你们看父赐给我们的是何等的慈爱，让我们得以称为神的儿女；我们也真是他的儿女。世人不认识我们☛“我们”：有古卷是“你们”。的理由，是因他们未曾认识父。
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2亲爱的，我们现在是神的儿女，将来如何还未显明。我们所知道的是：基督显现的时候，我们会像他，因为我们将见到他的本相。Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3凡对他有这指望的，就洁净自己，像他是洁净的一样。And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4凡犯罪的，就是做违背律法的事；违背律法就是罪。Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5你们知道，基督曾显现是要除掉罪☛“罪”：有古卷是“我们的罪”；另有古卷是“世人的罪”。；在他并没有罪。And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6凡住在他里面的，不犯罪；凡犯罪的，未曾看见他，也未曾认识他。Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7孩子们哪，不要让人迷惑了你们；行义的才是义人，正如基督是义的。Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8犯罪的是出于魔鬼，因为魔鬼从起初就犯罪。神的儿子显现出来，是为了要毁灭魔鬼的作为。He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9凡从神生的，不犯罪，因神的道☛“道”：原文直译“种”。存在他里面，他也不能犯罪，因为他是由神所生的。Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10这就显明谁是神的儿女，谁是魔鬼的儿女了。凡不行义的，不是出于神，不爱他弟兄的，也是如此。彼此相爱
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11我们要彼此相爱。这就是你们从起初所听到的信息。For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12不要像该隐；他是属那邪恶者，杀了自己的弟弟。为什么杀了他呢？因为自己的行为是邪恶的，而弟弟的行为是正直的。Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13弟兄们，世人若恨你们，不要惊讶。Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14我们知道，我们已经出死入生了，因为我们爱弟兄。没有爱心的，仍住在死中。We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15凡恨自己弟兄的，就是杀人的；你们知道，凡杀人的，没有永生住在他里面。Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16基督为我们舍命，我们从此就知道何为爱；我们也当为弟兄舍命。Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17凡有世上财物的，看见弟兄缺乏，却关闭了恻隐的心，神的爱怎能住在他里面呢？But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18孩子们哪，我们相爱，不要只在言语或舌头上，总要以行为和真诚表现出来。在神面前坦然无惧
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19从这一点，我们会知道，我们是出于真理的，并且我们在神面前可以安心，And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20即使我们的心责备自己，神比我们的心大，他知道一切。For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21亲爱的，我们的心若不责备我们，在神面前就可以坦然无惧了。Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22我们一切所求的，就从他得着，因为我们遵守他的命令，行他所喜悦的事。And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23神的命令就是：我们要信他儿子耶稣基督的名，并且照他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24遵守神命令的，住在神里面，而神也住在他里面。从这一点，我们知道神住在我们里面，这是由于他所赐给我们的圣灵。And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.