1 John

IWANNOU EPISTOLH PRWTH1

[Prologue]
1)1 {O h=n apV archj( o] akhkoamen( o] e`wrakamen toij ofqalmoij h`mwn( o] eqeasameqa kai ai`
ceirej h`mwn eyhlafhsan peri tou logou thj Zwhj2 kai h` Zwh efanerwqh( kai e`wrakamen
kai marturoumen kai apaggellomen u`min thn Zwhn thn aiwnion h`tij h=n proj ton Patera
kai efanerwqh h`min3 o] e`wrakamen kai akhkoamen apaggellomen u`min(2 i`na kai u`meij
koinwnian echte meqV h`mwn\ kai h` koinwnia de3 h` h`metera meta tou Patroj kai meta tou
Ui`ou autou( Ihsou Cristou) 4 Kai( tauta grafomen u`min4 i`na h` cara h`mwn5 h= peplhrwmenh)
[The conditions of fellowship]
[God is Light]
1)5 Kai estin au`th6 h` aggelia7 h]n akhkoamen apV autou kai anaggellomen8 u`min( o`ti o` Qeoj
fwj estin kai skotia en autw ouk estin oudemia) 6 Ean eipwmen o`ti koinwnian ecomen9 metV
autou kai en tw skotei peripatoumen(10 yeudomeqa kai ou poioumen thn alhqeian) 7 Ean de11
en tw fwti peripatwmen w`j autoj estin en tw fwti( koinwnian ecomen metV allhlwn( kai to
ai`ma Ihsou Cristou12 tou Ui`ou autou kaqarizei h`maj apo pashj a`martiaj)
[God forgives confessed sin]
8 Ean eipwmen o`ti a`martian ouk ecomen( e`autouj planwmen kai h` Alhqeia ouk estin
en h`min)13 9 Ean o`mologwmen taj a`martiaj h`mwn( pistoj estin kai dikaioj i`na afh h`min taj
a`martiaj kai kaqarish14 h`maj apo pashj adikiaj) 10 Ean eipwmen o`ti ouc h`marthkamen(
yeusthn poioumen auton kai o` logoj autou ouk estin en h`min)
[Jesus Christ is our Advocate]
2)1 Teknia mou( tauta grafw u`min i`na mh a`marthte\ kai ean tij a`marth( Paraklhton
ecomen proj ton Patera( Ihsoun Criston dikaion 2kai autoj i`lasmoj estin peri twn
a`martiwn h`mwn\ ou peri twn h`meterwn de monon15 alla kai peri o`lou tou kosmou)
[We must keep His commandments]
3 Kai en toutw ginwskomen o`ti egnwkamen auton( ean taj entolaj autou thrwmen)
4 ~O legwn(16 ~~Egnwka autonVV( kai taj entolaj autou mh thrwn( yeusthj estin kai en toutw
h` alhqeia ouk estin) 5 {Oj dV an thrh autou ton logon( alhqwj en toutw h` agaph tou Qeou
teteleiwtai en toutw ginwskomen o`ti en autw esmen) 6 ~O legwn en autw menein ofeilei
kaqwj ekeinoj periepathsen kai autoj ou`twj17 peripatein)

1
Both the text and the notes are the responsibility of Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM PhD, . I venture to affirm to the reader that all
original wording of 1 John is preserved in this edition, if not in the Text, at least in the apparatus. Diminish not a word Jeremiah
26:2 (see Deut. 4:2 and Luke 4:4, every word [as in 99.6% of the MSS]). The last note at the end of this book gives explanation
about the apparatus.
2
umin f35 [94%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || kai 1 ()A,B,C [6%] NU
3
de rell || --- C [10%]
4
umin f35 C [98.8%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || hmeij AvB [1.2%] NU
5
hmwn f35 B [59%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || umwn A,C [41%] (Some TRs read your. Either pronoun makes sense, and the
difference is in only one letter, but our has the better attestation, as well as making better sense.)
6
estin auth f35 B,C [78%] RP,HF,CP,NU || 21 A [22%] OC,TR
7
aggelia f35 A,B [79%] RP,HF,CP,NU || epaggelia C [21%] OC,TR || apaggelia || one other reading
8
anaggellomen f35 A,B,C [85%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || apaggellomen [15%]
9
ecomen rell || ecwmen [14%]
10
peripatoumen f35 [29%] || peripatwmen A,B,C [71%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU (The verb say is properly Subjunctive, being
controlled by ean, but the verbs have and walk are part of a statement and are properly Indicativeonly if we are in fact
walking in darkness do we become liars for claiming to be in fellowship. So peripatoumen is correct.)
11
de rell || --- [1.6%] ECM [!?]
12
cristou f35 A [95%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- B,C [5%] NU
13
ouk estin en hmin rell || 3412 A,C [19%]
14
kaqarish rell || kaqarisei A [12%]
15
monon rell || monwn B [13%]
16
legwn f35 C [80%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 oti A,B [20%] NU
17
outwj f35 C [95%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP[NU]ECM || --- A,B [5%]
1
 1 John

