1John was written in Greek as was the entire New
Testament. But often English translations neglect to accurately
translate the Greek. In particular most English translations do
poor job of translating 1John. Yet 1John relies heavily up the
nuances of the original language in communicating its meaning.
Consequently many Christians today who read IJohn in English are
misled as to its intended meaning.
This translation was developed to bring out the
significance of the Greek Tenses of verbs, which often are
significant in 1John but often imprecisely translated in many
English Bible versions. See also The
Significance of Tenses
In particular I will be translating:
The PRESENT tense mostly utilizing the word
"characteristically", or else "genarally speaking" or use the
word "lifestyle". 1Jn 3:9 "Whoever
has been born of God does not sin..." Though the
simple verb of being "is", which describes a continuous state of
being in the present, I'll keep as "is", or "exists" if followed
by "in".
The AORIST tense I've translated either as point in
time, historical event, or "uncharacteristically" with regards
to behavior. 1Jn 2:1 "...so
that you may not sin. And if anyone sins.."
The PERFECT tense, as in English using "has" or
"have". 1Jn 3:9 "...Whoever has
been born of God..."
The MIDDLE voice in Greek I've translate as something
the doer does to himself, such as in 1Jn 1:6 "... we
are characteristically lying to ourselves ..."
Also distinguishing the two kinds of know: Gnoskw <1097> I
translate "know" Eidw <1492> I
translate "perceive"
1John 1:
vs 1 That which was from the beginning which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we had looked
upon, and our hands had handled, concerning the Word of Life, vs 2 and at that point in time the life was revealed and
we have seen and are bearing witness and declaring to you that
eternal life which was with the Father and had been revealed to
us. vs 3 that which we have seen and heard we are in the
process of declaring to you, that you also may have fellowship
with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ. vs 4 And these things we are writing to you that your joy
may be filled. vs 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and
are declaring to you, that God is light and in Him is no
darkness at all. vs 6 If we were to say at some point in time that we
characteristically have fellowship with Him, but in fact are
characteristically walking in darkness, we are
characteristically lying to ourselves and are not
characteristically practicing the truth. vs 7 But if we are characteristically walking in the
light as He exists in the light, we characteristically have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son is continuously cleansing us from all sin. vs 8 If we were to say that the complete absence of sin
is characteristic of our life, we are actively deceiving
ourselves, and the truth does not exist in us. (Compare with Jesus 1John 3:5;
Heb 4:15) vs 9 If confessing our sins is characteristic of
our life, He is faithful and just (with regards to the New
Covenant He established with us) to forgive our sins at some
point and cleanse us from all unrighteousness at some point.
(Eph 4:32)[same structure as 1John 3:5] vs 10 If we say that we never sinned, we are making
Him out to be a liar, and His word does not exist in us.
1John 2: vs 1 My little children, these things I am
writing to you, so that you may not sin at some point in time.
But if anyone sins uncharacteristically at some point in time,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. vs 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. vs 3 Now by this we know that we have known Him, if
we are characteristically keeping His commandments. vs 4 He who is sayng, "I have known Him," and does
not characteristically keep His commandments, is a liar, and the
truth does not exist in him. vs 5 But whoever characteristically keeps His word,
truly the love of God has been perfected in him. By this we
generally know that we exist in Him. vs 6 He who is saying that he characteristically
dwells in Him ought himself also to be characteristically
walking just as He had walked. (note: "ought" is speaking of
obligation) vs 7 Brethren, I am writing no new commandment to
you, but an old commandment which you have had from the
beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from
the beginning. vs 8 Again, a new commandment I am writing to you,
which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is
passing away, and the true light is already shining. vs 9 He who is saying that he exists in the light,
but characteristically hates his "brother", exists in darkness (from
the beginning) until now. vs 10 He who characteristically loves his "brother"
characteristically dwells in the light, and there is no cause
for stumbling in him. vs 11 But he who characteristically hates his
"brother" exists in darkness and walks in darkness, and has
not perceived where he is going, because the darkness had
blinded his eyes at some point in time. vs 12 I am writing to you, little children, Because your
sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. vs 13 I am writing to you, fathers, Because you
have known Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you,
young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I am
writing to you, little children, Because you have known the
Father. vs 14 I had written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I had
written to you, young men, Because you are
characteristically strong, and the word of God
characteristically dwells in you, And you have overcome the
wicked one. vs 15 Do not take up a lifestyle loving the world
or the things in the world. If anyone does so, the love of the
Father does not exist in him. (Counter
example of Aorist love of the world - 2Tim 4:10) vs 16 For all (of what I'm referring to) that
exists in the world——that is, the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life——is not of the Father but is of
the world. vs 17 And the world is in the process of passing
away, and the lust of it; but he who characteristically does the
