• 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
  • 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does 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 has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
  • 4 Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
  • 5 And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
  • 6 Whoever stays in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
  • 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
  • 8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
  • 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains 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: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
  • 11 For this is the message that you 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 why slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
  • 13 Marvel not, my brothers, if the world hate you.
  • 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He that loves not his brother stays in death.
  • 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has 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 brothers.
  • 17 But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells 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 knows all things.
  • 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
  • 22 And whatever 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 keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him.  And hereby we know that he stays in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.