Chapter 2

Christ is our advocate: we must keep his commandments, and love one another. We must not love the world, nor give ear to new teachers, but abide by the Spirit of God in the Church.

1. 1

   My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just:

2. 2

   And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

3. 3

   And in this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments.

4. 4

   He that saith he knoweth him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5. 5

   But he that keepeth his word, in him the charity of God is truly perfect: and by this we know that we are in him.

6. 6

   He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

7. 7

   Dearly beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you had from the beginning: The old commandment is the word which you have heard.

8. 8

   Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true both in him, and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9. 9

   He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10. 10

    He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is no scandal in him.

11. 11

    But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth: because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12. 12

    I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13. 13

    I write to you, fathers, because you have known him, who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.

14. 14

    I write to you, infants, because you have known the Father. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

15. 15

    Love not the world, nor those things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him:

16. 16

    For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life: which is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17. 17

    And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof. But he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever.

18. 18

    Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that antichrist cometh, and now there are many antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour.

19. 19

    They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would certainly have remained with us: but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us.

20. 20

    But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.

21. 21

    I have not written to you as to those who know not the truth, but as to those who know it: and that no lie is of the truth.

22. 22

    Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.

23. 23

    Every one that denieth the Son, hath not the Father either. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.

24. 24

    Let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you: If what you have heard from the beginning abide in you, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.

25. 25

    And this is the promise which he hath promised us, eternal life.

26. 26

    These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you.

27. 27

    And let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you. And you have no need that any one should teach you: but as his unction teacheth you concerning all things, and it is true, and is not a lie. And as it hath taught you: abide in him.

28. 28

    And now, little children, abide in him: that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

29. 29

    If you know that he is just, know ye that every one also who doth justice is born of him.