Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles

1My little children, I write these things to you, that you may not sin; but if any one sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one:

2And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sinsof the whole world.

3And by this we know that we have known him, if we keephis commandments.

4He who says, “I know him,” and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him:

5But he who keeps his word, verily in him the love of God is perfected;

6By this we know that we are in him. He who says that lie abides in him, ought also himself so to walk as he walked.

7Brethren, no new commandment do I write to you, but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning.

8Again, a new commandment do I write to you; which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light now shines.

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

10He who loves his brother abides in the light, and to him there is no stumbling:

11But lie who hates his brother, walks in darkness; and he knows not where he goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

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

14I have written to you, fathers, because ye have known him who 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 evil one.

15Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world: if any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16For whatever is in the world, (eventhe lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,) is not from the Father, but from the world.

17And the world passeth away, and the lust of it; but he who doeth the will of God, abides for ever.

18Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Antichrist is to come, even now there are many Antichrist is:

19Hence we know that it is the last hour. From us have they gone out, but of us they were not, for had they been of us, they would surelyhave remained with us; but they have gone out,that they might be made manifest that they were not of us.

20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21I have not written to you, because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that everything false is not from the truth.

22Who is a liar, but he who denies Jesus to be the Christ? He is an Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son:

23Every one who denies the Son hath not the Father.

24Let, then, what you have heard from the beginning remain in you: if what you have heard from the beginning remain in you, ye shall also remain in the Son, and in the Father;

25And this is the promise which he hath promised to us. eveneternal life.

26These things have I written to you respecting them who seduce you: but the unction which ye have received from him remains in you, so that ye have no need that any one should teach you;

27But as the unction teaches you all things, and is truth, and is not a lie, and as it has taught you? soremain in him.

28And now, little children, continue in him, that when lie shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed at his presence.

29Since ye know that he is righteous, know ye that every one who doeth righteousness has been born of him.