will of God continues on dwelling forever. vs 18 Little children, it is the last hour;
and as you had heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now
many antichrists have come, by which we generally know that it
is the last hour. vs 19 They went out from us at some point in time, but
they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
have continued with us; but they went out that they might
be made revealed, that none of them were of us vs 20 But you characteristically have an anointing
from the Holy One, and you have perceive all things. vs 21 I have not written to you because you have
not perceive the truth, but because you have perceived
it, and that no lie is of the truth. vs 22 Who is a liar but he who characteristically denies
to
himself that Jesus is the Christ? He is the antichrist who
characteristically denies to himself the Father and the
Son. vs 23 Whoever characteristically denies to himself
the Son does not characteristically have the Father either; he
who characteristically acknowledges the Son characteristically
has the Father also. vs 24 Therefore let that dwell characteristically
in you which you had heard from the beginning. If what you had
heard from the beginning dwells at some point in time in
you, you also will dwell in the Son and in the Father. vs 25 And this is the promise that He had promised
us——eternal life. vs 26 These things I have written to you concerning
those who characteristically try to deceive you. vs 27 But the anointing which you have received at
a point in time from Him dwells continuously in you, and you
don't characteristically need that anyone be teaching you; but
as the same anointing characteristically teaches you concerning
all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it had
taught you, you will dwell in Him. (variant - so be abiding
in Him) vs 28 And now, little children, take up a lifestyle
abiding in Him, that when He should appear at some point in
time, we may be characteristically confident and not be ashamed
before Him at His coming. vs 29 If you have perceived that He is righteous,
you know that everyone who practices righteousness as their
lifestyle has been born of Him.
1John 3
vs 1 Perceive what manner of love the Father has
bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
Therefore the world characteristically does not know us, because
it did not know Him. (John 1:10) vs 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and at
this point in time it has not yet been revealed what we shall
be, but we have perceived that when He is revealed at some
point, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is for
ourselves. vs 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him
characteristically purifies himself, just as He is pure. vs 4 Whoever characteristically commits sin also
characteristically commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. vs 5 And you have perceived that He was revealed
(the incarnation) to take away our sins at a point in
time, and in Him there is no sin. vs 6 Whoever characteristically dwells in Him
characteristically does not sin. Whoever characteristically sins
has neither seen Him nor known Him. vs 7 Little children, let no one be deceiving you.
He who characteristically does righteousness is righteous, just
as He is righteous. vs 8 He who characteristically sins is of the
devil, for the devil characteristically sins from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that at a point in
time He might destroy the works of the devil. vs 9 Whoever has been born of God does not live a
lifestyle of sin, for His seed characteristically dwells in him;
indeed he doesn't have the ability in himself to live a
lifestyle of sin, because he has been born of God. vs 10 In this the children of God and the children
of the devil are being revealed: Whoever does not
characteristically do righteousness is not of God, nor is he who
does not characteristically love his "brother". vs 11 For this is the message that you heard from
the beginning, that we should characteristically love one
another, vs 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and
murdered his "brother" at some point in time. And why did he
murder him? Because his works were evil and his "brother"’s
righteous. vs 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world
characteristically hates you. vs 14 We have perceived that we have passed from
death to life, because we characteristically love the brethren.
He who characteristically does not love his "brother" dwells in
death. vs 15 Whoever characteristically hates his
"brother" is a murderer, and you have perceived that no murderer
has eternal life abiding in him. vs 16 By this we have known love, because He laid
down His life for us. And we also characteristically ought to
lay down our lives for the brethren. vs 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and is
seeing his "brother" in need, and shuts up his heart from him at
some point, how does the love of God characteristically dwell in
him? vs 18 My little children, let us not
characteristically love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in
truth. vs 19 And by this we generally know that we are of
the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. vs 20 For if our heart were to characteristically
condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. vs 21 Beloved, if our heart does not
characteristically condemn us, we have confidence toward God. vs 22 And generally speaking, whatever we ask we
receive from Him, because we characteristically keep His
commandments and characteristically do those things that are
pleasing in His sight. vs 23 And this is His commandment: that we should
at a point in time believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ
and characteristically love one another, as He gave us
commandment at a point in time. vs 24 Now he who characteristically keeps His
commandments characteristically dwells in Him, and He in him.
And by this we generally know that He is characteristically
abiding in us, by the Spirit whom He gave us.