[An old/new commandment]

7 Adelfoi(1 ouk entolhn kainhn grafw u`min( allV entolhn palaian h]n eicete apV
archj\ h` entolh h` palaia estin o` logoj o]n hkousate apV archj)2 8 Palin( entolhn kainhn
grafw u`min( o[ estin alhqej en autw kai en u`min( o`ti h` skotia paragetai kai to fwj to
alhqinon hdh fainei) 9 ~O legwn en tw fwti einai kai ton adelfon autou miswn en th
skotia estin e`wj arti) 10 ~O agapwn ton adelfon autou en tw fwti me,nei( kai skandalon
en autw ouk estin) 11 ~O de miswn ton adelfon autou en th skotia estin kai en th skotia
peripatei\ kai ouk oiden3 pou u`pagei o`ti h` skotia etuflwsen touj ofqalmouj autou)
[Look out for the enemy!]
[A bit of poetry]
2)12 Grafw u`min teknia( o`ti afewntai u`min ai` a`martiai dia to onoma autou 13grafw
u`min paterej( o`ti egnwkate ton apV archj\ grafw u`min neaniskoi( o`ti nenikhkate ton
ponhron\ grafw4 u`min paidia( o`ti egnwkate ton Patera14 egraya u`min paterej( o`ti
egnwkate ton apV archj\ egraya u`min neaniskoi( o`ti iscuroi este( kai o` logoj tou Qeou en
u`min menei kai nenikhkate ton ponhron)
[We must not love the world]
15 Mh agapate ton kosmon( mhde ta en tw kosmw\ ean tij agapa ton kosmon( ouk
estin h` agaph tou Patroj en autw) 16 ~Oti pan to en tw kosmwh` epiqumia thj sarkoj kai
h` epiqumia twn ofqalmwn kai h` alazoneia5 tou biououk estin ek tou Patroj allV ek tou
kosmou estin) 17 Kai o` kosmoj paragetai( kai h` epiqumia autou( o` de poiwn to qelhma tou
Qeou me,nei eij ton aiwna)
[A bunch of little antichrists]
18 Paidia( escath w`ra estin( kai kaqwj hkousate o`ti o`6 Anticristoj ercetai( kai
nun anticristoi polloi gegonasin( o`qen ginwskomen o`ti escath w`ra estin) 19 Ex h`mwn
exhlqon7 allV ouk hsan ex h`mwn( ei gar hsan ex h`mwn(8 memenhkeisan an meqV h`mwnallV i`na
fanerwqwsin( o`ti ouk eisin pantej ex h`mwn)
20 Kai u`meij Crisma ecete apo tou ~Agiou kai oidate panta)9 21 Ouk egraya u`min
o`ti ouk oidate thn alhqeian( allV o`ti oidate authn( kai o`ti pan yeudoj ek thj Alhqeiaj ouk
estin)
[We must abide in the Truth]
22 Ti,j estin o` yeusthj ei mh o` arnoumenoj o`ti Ihsouj ouk estin o` Cristoj? Ou`toj
estin o` Anticristoj( o` arnoumenoj ton Patera kai ton Ui`on) 23 Paj o` arnoumenoj ton Ui`on
oude ton Patera ecei)10 24 ~Umeij oun(11 o] hkousate apV archj en u`min menetw\ ean en u`min
meinh o] apV archj hkousate( kai u`meij en tw Patri kai en tw Ui`w12 meneite)
25 Kai au`th estin h` epaggelia h]n autoj ephggeilato h`min thn zwhn thn aiwnion)
26 Tauta egraya u`min peri twn planwntwn u`maj\ 27 kai u`meij( to Crisma o] elabete apV

