My translation of 1 John.
No, not so I can have my own spin on it, or an “authoritative text” to work from;
Feel free to read it in other translations. Compare them to one another so you can see the translators’ consensus—and that gives you a better idea of what John meant, than simply reading
1 John 1 KWL 1 He who’s in the beginning,- whom we heard,
- whom we saw with our eyes,
- whom we looked at and our hands touched;
- he who’s about the living word,
2 and life was made known:- We saw, witness, and report to you²
- the life of the age to come
- which is with the Father—
- revealed to us.
3 We saw it, heard it, and report it to you²- so you² can also have a relationship with us—
- and our relationship is with the Father
- and with his son, Christ Jesus.
4 We write these things- so our joy might be full.
5 This is the message which we heard from him,- and report to you:²
- God is light.
- “Darkness in God” is not a thing.
6 When we say we have a relationship with God,- yet we can walk in darkness,
- we lie.
- We’re not doing truth.
7 When we walk in the light,- like God himself is in the light,
- we and God have a relationship with one another,
- and the blood of Jesus his son
- cleans us from all sin.
8 When we say we have no sin,- we mislead ourselves, and truth isn’t in us.
9 When we acknowledge our sins,- God is faithful and fair,
- so he can forgive these sins for us,
- and can cleanse us of everything unfair.
10 When we say we’ve not sinned,- we make God out to be a liar,
- and his word isn’t in us.
Gnostics. [1.1-4]
God doesn’t have a dark side. [1.5-7]
We sin. So we need Jesus’s help. [1.8 – 2.2]
1 John 2 KWL 1 My children, I write these things to you²- so you² don’t sin!
- And when anyone sins,
- we have a fair aide with the Father, Christ Jesus.
2 Jesus is the solution for our sins.- And not only for our sins, but also for all the world.
3 We know that we know Jesus this way:- We keep his commands.
4 Saying we know Jesus- and not keeping his commands:
- It’s a lie,
- and there’s no truth found this way.
5 God’s love is truly completed- by whoever might keep Jesus’s word.
- We know we’re in God this way.
6 One who says they¹ abide in Jesus- is obligated to do this:
- Just as Jesus walked,
- they¹ themselves¹ are to walk like this.
7 Beloved, I write you² not a new command,- but an old command which you² had since the beginning.
- The old command is the message you² heard.
8 Yet I do write you² a new command,- true for one and all:
- The darkness is going away,
- and the true light is shining already.
9 One who says they’re¹ in the light- while hating one’s fellow Christian:
- They’re¹ in the darkness right now.
10 One who loves one’s fellow Christian- lives in the light,
- and isn’t triggered by them.¹
11 One who hates one’s fellow Christian- is in the darkness, walking in the darkness,
- and doesn’t know where they’re¹ going
- for the darkness blinds one’s eyes.
Stages of Christian maturity. [2.12-14]
12 Children, I write you²- because your² sins are forgiven in God’s name.
13 Parents, I write you²- because you² knew this from the beginning.
- Youths, I write you²
- because you² conquer evil.
14 Infants, I wrote you²- because you² know the Father.
- Parents, I wrote you²
- because you² knew this from the beginning.
- Youths, I wrote you²
- because you’re² strong,
- and God’s word remains in you,²
- and you² conquer evil.
Don’t love society. [2.15-17]
15 Don’t love society,- nor anything of society:
- When anyone loves society,
- the Father’s love isn’t in them.¹
16 For all these things are found in society:- Valuing whatever feels good.
- Valuing whatever looks good.
- Emphasizing one’s lifestyle—
- one which isn’t based on the Father, but on society.
17 Society, and its values, are passing away.- Doing God’s will, remains in the age to come.
Antichrists: When pagans wanna see Christianity gone. [2.18-23]
18 Children, it’s the last hour.- And just as you² heard, “Antichrist is coming!”
- now many antichrists have come.
- Thus you² know it’s the last hour.
19 They come from among us,- but they aren’t from us,
- for if they were from us,
- they should’ve remained with us still.
- But they left so they might be revealed,
- because none of them are from us.
20 You² have an anointing from the Holy Spirit- and know all this.
21 I don’t write you²- because you² don’t know the truth,
- but because you² do know it,
- and because every lie doesn’t come from truth.
We cannot have the Father without the Son. [2.22-25]
22 Who’s the liar, if not the one denying this?—- the one saying “Jesus isn’t Christ”?
- This is an antichrist:
- One who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Everyone who denies the Son,- doesn’t have the Father.
- One who confesses the Son,
- has the Father as well.
24 What you² heard from the beginning:- Keep it in you!²
- When what you² heard from the beginning
- remains in you,²
- you’ll² remain in the Father and in the Son.
25 This is the promise God promises us:- Life in the age to come.
Needing not that any man teach you. [2.26-29]
26 I write you² these things- about those who mislead you.²
27 As for you,²- the anointing you² received remains on you.²
- You² have no need that someone might teach you;²
- instead it’s like the anointing itself
- teaches you² about everything.