1John 4:
vs 1 Beloved, do not be believing every spirit, but
be in the habit of testing the spirits, whether they are of God;
because many false prophets have gone out into the world. vs 2 By this, know the Spirit of God: Every spirit
that characteristically confesses that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is of God, vs 3 and every spirit that does not
characteristically confess that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh is not of God. Indeed this is the spirit of the
Antichrist, which you have heard was coming for its own sake,
and is now already in the world. vs 4 You are of God, little children, and have
overcome them, because He who exists in you is greater than he
who exists in the world. vs 5 They are of the world. Therefore they
characteristically speak as of the world, and the world
characteristically hears them. vs 6 We are of God. He who knows God
characteristically hears us; he who is not of God does not
characteristically hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth
and the spirit of error. vs 7 Beloved, let us characteristically love one
another, for love is of God; and everyone who characteristically
loves has been born of God and characteristically knows God. vs 8 He who does not characteristically love never
at any time knew God, for God is love. vs 9 In this the love of God was reveals at a point
in time toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into
the world, that we might at some time live through Him. vs 10 In this is love, not that we loved God at
that time, but that He loved us at that time and at that time
sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. vs 11 Beloved, if God so loved us at that time, we
also ought to characteristically love one another. vs 12 No one has seen God for themselves at any
time. If we characteristically love one another, God
characteristically dwells in us, and His love has been perfected
in us. vs 13 By this we know that we characteristically
dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His
Spirit. vs 14 And we have seen and do testify that the
Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. vs 15 Whoever confesses at some point in time that
Jesus is the Son of God, God characteristically dwells in him,
and he in God. vs 16 And we have known and have believed the love
that God characteristically has for us. God is love, Indeed he
who dwells in love characteristically dwells in God, and God in
him. vs 17 Love has been perfected among us in this:
that we may characteristically have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. vs 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love
characteristically casts out fear, because fear
characteristically involves torment. But he who
characteristically fears for himself has not been made perfect
in love. vs 19 We characteristically love Him because He
first loved us at a point in time. vs 20 If someone says at some point in time, "I
characteristically love God," and characteristically hates his
"brother", he characteristically is a liar; for he who does not
characteristically love his "brother" whom he has seen, how can
he characteristically love God whom he has not seen? vs 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that
he who characteristically loves God must characteristically love
his "brother" also.
1John 5:
vs 1 Whoever characteristically believes that Jesus
is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who
characteristically loves Him who begot also characteristically
loves him who has been begotten of Him. vs 2 By this we generally know that we
characteristically love the children of God, when we
characteristically love God and characteristically keep His
commandments. vs 3 For this is the love of God, that we
characteristically keep His commandments. And His commandments
are not generally burdensome. vs 4 For whatever has been born of God
characteristically overcomes the world. And this is the victory
that overcame the world at a point in time——our faith.
vs 5 Who is he who characteristically overcomes the
world, but he who characteristically believes that Jesus is the
Son of God? vs 6 This is He who came
by water and blood——Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by
water and blood. And it is the Spirit who is bearing witness,
because the Spirit is truth. vs 7 For there are
three that testify: vs 8 the Spirit and the
water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. vs 9 If characteristically we receive the
witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the
witness of God which He has testified of His Son. vs 10 He who characteristically believes in
the Son of God characteristically has the witness in himself; he
who does not characteristically believe God has made Him out to
be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God
has given of His Son. vs 11 And this is the testimony: that God
gave us eternal life at a point in time, and this life exists in
His Son. vs 12 He who has the Son has life; he who
does not have the Son of God does not have life. vs 13 These things I wote to you who
characteristically believe in the name of the Son of God, that
you may have perceived that you have eternal life. vs 14 Now this is the confidence that we have
in Him, that. generally speaking, if we ask anything according
to His will, He hears us. vs 15 And if we have perceived that He hears
us, whatever we are characteristically asking, we have perceived
that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. vs 16 If anyone, at some point in time, were
to perceive his "brother" characteristically committing sin
which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him
life for those who characteristically are committing sin not
leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say
that he should pray at some point in time about that. vs 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there
is sin not leading to death. vs 18 We have perceived that whoever has
been born of God does not characteristically sin; but he who had
been born of God at some point characteristically keeps himself,
and the wicked one does not touch him for himself. vs 19 We have perceived that we are of God,
and the whole world lies itself under the sway of the wicked
one. vs 20 And we have perceived that the Son of
God is come and has given us an understanding, that we may know
Him who is true; and we exist in Him who is true, in His Son
Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. vs 21 Little children, when the instance
arises, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.