1
adelfoi f35 (83.7%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 mou (1%) || agaphtoi A,B,C (14.9%) NU || two other variants (0.4%)
2
ap archj f35 (87.5%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B,C (8.1%) NU || omit whole sentence (4.3%) [homoioteleuton]
3
oiden rell || eiden [12%]
4
grafw f35 (80.8%) RP,HF,TR,CP || egraya A,B,C (18.2%) OC,NU || omit whole verse (1%) [homoioteleuton] (Verse 12 is
an introductory cover statement; in verse 13 John divides the cover group into three sub-categories; in verse 14 he returns to the
first two categories.)
5
alazoneia rell || alazonia A,B [28%]
6
o f35 (A) [97%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- B,C [3%] NU
7
exhlqon f35 [97.4%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || hlqon [2%] || exhlqan A,B,C [alone] NU
8
hsan ex hmwn f35 A (92.7%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 231 B,C (5.3%) NU || --- (2%) [homoioteleuton]
9
panta f35 A,C (97.2%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || pantej B (2.4%) NU || --- (0.4%) [homoioteleuton]
10
ecei f35 (79.2%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 o omologwn ton uion kai ton patera 1 A,B,C (20.8%) NU (Some TRs have
the addition. John is making the point that to deny either the Father or the Son is to deny them boththe addition is
unnecessary, if not distracting.)
11
umeij oun f35 [92.4%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 A,B,C [7%] NU || kai 1 [0.6%]
12
patri kai en tw uiw f35 [35%] CP || 52341 A(B)C [65%] RP,HF,OC,TR,NU (John returns to the order in verse 22, a
sandwich.)

2
 1 John

autou en u`min me,nei(1 kai ou creian ecete i`na tij didaskh2 u`maj\ allV w`j to auto3 Crisma
didaskei u`maj peri pantwn( kai alhqej estin kai ouk estin yeudojkai kaqwj edidaxen
u`maj( meneite4 en autw)
[Remember the accounting at our Lords Return]
2)28 Kai nun( teknia( menete en autw(5 i`na o`tan6 fanerwqh ecwmen7 parrhsian kai mh
aiscunqwmen apV autou en th parousia autou) 29 Ean eidhte8 o`ti dikaioj estin( ginwskete
o`ti9 paj o` poiwn thn dikaiosunhn ex autou gegennhtai)10
[We are children of God]
3)1 Idete potaphn agaphn dedwken11 h`min o` Pathr( i`na tekna Qeou klhqwmen12 Dia
touto o` kosmoj ou ginwskei h`maj(13 o`ti ouk egnw auton)
2 Agaphtoi( nun tekna Qeou esmen kai oupw efanerwqh ti, esomeqa( oidamen de14 o`ti
ean fanerwqh o`moioi autw esomeqa( o`ti oyomeqa auton kaqwj estin 3kai paj o` ecwn thn
elpida tauthn epV autw a`gnizei e`auton( kaqwj ekeinoj a`gnoj estin)
[Whoever abides in Him does not sin]
4 Paj o` poiwn thn a`martian kai thn anomian poiei\ kai h` a`martia estin h` anomia)
5 Kai oidate o`ti ekeinoj efanerwqh i`na taj a`martiaj h`mwn15 arhkai a`martia en autw ouk
estin) 6 Paj o` en autw menwn ouc a`martanei\ kai(16 paj o` a`martanwn ouc e`wraken auton
oude egnwken auton)
7 Teknia( mhdeij planatw u`maj\ o` poiwn thn dikaiosunhn dikaioj estin( kaqwj
ekeinoj dikaioj estin) 8 ~O poiwn thn a`martian ek tou diabolou estin( o`ti apV archj o`
diaboloj a`martanei) Eij touto efanerwqh o` Ui`oj tou Qeou i`na lush ta erga tou diabolou)
9 Paj o` gegennhmenoj17 ek tou Qeou a`martian ou poiei( o`ti sperma autou en autw me,nei\
kai( ou dunatai a`martanein o`ti ek tou Qeou gegennhtai)18
[Children of God X children of the devil]
10 En toutw fanera estin ta tekna tou Qeou kai ta tekna tou diabolou paj o` mh
poiwn19 dikaiosunhn ouk estin ek tou Qeou( kai o` mh agapwn ton adelfon autou) 11 ~Oti
au`th estin h` aggelia20 h]n hkousate apV archj( i`na agapwmen allhlouj 12ou kaqwj Kain(
ek tou ponhrou h=n kai esfaxen ton adelfon autou) Kai carin ti,noj esfaxen auton? ~Oti ta
erga autou ponhra h=n( ta de tou adelfou autou dikaia)

