Add parallel Print Page Options

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us; but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us.

20 But you have the unction from the Holy One, and know all things.

21 I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.

24 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life everlasting.

26 These things have I written to you, concerning them that seduce you.

27 And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you; but as his unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.

29 If you know, that he is just, know ye, that every one also, who doth justice, is born of him.

Behold 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.

Dearly 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.

And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy.

Whosoever committeth sin committeth also iniquity; and sin is iniquity.

And you know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; and whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him.

Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just.

He 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.

Warnings Against Denying the Son

18 Dear children, this is the last hour;(A) and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming,(B) even now many antichrists have come.(C) This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us,(D) but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.(E)

20 But you have an anointing(F) from the Holy One,(G) and all of you know the truth.[a](H) 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it(I) and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.(J) 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.(K)

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning(L) remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.(M) 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.(N)

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.(O) 27 As for you, the anointing(P) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things(Q) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.(R)

God’s Children and Sin

28 And now, dear children,(S) continue in him, so that when he appears(T) we may be confident(U) and unashamed before him at his coming.(V)

29 If you know that he is righteous,(W) you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.(X)

See what great love(Y) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!(Z) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.(AA) Dear friends,(AB) now we are children of God,(AC) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[b](AD) we shall be like him,(AE) for we shall see him as he is.(AF) All who have this hope in him purify themselves,(AG) just as he is pure.(AH)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.(AI) But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.(AJ) And in him is no sin.(AK) No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.(AL) No one who continues to sin has either seen him(AM) or known him.(AN)

Dear children,(AO) do not let anyone lead you astray.(AP) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.(AQ) The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,(AR) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God(AS) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts and you know all things
  2. 1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known