| 1 | Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. |
| 2 | Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. |
| 3 | And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. |
| 4 | Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. |
| 5 | And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. |
| 6 | Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. |
| 7 | Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. |
| 8 | He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. |
| 9 | Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. |
| 10 | In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. |
| 11 | For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. |
| 12 | Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. |
| 13 | Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. |
| 14 | We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death. |
| 15 | Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. |
| 16 | Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. |
| 17 | But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? |
| 18 | My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. |
| 19 | And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. |
| 20 | For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. |
| 21 | Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. |
| 22 | And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. |
| 23 | And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. |
| 24 | And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. |
