A New Commandment

7 [fn]Brothers, I am not writing you a new commandment, but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the message you have heard [fn]from the beginning. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins have been forgiven you on account of his name.

13 I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I [fn]am writing to you, children,

because you know the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its lusts, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.