写信给你们， 因为你们已经胜过那恶者。
14 孩子们， 我写信给你们， 因为你们认识父。父老们， 我写信给你们， 因为你们认识太初就存在的那一位。青年们， 我写信给你们， 因为你们强壮， 神的道在你们心里， 你们也胜过了那恶者。
15 不要爱世界和世上的东西。人若爱世界， 爱父的心就不在他里面了。
16 原来世上的一切， 就如肉体的私欲， 眼目的私欲和今生的骄傲， 都不是出于父， 而是从世界来的。
17 这世界和世上的私欲都要渐渐过去， 但那遵行 神旨意的却存到永远。
18 孩子们， 现在是末世的时候了。你们听过敌基督者要来， 现在已经有不少敌基督起来了； 因此我们就知道这是末世的时候了。
19 他们从我们中间离去， 这就表明他们是不属于我们的。其实他们并不属于我们， 如果真的属于我们， 就一定会留在我们中间。
20 你们从那圣者得着膏抹， 这是你们都知道的。
21 我写信给你们， 不是因为你们不明白真理， 而是因为你们明白， 又因为谎言绝不会出于真理的。
22 那么， 谁是说谎的呢？不就是那否认耶稣是基督的吗？否认父和子的， 他就是敌基督的。
23 凡否认子的， 就没有父； 承认子的， 连父也有了。
24 至于你们， 总要把起初所听见的存记在你们心里； 你们若把起初所听见的存记在心里， 你们也就住在子和父里面了。
25 他应许给我们的， 就是永远的生命。
26 我把这些事写给你们， 是指着那些欺骗你们的人说的。
27 你们既然在你们里面有从主领受的膏抹， 就不需要别人教导你们了， 因为在一切事上有主的膏抹教导你们； 这膏抹是真的， 不是假的， 你们应该按着他所教导的住在他里面。
28 孩子们， 你们要住在主里面。这样， 他若显现， 我们就可以坦然无惧； 他来的时候， 我们也不至惭愧地躲避他了。
29 你们既然晓得 神是公义的， 就应当知道所有行公义的都是从他生的。
1 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard. 8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12 I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. 20 And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise which he promised us, even the life eternal. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray. 27 And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him. 28 And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him.