1
en umin menei f35 [87.2%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 312 A,B,C [1.2%] NU || menetw 12 [8.4%] || 12 menetw [3.2%]
2
didaskh f35 A,B [71%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || didaskei C [28%] || two other variants [1%]
3
auto f35 A [82%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || autou B,C [18%] NU
4
meneite f35 [87.4%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || menete A,B,C [12%] NU || meinate [0.6%]
5
kai nun teknia menete en autw f35 A,B,C [85%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || --- [15%]
6
otan f35 (92.6%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || ean A,B,C (6.2%) NU || ote (1.2%)
7
ecwmen f35 (80.4%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || scwmen A,B,C (8.5%) NU || ecomen (11.1%)
8
eidhte f35 B,C [37%] RP,HF,OC,TR,NU || idhte A [59%] CP || oidate [4%] (An itacism? The trouble is, it changes the
verb. The third variant is based on oida, so its 41:59. There appears to be a consensus that the minority reading is correct.)
9
oti f35 B [90.5%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 kai A,C [9.5%] NU
10
gegennhtai rell || gegenhtai [30%]
11
dedwken rell || edwken A [14%]
12
klhqwmen f35 (85.4%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 kai esmen A,B,C (14.6%) NU (The addition is out of place here, since John
takes up that point in verse two.)
13
hmaj f35 A,B [36%] TR,NU || umaj C [63.5%] RP,HF,OC,CP || --- [0.5%] (John is making a general statement, so it is
properly inclusivefirst person.)
14
oidamen de f35 [90.4%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 A,B,C [5.6%] NU || --- [4%]
15
hmwn f35 ,C [95.8%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B [4.2%] NU
16
kai f35 [20%] CP || --- A,B,C [80%] RP,HF,OC,TR,NU (I take the conjunction to be emphatic, indeed.)
17
gegennhmenoj rell || gegenhmenoj [15%]
18
gegennhtai rell || gegenhtai [16%]
19
poiwn rell || 1 thn A,C [18%]
20
aggelia rell || epaggelia C [10%]
3
 1 John

13 Mh1 qaumazete( adelfoi mou(2 ei misei u`maj o` kosmoj) 14 ~Hmeij oidamen o`ti
metabebhkamen ek tou qanatou eij thn zwhn o`ti agapwmen touj adelfouj\ o` mh agapwn ton
adelfon3 me,nei en tw qanatw) 15 Paj o` miswn ton adelfon autou anqrwpoktonoj estin( kai
oidate o`ti paj anqrwpoktonoj ouk ecei zwhn aiwnion en e`autw4 menousan)
[Love in deed and truth]
16 En toutw egnwkamen thn agaphn o`ti ekeinoj u`per h`mwn thn yuchn autou eqhken\
kai h`meij ofeilomen u`per twn adelfwn taj yucaj tiqenai)5 17 {Oj dV an ech6 ton bion tou
kosmou kai qewrh7 ton adelfon autou creian econta( kai kleish8 ta splagcna autou apV
autoupwj h` agaph tou Qeou menei9 en autw?
18 Teknia mou(10 mh agapwmen logw mhde th11 glwssh( allV12 en13 ergw kai alhqeia
19kai(14 en toutw ginwskomen15 o`ti ek thj Alhqeiaj esmen kai emprosqen autou peiswmen16
taj kardiaj17 h`mwn\ 20 o`ti ean kataginwskh18 h`mwn h` kardia( o`ti meizwn estin o` Qeoj thj
kardiaj h`mwn kai ginwskei panta)
[Confidence toward God]
21 Agaphtoi( ean h` kardia h`mwn19 mh kataginwskh20 h`mwn(21 parrhsian ecomen proj
ton Qeon( 22 kai o] ean aitwmen lambanomen22 parV23 autou( o`ti taj entolaj autou throumen24
kai ta aresta enwpion autou poioumen) 23 Kai au`th estin h` entolh autou( i`na
pisteuswmen25 tw onomati tou Ui`ou autou( Ihsou Cristou( kai agapwmen allhlouj( kaqwj
edwken entolhn)26 24 Kai o` thrwn taj entolaj autou en autw me,nei( kai autoj en autw) En27
toutw ginwskomen o`ti me,nei en h`min ek tou Pneumatoj ou- h`min edwken)28

