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, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every one 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, seeth him not, neither knoweth him.
7 Beloved children, let no one deceive you. He that practiseth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning: to this end the son of God was manifested, to destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed abideth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 Hereby the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil: whosoever practiseth not righteousness is not of God; neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother.
13 And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know, that we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer, and ye know that no murtherer 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 beloved children, let us love not 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, abideth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.