| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. | 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him. |
| 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. | 2By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. |
| 3In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, | 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, |
| 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. | 4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. |
| 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. | 5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. |
| 6This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. | 6This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth. |
| 7For there are three that testify: | 7For there are three that testify: |
| 8the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. | 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement. |
| 9We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. | 9Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. |
| 10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. | 10Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son. |
| 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. | 11And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. |
| 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. | 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. |
| 13I 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. | 13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. |
| 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. | 14And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. |
| 15And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. | 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. |
| 16If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. | 16If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin. |
| 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. | 17All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death. |
| 18We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. | 18We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. |
| 19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. | 19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. |
| 20We know also 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 by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. | 20And 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. |
| 21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. | 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. |
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