1 John 2:6-16

6 He that says he abides in him ought, even as *he* walked, himself also [so] to walk.

7 Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard.

8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light already shines.

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness until now.

10 He that loves his brother abides in light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I write to you, children, because [your] sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13 I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked [one]. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked [one].

15 Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him;

16 because all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'ye had.'
• [b]. 'The darkness.' Though a little harsh in these cases in English, 'the' ought to be retained, because it is not simply a state -- a man being in darkness; but a specific darkness, the ignorance and non-revelation of God is spoken of: only it is abstract, and so absolute. 'The darkness' is the natural condition of sinful man without God, who is light; the creature without God. Hence in John 1.5 'the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.' 'Is passing' (ver. 8) is abstract. 'The true light shines:' that is absolute; it shines, whether seen or not. But though some had received the light, he could not say the darkness was all gone, for it was not, but only with some who 'were once darkness, but now light in the Lord.' Thus it was not as in the gospel, when Christ was upon earth; for then the darkness apprehended not the light shining in darkness. It was putting the light out. As long as he was in the world, he was the light of the world. Now it was not so: there was a passing away of the darkness.
• [c]. Paidion (diminutive); it has reference to growth. It stands in contrast to 'young men' and 'fathers.'
• [d]. Ginosko: and so throughout chapter, except vers. 11,20,21,29 (first), oida. Perfect tense here: 'have come to know him, and continue so to do;' and so vers. 4,13,14.
• [e]. The perfect tense: the state produced continues.