The New Commandment
7 Beloved, I am writing you
1no new commandment, but
2an old commandment
3that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
8
At the same time, it is
4a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because
5the darkness is passing away and
6the true light is already shining.
9
Whoever says he is in the light and
7hates his brother is still in darkness.
10
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no
8cause for stumbling.
11
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and
9walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12
I am writing to you, little children, because
10your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know
11him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because
12you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because
13you know the Father.
14
I write to you, fathers, because you know
14him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because
15you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 16Do not love the world or the things in the world.
17If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16
For all that is in the world--
18the desires of the flesh and
19the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.
17
And
20the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.