The first Chapter.
That which was from the beginning declare we unto you, which we have
heard which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, of the word of life. For the life appeared, and
we have seen, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life,
which was with the father, and appeared unto us. That which we have
seen and heard declare we unto you that ye may have fellowship with us,
and that our fellowship may be with the father, and his son Iesus
Christ. And this write we unto you, that our joy may be full.
And this is the tidings which we have heard of him, and declare unto
you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say
that we have fellowship with him, and yet walk in darkness, we lie, and
do not the truth: but and if we walk in light even as he is in light,
then have we fellowship with him, and the blood of Christ his son
cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not
in us. If we knowledge our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The second Chapter.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye should not
sin: and if any man sin, yet we have an advocate with the father, Iesus
Christ, which is righteous: and he it is that obtaineth grace for our
sins: not for our sins only: but also for the sins of all the world.
And hereby we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar,
and the verity is not in him. Whosoever keepeth his word, in him is the
love of God perfect in deed. And thereby know we that we are in him. He
that saith he bideth in him, ought to walk even as he walked.
Brethren I write no new commandment unto you: but that old commandment
which ye heard from the beginning. The old commandment is the word
which ye heard from the beginning. Again a new commandment I write unto
you, a thing that is true in him, and also in you: for the darkness is
past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith how that he is in
the light, and yet hateth his brother, is in darkness even until this
time. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is
none occasion of evil in him. He that hateth his brother is in
darkness, and walketh in darkness: and cannot tell whither he goeth,
because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Babes I write unto you how that your sins are forgiven you for his
name's sake. I write unto you fathers, how that ye have known him that
was from the beginning. I write unto you young men, how that ye have
overcome the wicked. I write unto you little children, how that ye have
known the father. I write unto you fathers, how that ye have known him
that was from the beginning. I write unto you young men, how that ye
are strong: and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome
that wicked.
See that ye 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.
For all that is in the world (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of goods) is not of the father: but of the world.
And the world vanisheth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
fulfilleth the will of God, abideth ever.
Little children it is the last time, and as ye have heard how the
antichrist shall come: even now are there many antichrists come already
whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us but
they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt
have continued with us. But that fortuned that it might appear, that
they were not of us.
And ye have an ointment of the wholy ghost, and ye know all things. I
wrote not unto you, as though ye knew not the truth: but as though ye
knew it, and know also that no lie cometh of truth. Who is a liar: but
he that denieth that Iesus is Christ? he is the antichrist that denieth
the father and the son. Whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not
the father. Let therefore abide in you that same which ye heard from
the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning shall remain
in you, ye also shall continue in the son, and in the father. And this
is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
This have I written unto you, as concerning them that deceive you. And
the anointing which ye have received of him dwelleth in you. And ye
need not that any man teach you: but as that annointing teacheth you
all things, and is true, and is no lie: and as it taught you, even so
bide therein. And now babes abide in him, that when he shall appear, we
may be bold, and not be made ashamed of him at his coming. If ye know
that he is righteous, know also that he which followeth righteousness,
is born of him.
The .iij. Chapter.
Behold what love the father hath shewed on us, that we should be called
the sons of God. For this cause the world knoweth you not because it
knoweth not him. Derely beloved, now are we the sons of God, and yet it
hath not appear what we shall be. But we know that when it shall
appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And every
man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himself, even as he is pure.
Whosoever committeth sin, committeth unrighteousness also, for sin is
unrighteousness. And ye know that he appeared to take away our sins,
and in him is no sin. As many as bide in him, sin not: whosoever
sinneth hath not seen him, neither hath known him.
Babes let no man deceive you, He that doth righteousness, is righteous,
even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil: for
the devil sinneth since the beginning. For this purpose appeared the
son of God, to loose the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God,
sinneth not: for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because
he is born of God. In this are the children of God known, and the
children of the devil. Whosoever doth not righteousness, is not of God,
neither he that loveth not his brother.
