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THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF
JOHN.
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CHAPTER 1.
HAT which was from the beginning, 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;
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God (Jno., 1:1)."
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and
bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the
Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye
also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is
with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all
things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent
Theophilus,
That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou
hast been instructed (Luke, 1:1-4)."
"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of
his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (I. Cor., 1:9)."
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be
full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and
declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at
all.
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men (Jno., 1:4)."
6 If we say that we have fellowship
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with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all sin.
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past, through the forbearance of God (Rom., 3:24, 25)."
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey him (Heb., 5:8, 9)."
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
"I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou
forgavest the iniquity of my sin (Ps., 39:5)."
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy (Prov., 28:13)."
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us.
CHAPTER 2.
Y little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them
(Heb., 7:25)."
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past, through the forbearance of God (Rom., 3:25)."
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (Jno., 15:14)."
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 is the love of God
perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to
walk, even as he walked.
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him (Acts, 10:38)."
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old
commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the
word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is
true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the
true light now shineth.
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off
the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying
(Rom., 13:12, 13)."
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is
in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there
is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh
in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that
darkness hath blinded his eyes.
"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a
cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to
his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever
shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (Matt., 5:22)."
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are
forgiven you for his name's sake.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts, 4:12)."
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that
is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye
have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children,
because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers,
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because ye have known him that 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 wicked one.
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you (Jno., 15:7)."
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.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom., 12:1, 2)."
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to
make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and
gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Gen., 3:6)."
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 time: and as ye have heard
that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists;
whereby we know that it is the last time.
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not
come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin
be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that
is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these
things?
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way (II. Thess., 2:3-7)."
19 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
they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were
not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all
things.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen (Matt., 28:19, 20)."
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments
(I. Jno., 2:3)."
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth,
but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:
(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the
beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain
in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even
eternal life.
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life
(Matt., 19:29)."
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them
that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in
you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it
hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name (Jno., 1:12)."
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall
appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his
coming.
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they
also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of him. Even so, Amen (Rev., 1:7)."
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that
doeth righteousness is born of him.
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CHAPTER 3.
EHOLD, 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.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life (Jno., 3:16)."
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.
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together (Rom., 8:15-17)."
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure.
"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an
high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Heb., 6:19, 20)."
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.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
(Jno., 1:29 )."
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath
not seen him, neither known him.
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be
my disciples (Jno., 15:7, 8)."
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.
"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel
(Gen., 3:15)."
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged
(Jno., 16:11)."
"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly
(Rom., 16:20)."
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.
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as
he walked (Jno., 2:6)."
"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is
begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not
(I. Jno., 5:18)."
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by
the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (I. Pet., 1:23)."
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.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another (Jno., 13:35)."
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.
"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew
him (Gen., 4:8)."
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated
you (Jno., 15:18)."
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.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new
(II. Cor., 5:17)."
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a
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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.
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace
of God should taste death for every man (Heb., 2:9)."
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.
"For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he
that judgeth me is the Lord (I. Cor., 4:4)."
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.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and
to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matt., 7:7, 8)."
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.
CHAPTER 4.
ELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive
many.
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or
there; believe it not (Matt., 24:5, 23)."
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit
of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that
Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit (I. Cor., 12:3)."
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even
now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and
the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not
of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and
the spirit of error.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (Jno., 17:3)."
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us (Rom., 5:8)."
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another,
God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he
hath given us of his Spirit.
"And we are his witnesses of these things;
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and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that
obey him (Acts, 5:32)."
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son
to be the Saviour of the world.
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved (Jno., 3:17)."
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God
dwelleth in him, and he in God.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed (Rom., 10:9-11)."
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto
thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and
before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession (I. Tim., 6:12, 13)."
16 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.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for
ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another (I. Thess., 4:9)."
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he
love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God
love his brother also.
CHAPTER 5.
HOSOEVER believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every
one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have
ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel (I. Cor., 4:15)."
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love
God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this
is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
"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 (I. Jno., 3:9)."
"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is
begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not
(I. Jno., 5:18)."
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth
that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus
Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit
that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith
came there out blood and water.
And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he
knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe (Jno., 19:34, 35)."
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit,
and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life (Jno., 6:63)."
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned (Mark, 16:16)."
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin (I. Jno., 1:7)."
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is
greater: for this is the
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witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
10 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 believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
"He that hath received the testimony hath set to his seal that God is
true (Jno., 3:33)."
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the
Son of God hath not life.
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life (Jno., 5:40)."
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
(Jno., 20:30, 31)."
14 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we
ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things (Rom., 8:32)?"
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto
death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not
unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray
for it.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries (Heb., 10:26, 27)."
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto
death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he
that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth
him not.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To
visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world (Jas., 1:27)."
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world
lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us
an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are
in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the
true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
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