CHAPTER 3

1 See what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God! the world for this reason knoweth us not, because it did not know him.

2 Beloved, we are now the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when lie shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is:

3 And every one who hath this hope in him purifieth himself, inasmuch as he is pure.

4 Whosoever doeth sin, doeth also iniquity; and sin is iniquity.

5 But ye know that he appeared that he might take away our sins, and sin is not in him.

6 Whosoever abides in him doth not sin; whosoever sins, hath not seen him, nor known him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you, — he who doeth righteousness is righteous, inasmuch as he is righteous:

8 He who doeth sin, is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. The Son of God was for this end manifested, that he might undo the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever has been born of God, doth not do sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

10 By this are made manifest the sons of God, and the sons of the devil, — every one who doeth not righteousness, is not of God, nor he who loves not his brother.

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we love one another:

12 Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and why did he slay him? because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

13 Wonder not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren; he who loves not his brother, remains in death.

15 Every one who hates his brother, is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his own life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But when any one has this world’s goods, and seeth his brother in want, and closeth up his bowels from him, how abideth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth:

19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20 For if our heart accuse us, doubtless God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart do not accuse us, we have confidence towards God:

22 And if we ask anything, we receive it from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things which are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he who keepeth his commandment, abideth in him, and he in him; and by this we know that he abideth in us, even by the Spirit whom he hath given us.