For this is the tidings, that ye heard from the beginning, that we
should love one another: not as Cain which was of the wicked and slew
his brother. And wherefore slew he him? because his own works were
evil, and his brother's good. Marvel not my brethren if the world hate
you. We know that we are translated from death unto life, because we
love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death.
Whosoever hateth his brother, is a man slayer. And ye know that no man
slayer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Hereby perceive we love: that he gave his life for us: And we ought
also to give our lives for the brethren. Whosoever hath this world's
goods and seeth his brother in necessity, and shutteth up his
compassion from him: how dwelleth the love of God in him? My babes, let
us not love in word, neither in tongue: but with deed, and in verity:
And thereby we know that we are of the verity, and will before him put
our hearts out of doubt: For (if our hearts condemn us) God is greater
than our hearts, and knoweth all things. Tenderly beloved, if our
hearts condemn us not, then have we trust to God ward: and whatsoever
we ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and
do those things which are pleasing in his sight.
And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his son
Iesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment. And he that
keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we
know that there abideth in us of the spirit which he gave us.
The .iiij. Chapter.
Derely beloved believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether
they are of God, or no: for many false prophets are gone out into the
world. Hereby shall ye know the spirit of God. Every spirit that
confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And every
spirit which confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh, is
not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist, of whom ye have
heard, how that he should come: and even now already is he in the
world.
Little children, ye are of God, and have overcome them: for greater is
he that is in you, then he that is in the world. They are of the world,
therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are
of God. He that knoweth God heareth us: He that is not of God, heareth
us not. Hereby know we the spirit of verity, and the spirit of error.
Derely beloved, let us love one another: for love cometh of God. And
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth
not, hath not known God: for God is love. In this appeared the love of
God to us ward, because that God sent his only begotten son into the
world, that we might live thorow him. Herein is love, not that we loved
God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to make agreement for our
sins.
Derely beloved if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth
in us, and his love is perfect in us. Hereby know we, that we dwell in
him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit. And we have
seen and do testify that the father sent the son, which is the saviour
of the world. Whosoever confesseth that Iesus is the son of God, in him
dwelleth God, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love
that God hath to us.
God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in
him. Herein is the love perfect in us, that we should have trust in the
day of judgment, that as he is, even so are we in this world. There is
no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out all fear, for fear hath
painfulness. He that feareth is not perfect in love.
We love him, for he loved us first. If a man say, I love God, and yet
hate his brother, he is a liar. How can he that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment
have we of him: that he which loveth God, should love his brother also.
The .v. Chapter.
Whosoever believeth that Iesus is Christ, is born of God. And every one
that loveth him which begat, loveth him also which was begotten of him.
In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and
keep his commandments. This is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. For all that is
born of God, overcometh the world. And this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcometh the
world: but he which believeth that Iesus is the son of God?
This Iesus Christ is he that came by water and blood, not by water
only: but by water and blood. And it is the spirit that beareth
witness, because the spirit is truth. For there are three which bear
record in heaven, the father, the word, and the holy ghost. And these
three are one. And there are three which bear record in earth: the
spirit, and water, and blood: and these three are one. If we receive
the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. For this is the
witness of God, which he testified of his son. He that believeth on the
son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God, hath
made him a liar, because he believed not the record that God gave of
his son. And this is that record, how that God hath given unto us
eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that hath the son, hath
life: and he that hath not the son of God, hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
son of God, that ye may know how that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the son of God. And this is the trust that
we have in him: that if we ask any thing according to his will he
heareth us. And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask, we know
that we shall have the petitions that we desire of him.
If any man see his brother sin a sin that is not unto death, let him
ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There
is a sin unto death, for which say I not that a man should pray. All
unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death.
We know that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: but he that is
begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked twicheth him not. We
know that we are of God, and that the world is altogether set on
wickedness. We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us a
mind to know him which is true: and we are in him that is true, through
his son Iesu Christ. This same is very God, and eternal life. Babes
keep yourselves from images. Amen.