1 Everyone who believes that Jesus {Iesous, Incarnate Son} is the Christ {Christos, Anointed Messiah} has been born of God {Theos, Source Of New Birth}, and everyone who loves the One who begot {gennesanta: Fatherly Begetter} also loves the one born from Him.
2 In this we know that we love the children of God {Theos, Source of Spiritual Family}, when we love God and keep His commandments {entolas: binding instructions}.
3 For this is the love of God {Theos, Loving Lawgiver}, that we should keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome {bareiai: oppressively heavy}.
4 Because whatever has been born of God {Theos, New Life Giver} conquers the world, and this is the victory {nike: decisive triumph} that has conquered the world—our faith.
5 Who is the one prevailing over the world if not the one who trusts that Jesus {Iesous, Confessed Son} is the Son of God {huios tou Theou, World-Conquering Son}?
6 This is the One who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos, Atoning Son}; not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood. And the Spirit {pneuma, Faithful Witness} is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
7 For there are three {treis: required witnesses} who bear witness {martyrountes: giving testimony}.
8 The Spirit {Pneuma, Confirming Witness} and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement as one {hen: unified testimony}.
9 If we receive the testimony {marturia: authoritative witness} of men, the testimony of God {Theos, Supreme Witness} is greater, because this is God’s testimony: He has testified concerning His Son.
10 The one who believes in the Son of God {Theos, Testifying Father} has the testimony {marturia: confirming witness} in himself; the one who does not believe God makes Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son.
11 And this is the testimony {martyria: authoritative witness} that God {Theos, Giver Of Eternal Life} has granted us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 The one who has the Son has life; the one who does not have the Son of God {huios tou theou, Life-Giving Son} does not have life {zoe: spiritual vitality}.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God {huios tou theou, Ground of Assurance}, so that you may know that you have eternal {aionion: without ending} life.
14 And this is the confidence {parresia: assured freedom} we have toward Him {Theos, Attentive Hearer}: if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He {Theos, Prayer Hearer} hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions {aitemata: formal requests} that we have asked from Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin {hamartia: moral offense} not leading to death, he shall ask, and God {Theos, Life Giver} will give him life—for those who are sinning not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I am not saying that he should ask about that.
17 Every unrighteousness is sin {hamartia: moral failure}, and there is sin that is not unto death {thanatos: final judgment}.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God {Theos, New Birth Source} does not keep on sinning; but the one who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one {poneros: morally corrupt adversary} does not touch him.
19 We know that we are from God {Theos, Source And Protector}, and the whole world lies in the evil one {poneros: Corrupt Ruler}.
20 We know that the Son of God {huios tou theou: Incarnate Revealer} has come and bestowed upon us understanding, so that we might know the True One. We are in the True One, even in His Son Jesus Christ {Iesous Christos: Living Truth}. This One is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children {teknia: cherished disciples}, keep yourselves from idols {eidolon: false deities}.