English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
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Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
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By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
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For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.
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for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
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Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
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This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
7 For there are three that testify:
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There are three that testify:
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
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the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.
9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.
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If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.
10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.
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Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
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And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
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Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
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I write 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 the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
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And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
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And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
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If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one—to those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
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All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
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We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
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We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
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And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
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Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.