- It’s true, isn’t false,
- and just as it teaches you,² remain in it.
28 Now children, remain in the anointing- so when it’s made known,
- you² can have enthusiasm at its coming
- and not be ashamed of it.
29 When you² recognize the anointing is righteous,- you² also know everything it does
- is begotten by God
- and is also righteous.
Disobedient Christians. [2.1-6]
The new command: Stay in the light! [2.7-11]
1 John 3 KWL 1 Look at the kind of love the Father gives us:- We can be called God’s children!
- And we are!
- This is why society doesn’t understand us:
- It doesn’t understand God.
2 Beloved, we’re now God’s children—- and God’s not yet revealed what we will be.
- We’ve known once he reveals it, we will be like God:
- We will see him as he is.
3 Everyone who has this hope in God:- He cleans them like he is clean.
4 Everyone who commits sin also violates the Law.- Sin’s against the Law.
5 You² knew Jesus was revealed- so he could take away our sins,
- and there’s no sin in him.
6 Everyone who remains in Jesus doesn’t sin:- Everyone who sins has neither seen him, nor knows him.
7 Children, let no one deceive you:²- Doing what’s proper is right,
- just like Christ is right.
8 Doing sin is of the devil,- because the devil sins from the very start.
- This is why God’s Son appeared:
- To undo the devil’s works.
9 Everyone reborn by God doesn’t do sin,- for God’s seed remains in them.¹
- They¹ can’t sin,
- because they’ve¹ been reborn by God.
10 This is how God’s children- and the devil’s children are identified:
- Everyone who doesn’t act properly,
- who doesn’t love their fellow Christian, isn’t of God.
11 This is the message you² heard from the beginning:- We should love one another.
12 Not like Cain,- who murdered his brother Abel out of evil.
- Why did Cain murder him?
- Because Cain’s works were evil.
- The works of his brother Abel were proper.
13 Fellow Christians, don’t be amazed- if society hates you².
14 We knew we passed over from death to life,- for we love our fellow Christians.
- One who doesn’t love fellow Christians
- remains in death.
15 Everyone who hates their¹ fellow Christian- is a murderer,
- and you² knew no murderer has life in the age to come
- remaining within them.¹
16 This is how we knew love:- That man Jesus laid down his soul for us.
- So we’re obliged to lay down our souls
- for our fellow Christians.
17 Whenever one might have a life in society,- and might see one’s fellow Christian having need,
- and might shut off one’s compassion towards them:¹
- How does God’s love remain in that person?
18 Children, we ought not love in word nor speech,- but in work and truth.
19 This is how we’ll know- we’re acting out of truth;
- how we’ll be persuaded in our mind
- before God:
20 When the mind condemns us.- God is greater than our mind,
- and knows everything.
21 Beloved, when our mind doesn’t condemn us,- we should be bold for God.
22 Whatever we might ask,- we should receive from God,
- for we keep his commands
- and we do pleasing things before him.
23 This is God’s command:- We should trust the name of Christ Jesus his son,
- and we should love one another,
- just as he gave the command to us.
24 One who keeps God’s commands- remains in him,
- and he in them.¹
- This is how we know he remains in us:
- By the Spirit whom he gives us.
Society doesn’t know what to make of Christ-followers. [3.1]
Making Christians like us, like God. [3.2-3]
If you think it’s okay to dismiss the Law, you clearly don’t know Jesus. [3.4-6]
Satan’s excuses precede lawless Christians. [3.7-12]
If you don’t love fellow Christians you’re a murderer. [3.13-18]
How do you know you’re following God? Use your brain. [3.19-22]
How do you follow God? Obey him. [3.22-24]
1 John 4 KWL 1 Beloved, don’t trust every spirit!- Instead test the spirits—
- whether it’s from God.
- For many fake prophets went out into the world.
2 This is how you² know God’s spirit:- Every spirit which confesses
- Christ Jesus came from God in the flesh.
3 Every spirit which won’t confess Jesus—- which says he’s not from God—
- this is a spirit of antichrist.
- You² heard it’s coming,
- and it’s in the world right now.
4 Children, you’re² from God.- You overcame the fake prophets,
- for the Lord among you² is greater
- than anyone in the world.
5 They’re from society;- this is why they speak of society
- and society listens to them.
6 You’re² from God.- Anyone who knows God, listens to us.
- Whoever isn’t from God, doesn’t listen to us.
- From this, we know the spirit of truth
- and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, we should love one another,- for love is from God,
- and everyone who loves was fathered by God,
- and knows God.
8 One who doesn’t love, doesn’t know God,- for God is love.
9 This is how God’s love is revealed in us,- for God sent his only-begotten Son
- into the world so we might live through him.
