Introduction

1 [1]That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have observed and our hands have touched regarding the Word of Life —

2 the life appeared, and we have seen it. We testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

3 We are proclaiming what we have seen and heard also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

4 We write these things to you so that our[2] joy may be complete.

Walk in the Light

5 This is the message we heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light. In him there is no darkness at all.

6 If we say we have fellowship with him but still walk in darkness, we are lying and do not put the truth into practice.

7 But if we walk in the light, just as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ,[3] his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Confession of Sin

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his Word[4] is not in us.