ther. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were wicked, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 14 We know that we have passed over from death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. 15 Every one that hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Herein have we the knowledge of love, that He laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's sustenance, and beholdeth his brother having need, and shutteth up his heart from him, how abideth the love of God in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word neither with tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And herein shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall persuade our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, it is because God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. BE CHAPTER IV. ELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Herein know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not Jesus 3[Christ come in the flesh] is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the confi-world, and the world heareth 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have dence toward God, 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, His brother is omitted in the three oldest MSS. 2 So all the oldest MSS. them. 6 We are of God: he that he knoweth God heareth us; that is not of God heareth not 3 These words are omitted in the Alexandrine and Vatican MSS., but contained in the Sinaitic MS. and in the ancient Syriac version. us. From this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not never knew God; because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested in regard to us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. IO Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins. II Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 God hath no one beheld at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and the love of Him is perfected in us. 13 Herein know we that we abide in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have beheld and do testify that the Father hath sent the Son as Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and have believed the love that God hath in regard to us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we have boldness in the day of judgment: because even as he is, so are we in this world. 18 Fear existeth not in love; nay, perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love,' because he first loved us. 20 If any say, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, 2cannot love God whom he hath not seen. 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. E CHAPTER V. VERY one that believeth that Jesus is the Christ hath been begotten of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 Herein we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not grievous, because All that is begotten of God overcometh the world: and 1 Him is omitted by the Alexandrine and Vatican MSS.: the Sinaitic has God instead of it. This variety in the authorities which insert it shews that the ori ginal text did not contain it. 2 So the two oldest MSS. this is the victory that hath | 13 These things have I writovercome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood. And the Spirit is that which beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For they that bear witness1 are three, 8 The spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in 3 him he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. II And this is the witness, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. 1 The words, in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, are omitted by all Greek MSS. (till the sixteenth century); all the Greek Fathers; all the ancient versions; and most of the Latin Fathers. 2 So all the oldest MSS. So most of the oldest MSS. ten unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life; even to you that believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him. 16 If any see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: concerning it I do not say that he should make request. 17 All unrighteousness is sin : and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that hath been begotten of God, it keepeth him, and the wicked toucheth him not. one 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one. 20 7 Moreover we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know the true 4 So, omitting that believe on the name of the Son of God, all the oldest MSS. 5 So the two oldest MSS. 6 So the Vatican MS. and the Alexandrine (but in this latter the originai scribe has corrected him to himself). The Sinaitic MS. has himself. 7 So the oldest MSS. One; and we are in the true One, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.1 1 Amen is omitted by all the oldest authorities. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF 1 JOHN. HE elder unto the elect whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth; 2 For the truth's sake, which abideth in us, and shall be with us for ever: 3 There shall be with us grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from 3Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 1 rejoice greatly, that I have found of thy children walking in truth, according as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing unto thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we 1 Or, Kyria the elect. 2 So all the oldest authorities, except the Alexandrine MS., which omits there shall be with us altogether. 3 The Lord is omitted by the Alexandrine and Vatican MSS., but inserted by the Sinaitic MS. walk according to his com mandment, even as ye heard from the beginning that ye should walk in it. 7 Because many deceivers went forth into the world, they who confess not Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that *ye lose not those things which ye wrought, but that ye receive reward in full. 5 9 Whosoever goeth before you, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the doctrine," he hath both the Father and the Son. IO If any cometh unto you, and bringeth not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him good speed: 4 So is the preponderance of authority. But the oldest MSS. vary: the Vatican has that ye lose not the things which we wrought. 5 So all the oldest MSS. 6 Of Christ is omitted by all the oldest MSS. II For he that biddeth him | face, that your joy may be good speed is partaker of his full. evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not do so with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee.3 1 So the Alexandrine and Vatican MSS.: the Sinaitic has our. * Amen is omitted by all the oldest authorities. THE THIRD EPISTLE OF JOHN. HE unto Gaius the 8 We therefore ought to sup Beloved, whom I love in port such, that we may become the truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that thou mayest prosper in all things, and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified to thy truth, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, that I hear of my children walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, who besides are strangers; 6 Which bore witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey worthily of. God, thou shalt do well : 7 Because that for 'the Name's sake they went forth, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 1 So all the oldest MSS. fellow-workers for the truth. 9 I wrote somewhat unto the church: howbeit Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. IO Wherefore, if I come, I will bring to mind his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with wicked speeches: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. II Beloved, imitate not evil, but good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath good testimony from all, and from the truth itself: yea, and we also bear testimony; and thou knowest that our testimony is true. |