10 This is how love is—- not that we loved God,
- but that he loved us,
- and sent his Son
- as a sin-offering for our sins.
11 Beloved, if this is how much God loves us,- we’re obligated to love one another.
12 Nobody had ever seen God;- when we love one another,
- God remains in us
- and his love is brought to completion by us.
13 This is how we know we remain in God- and he in us:
- By God’s Spirit
- whom he gave us.
14 We saw, and still witness- that the Father sent the Son
- as savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses Jesus is God’s son,- God remains in them¹ and they¹ in God.
16 We knew and believed the love- which God has in us.
- God is love,
- and one who remains in love
- remains in God,
- and God remains in them.¹
17 This is how love was brought to completion by us:- We can be bold on Judgment Day,
- because just as God is,
- we also are, in this world.
18 Fear isn’t in love.- Instead, a complete love throws fear out,
- because fear has negative consequences.
- Those who fear
- haven’t completed love.
19 We love{God} - because he loves us first.
20 When anyone says “I love God,”- and hates their¹ fellow Christian,
- they’re¹ a liar.
- For one who doesn’t love their¹ fellow Christian
- whom they¹ were able to see,
- aren’t able to love God,
- whom they¹ weren’t able to see.
21 We have this command from God,- so one who loves God
- might also love their¹ fellow Christian.
Test spirits. See whether they’re antichrists. [4.1-3]
Lying evil spirits, and society. [4.4-6]
How God shows us his love. [4.7-10]
Interacting with God’s love. [4.11-16]
If we don’t love others, we don’t love God. [4.16 - 5.1]
1 John 5 KWL 1 All who believe Jesus is Christ- were fathered by God.
- All who love the fatherer
- also love those¹ fathered by him.
2 This is how we know we love God’s children:- When the we love the Father,
- we also do his commands.
3 For this the love of God:- We should keep his commands.
- His commands aren’t hard!
4 Since everyone fathered by God- wins against the world,
- this is the win which conquers the world:
- Our trust in God.
5 Who’s the winner over the world,- if not one who trusts
- that Jesus is God’s son?
6 This Christ Jesus is the one who comes by water and blood.- Not only by water,
- but by water and by blood,
- and the Spirit is the witness,
- for the Spirit is the truth.
7 For three are the witnesses:*8 The Spirit, the water, and the blood.- The three are in the one.
9 If we accept the witness of people,- God’s witness is greater,
- for this is the witness of God:
- He witnessed about his Son.
10 One who trusts in God’s Son- has the witness in themselves.¹
- One who doesn’t trust God
- makes him out to be a liar,
- for he didn’t believe the witness
- which God witnessed about his Son.
11 And this is the witness:- God gives us life in the age to come,
- and this life is in his Son.
12 One who has the Son, has life.- One who doesn’t have God’s Son, doesn’t have life.
13 I write you² these things- so you² might fully know
- you² have life in the age to come,
- granted to believers
- in the name of God’s son.
14 This is the boldness we have towards God:- When any of us ask according to his will,
- he hears us.
15 And when we know God hears us,- whatever we might ask him,
- we fully know we have
- the request which we asked of him.
16 When anyone sees their¹ fellow Christian- sinning a non-capital sin,
- one will ask
- and God will give them¹ life—
- to the one sinning a non-capital sin.
- There is such a thing as capital sin;
- I don’t say one should pray about that.
17 Everything unjust is sin,- and sin which isn’t capital.
18 We already know everyone who was begotten by God- doesn’t sin.
- Instead one who’s begotten by God keeps one’s own,
- and evil doesn’t touch them.¹
19 We already know we’re from God,- and the whole world lies down for evil.
20 We already know God’s son is present,- and gave us understanding
- so we might know the truth,
- and we’re in the truth,
- in his son Christ Jesus.
- This is the true God,
- and life in the age to come.
21 Children, guard yourselves- from false gods.
{Amen.}
Victory in Jesus… hidden in the Law. [5.2-5]
Witnesses to eternal life through God’s Son. [5.6-12]
Boldness in prayer. ’Cause God’s listening. [5.13-15]
Praying for capital and non-capital sins. [5.16-17]
God is truth. So watch out for false gods. [5.18-21]
*And, because some Christians are gonna agitate for it, here’s the Johannine Comma, which
1 John 5.7-8 KWL 7 For three are the witnesses{in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one. 8 And three are the witnesses on the earth} :- The Spirit, the water, and the blood.
- The three are in the one.
So, the usual notes about my translation:
- It’s mostly present tense because John used present tense. Since
aorist tense has no time, it borrows the time of the nearby verbs, which’d usually be present. - I actually use italics for emphasis! Words added to make the text clearer English are either gray or lighter red.
- Braces, and the yellow-green tint, mean the words aren’t in the original; they were added by
the Textus Receptus. - The superscript 1 and 2 indicates whether “you” or “they” is singular or plural. Nope, they’re not footnotes.
