Bible Text & Cross-references:
Of the love of God to us: how we may distinguish the children
of God, and those of the devil. Of loving one another, and of purity of conscience.
1 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 us not, because it hath not known him.
2 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.
3 And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he
also is holy.
4 Every one who committeth sin, committeth also iniquity: and sin is
iniquity.
5 And you know that he appeared to take away our sins: *and in him there
is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not: and whosoever sinneth, hath
not seen him, nor known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He that doth justice, is just:
as he also is just.
8 *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.
9 Every one that 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 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the
devil. Every one who is not just, is not of God, and he that loveth not his brother:
11 For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning,
*that you should love one another.
12 Not *as Cain, who was the wicked one, and killed his brother. And
for what cause did he kill him? Because his own works were evil: and his brother's just.
13 Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the
brethren. *He that loveth not abideth in death:
15 Whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer. And you know that no
murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.
16 *In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down
his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 *He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother
in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in
deed, and in truth.
19 In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight we shall
persuade our hearts.
20 For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and
knoweth all things.
21 Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence
towards God:
22 *And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we
keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 *And this is his commandment: that we should believe in the name of
his Son, Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.
24 *And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him:
and in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
____________________
*
5: Isaias liii. 9.; 1 Peter ii. 22.
8: John viii. 44.
11: John xiii. 34. and xv. 12.
12: Genesis iv. 8.
14: Leviticus xix. 17.; 1 John ii. 10.
16: John xv. 13.
17: Luke iii. 11.; James ii. 15.
22: Matthew xxi. 22.
23: John vi. 29. and xvii. 2.
24: John xiii. 34. and xv. 12.
