found in peace, without spot and blameless in 15 his sight. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given 16 to him, wrote unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own de17 struction. Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from 18 your own stedfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and Gr. unto the 1 for ever. Amen.

day of eternity.

'Or, word

THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF

JOHN.

THAT which was from the beginning, that I 1 which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the 'Word of life (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, 2 and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); that which we 3 have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: and these things we write, 4 Many ancient that 2 our joy may be fulfilled.

authorities read your.

And this is the message which we have 5 heard from him, and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, 6 and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth but if we walk in the light, as he is in the 7 light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive 8 ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we con- 9 fess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not 10 sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2 I

forter

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an 1Advocate with the Father, 'Or, ComJesus Christ the righteous: and he is the pro- Or, Helper pitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, Gr. Paraclete. 3 but also for the whole world. And hereby know we that we know him, if we keep his 4 commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, 5 and the truth is not in him: but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby know we that we are 6 in him he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

7

Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning the old commandment is the 8 word which ye heard. Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the

light, and there is none occasion of stumbling II in him. But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12

I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him which is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. 2 I have written unto you, little children, Or, I wrote 14 because ye know the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him which is from the beginning. I have written unto you,

2

1

'Or, that not

all are of us 2 Some very

rities read and ye all know.

'Or, that

young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one. Love not the world, neither 15 the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of 16 the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and 17 the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye 18 heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. They went out 19 from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest 1how that they all are not of us. And 20 ye have an anointing from the Holy One, 2 and ancient autho- ye know all things. I have not written unto 21 you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus 22 is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son. Who- 23 soever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you 24 which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise which he pro- 25 • Some ancient mised us, even the life eternal. These things 26 have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray. And as for you, the 27 anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you;

authorities read you.

4

true, and is no as &c.

2

but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even 1Or, so it is 28 as it taught you, 2 ye abide in him. And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not 29 be ashamed 3 before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him.

3 I

4

5

Or, abide ye Gr. from him. Gr. presence. Or, know ye

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God: and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him 2 not. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we 'Or, it shall be like him; for we shall see him even as 3 he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness: 5 and sin is lawlessness. And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him 'Or, bear sins 6 is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,

known

7 neither knoweth him. My little children, let no Or, hath man lead you astray: he that doeth righteous8 ness is righteous, even as he is righteous: he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might de9 stroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he 10 is begotten of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, II neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message which ye heard from the begin

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