1 Every person who believes that Jesus is the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God. And everyone who [continually] loves God, who did the conceiving, also [must continually] love the person whom God has [spiritually] conceived.
1 (A)Whoever believes that Jesus is the (a)Christ is (b)(B)born of God, and whoever loves the (c)Father (C)loves the child (d)born of Him.
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God,(A) and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him.
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves the child.
2 This is [one] way we know that we love God's [spiritually reborn] children: [It is] when we love God and obey what He commands us to do.
2 (D)By this we know that (E)we love the children of God, when we love God and (e)observe His commandments.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
2 This is how we know that we love God's children: we love God and keep his commandments.
3 For this is [real evidence of] our love for God: [It is] obeying what He commands us to do. And obeying His commands does not cause us any grief [or, unpleasantness].
3 For (F)this is the love of God, that we (G)keep His commandments; and (H)His commandments are not burdensome.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
3 For this demonstrates our love for God: We keep his commandments, and his commandments are not difficult,
4 For whoever [Note: The Greek says "whatever"] is [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God will overcome [the evil influence of] the world. And this is [how] that victory can be gained over the world: [It is through] our faith [in God].
4 For whatever is (f)(I)born of God (J)overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
4 because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
4 because everyone who is born from God has overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
5 And who is the person who can overcome [the evil influence of] the world? [It is] the one who [truly] believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
5 And who is the one who conquers the world(C) but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?(D)
5 Who overcomes the world? Is it not the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This Jesus is the one whose coming [to earth was introduced] by water [at His immersion. See Matt. 3:13] and [completed] by blood [at His crucifixion, John 19:17-37]. He did not come by the water only, but by the water and by the blood. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives testimony [at both of these events], because the Holy Spirit is [always] the truth. [See John 16:13].
6 This is the One who came (L)by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not (g)with the water only, but (h)with the water and (i)with the blood. It is (M)the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
6 Jesus Christ—He is the One who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water(E) and by blood.(F) And the Spirit is the One who testifies,(G) because the Spirit is the truth.
6 This man, Jesus the Messiah, is the one who came by water and blood not with water only, but with water and with blood. The Spirit is the one who verifies this, because the Spirit is the truth.
8 The Holy Spirit [through His Word], and the water [through His immersion] and the blood [through His crucifixion]; and these three agree together [in giving testimony about Him].
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
8 And there are three witnesses on earth the Spirit, the water, and the blood and these three are one.
9 If we [are willing to] accept the testimony of people about matters, [surely we ought to accept that] the testimony of God is more reliable; because the testimony of God is that He has presented [confirming] testimony concerning [the identity and mission of] His Son.
9 (O)If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that (P)He has testified concerning His Son.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
9 If we accept the testimony of men, God’s testimony(K) is greater, because it is God’s testimony that He has given about His Son.
9 If we accept human testimony, God's testimony is greater, because it is the testimony of God and because he has testified about his Son.
10 The person who [sincerely] believes in God's Son has the evidence [of it] within his heart, [confirming God's testimony]. The person who does not believe God [i.e., what He says about Jesus], accuses Him of lying, because he has not accepted the [irrefutable] testimony of God concerning [the identity and mission of] His Son.
10 The one who believes in the Son of God (Q)has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has (R)made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
10 (The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him. The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar,(L) because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son.)
10 The person who believes in the Son of God believes this testimony personally. The person who does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony that he has given about his Son.
11 And this is the testimony [of God]: He gave to us [the hope of] never ending life, and this life is [available through fellowship] in His Son.
11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us (S)eternal life, and (T)this life is in His Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
11 This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in his Son.
12 The person who has the Son [in his heart] possesses this "life;" the one who does not have the Son of God does not possess this "life."
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
12 The person who has the Son has this life. The person who does not have the Son of God does not have this life.
13 I have written these things to you people, who believe in the name [i.e., in the person and work] of the Son of God, so that you can have assurance that you have [the hope of] never ending life. [See Titus 1:2; 3:7; Mark 10:30].
13 (V)These things I have written to you who (W)believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have (X)eternal life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name(N) of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
14 And this is [how we can express] boldness in our relationship with God: Whatever we ask [of God, in prayer], so long as it is in harmony with His will for us, [we know] He hears our request.
14 This is (Y)the confidence which we have (l)before Him, that, (Z)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
14 Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask(O) anything according to His will, He hears us.(P)
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him: if we ask for anything according to his will, he listens to us.
15 And if we can be sure that He hears our request for whatever we ask [of Him], we can [also] be certain that we [will] have whatever we have requested from Him.
15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, (AA)we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
15 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask,(Q) we know that we have what we have asked Him for.(R)
15 And if we know that he listens to our requests, we can be sure that we have what we ask him for.
16 If anyone [of you] observes his brother [or sister] sinning [in a way that would not lead] to [spiritual] death, he should ask [God, in prayer, to help that person], and God will give him [spiritual] life, [that is], to such ones, provided their sin is not leading to [spiritual] death. There is such a sin that leads to [spiritual] death. [See Heb. 6:4-6; I Tim. 5:6; Heb. 10:26-27; II Pet. 2:20-22]. I am not suggesting that you should ask [God, in prayer] about such a situation.
16 If anyone sees his brother (m)committing a sin not leading to death, (AB)he shall ask and (n)God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. (AC)There is a sin leading to death; (AD)I do not say that he should make request for this.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not bring death, he should ask, and God(c) will give life to him—to those who commit sin that doesn’t bring death. There is sin(d) that brings death. I am not saying he should pray about that.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray that God would give him life. This applies to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not telling you to pray about that.
17 All wrongdoing is sinful, and [yet] there is a situation where [a person's] sin does not lead [him] to [spiritual] death.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that does not bring death.
17 Every kind of wrongdoing is sin, yet there are sins that do not lead to death.
18 We know that every person who has been [spiritually] conceived [by God and eventually born] does not continue in [a life of] sin, but God's one and only conceived [Son] keeps him [from continuing to sin], and the evil one [i.e., Satan] does not continue to touch him [i.e., continue to control his life].
18 (AG)We know that (AH)no one who is (o)born of God sins; but He who was (p)born of God (AI)keeps him, and (AJ)the evil one does not (AK)touch him.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One(e) who is born of God keeps him,(f)(g)(S) and the evil one does not touch him.
18 We know that the person who has been born from God does not go on sinning. Rather, the Son of God protects them, and the evil one cannot harm them.
19 We [also] know that we are [children] of God and that the people of the whole world lie under [the control of] the evil one [i.e., Satan].
19 (AL)We know that (AM)we are of God, and that (AN)the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.
19 We know that we are from God and that the whole world lies under the control of the evil one.
20 And [in addition], we know that the Son of God has come [in a physical body, See 4:2] and has given us understanding, so that we can know the True One [i.e., God], and that we are in [fellowship with] the True One, even His Son Jesus Christ. This Son is the true God and eternal life.
20 And (AO)we know that (AP)the Son of God has come, and has (AQ)given us understanding so that we may know (AR)Him who is true; and we (AS)are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (AT)This is the true God and (AU)eternal life.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come(T) and has given us understanding so that we may know the true One.(h) We are in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ.(U) He is the true God and eternal life.
20 We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true God. We are in union with the one who is true, his Son Jesus the Messiah, who is the true God and eternal life.
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