My dearly loved ones, I am not writing to you about a new commandment, but about an old one. [It is the one] you had learned about from the beginning. [Note: This is the commandment to love one another (3:1: II John 5) which Jesus had taught his disciples during His earthly ministry. See Mark 12:31]. This old commandment is the word [of God] which you heard [previously].

The sinner is a child of the Evil One; for the Evil One has been a sinner from the first. And the Son of God was seen on earth so that he might put an end to the works of the Evil One.

Little children, let no one deceive you: the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, in order that we may know the one who is true, and we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life.

Who is a liar except the one denying that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son.

We know that every one who has been born of God, sins not; but the one having been born of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.