1Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.
2Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God: and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that when he shall appear we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.
3And every one that hath this hope in him sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy.
4Whosoever committeth sin committeth also iniquity. And sin is iniquity.
5And you know that he appeared to take away our sins: and in him there is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: and whosoever sinneth hath not seen him nor known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whosoever is born of God committeth not sin: for his seed abideth in him. And he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not just is not of God, or he that loveth not his brother.
11For this is the declaration which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another.
12Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just.
13Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.
16In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17He that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?
18My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
19In this we know that we are of the truth and in his sight shall persuade our hearts.
20For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things.
21Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God.
22And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment: That we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.
24And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us.