- 1 1 John 1 Α′ The eternal Word of life, heard and seen and handled by the apostolic witnesses, is proclaimed so that the readers may share fellowship with the Father and the Son and so have fullness of joy — a fellowship tested by the message that God is light, in whom is no darkness at all: those who walk in the light are cleansed by Jesus' blood, while every claim to sinlessness is exposed as a lie against God's own word. PDF
- 2 1 John 2 Β′ The marks of those who truly know God and abide in him: forgiven for his name's sake and possessing Christ the righteous Advocate and propitiation, they keep his commandments, love the brother in the dawning light, refuse the passing world, hold fast the message they heard from the beginning against the antichrists' lie, and — taught by the abiding anointing — abide in him, that they may have confidence at his coming. PDF
- 3 1 John 3 Γ′ The astonishing love of the Father makes us his children now, with the purifying hope of being like Christ; this divine birth issues in a settled break with the practice of sin and in active brotherly love — the twin marks that distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil and give the loving heart assurance before God. PDF
- 4 1 John 4 Δ′ Two tests of authentic life with God, set side by side: the doctrinal test of the spirits — every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh is from God, while the spirit of antichrist withholds that confession — and the ethical test of love, for God is love, he proved it by sending his Son as the propitiation for our sins, and the one begotten of God must love his brother, since perfected love casts out the fear of judgment. PDF
- 5 1 John 5 Ε′ The faith that overcomes the world: everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is born of God, loves God's children, and keeps his commandments; God's threefold testimony — Spirit, water, and blood — establishes that eternal life is given in his Son, so that believers may know they have that life, pray with confidence, and keep themselves from idols. PDF