1
mh f35 A,B [93%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || kai 1 C [7%] [NU]ECM
2
mou f35 [88%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B,C [12%] NU
3
ton adelfon f35 C (80.5%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 12 autou (14.7%) || --- A,B (3.8%) NU || three other variants (1%)
4
eautw f35 A,C [70%] RP,HF,OC,CP || autw B [30%] TR,NU
5
tiqenai f35 [92%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || qeinai A,B,C [8%] NU
6
ech rell || ecei [15%]
7
qewrh f35 A,B,C [47%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || qewrei [53%] (An itacism? Qewrh is parallel to ech and kleish; all are in
the Subjunctive because of an.)
8
kleish rell || kleisei [14%]
9
me,nei f35 [80%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || menei/ [17%] || ambiguous A,B,C [1%] || menh [2%]
10
mou f35 [87%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B,C [13%] NU
11
th f35 A,B,C [85%] RP,HF,OC,CP,NU || --- () [15%] TR
12
all f35 B,C [97.5%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || alla A [2.5%] NU
13
en f35 A,B,C [65%] RP,HF,OC,CP,NU || --- [35%] TR
14
kai f35 C [93.6%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP[NU]ECM || --- A,B [6%] || all [0.4%]
15
ginwskomen f35 [80%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || gnwsomeqa A,B,C [17%] NU || ginwskomeqa [1%] || three other variants
[2%]
16 35
peiswmen f [43%] || peisomen A,B,C [56%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || two other variants [1%] (The assuring is not
automatic and is up to usthe Subjunctive is correct.)
17
taj kardiaj f35 C [97.8%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || thn kardian A,B [2.2%] NU
18
kataginwskh rell || kataginwskei [24%]
19
hmwn f35 vC [97%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP[NU]ECM || --- A,B [3%]
20
kataginwskh rell || kataginwskei A [29%]
21
hmwn f35 vA [97.8%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- B,C [2.2%] NU
22
lambanomen rell || lambanwmen A [16%]
23
par f35 [91.5%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || ap A,B,C [8.5%] NU
24
throumen rell || thrwmen A [10%]
25
pisteuswmen f35 B (66.9%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || pisteuwmen A,C (26.5%) || pisteuomen (5.4%) || pisteusomen
(1.2%)
26
entolhn f35 [80%] RP,HF,OC,CP || 1 hmin A,B,C [20%] TR,NU
27
en f35 [30%] CP || kai 1 A,B,Cv [70%] RP,HF,OC,TR,NU (Given Johns fondness for the conjunction, scribes could add it
almost without thinking.)
28
hmin edwken f35 A,B [75%] RP,HF,OC,TR,NU || 21 [25%] CP
4
 1 John

[Various instructions]
[Test the spirits]
4)1 Agaphtoi( mh panti pneumati pisteuete( alla dokimazete ta pneumata( ei ek tou Qeou
estin( o`ti polloi yeudoprofhtai exelhluqasin eij ton kosmon) 2 En toutw ginwsketai1 to
Pneuma tou Qeou pan pneuma o] o`mologei Ihsoun Criston en sarki elhluqota ek tou Qeou
estin( 3 kai pan pneuma o] mh o`mologei2 Ihsoun Criston3 en sarki elhluqota4 ek5 tou Qeou
ouk estin\ kai( touto estin to tou Anticristou( o] akhkoate o`ti ercetaikai( nun en tw
kosmw estin hdh)
4 ~Umeij ek tou Qeou este( teknia( kai nenikhkate autouj( o`ti meizwn estin o` en
u`min h. o` en tw kosmw) 5 Autoi ek tou kosmou eisin\ dia touto ek tou kosmou lalousin( kai
o` kosmoj autwn akouei) 6 ~Hmeij ek tou Qeou esmen o` ginwskwn ton Qeon akouei h`mwn\ o]j
ouk estin ek tou Qeou ouk akouei h`mwnek toutou ginwskomen to pneuma thj alhqeiaj kai
to pneuma thj planhj)
[Love one another]
7 Agaphtoi( agapwmen allhlouj( o`ti h` agaph ek tou Qeou estin kai paj o` agapwn ek
tou Qeou gegennhtai kai ginwskei ton Qeon) 8 ~O mh agapwn ouk egnw ton Qeon( o`ti o` Qeoj
agaph estin) 9 En toutw efanerwqh h` agaph tou Qeou en h`min o`ti ton Ui`on autou ton
monogenh apestalken o` Qeoj6 eij ton kosmon i`na zhswmen diV autou) 10 En toutw estin h`
agaph( ouc o`ti h`meij hgaphsamen7 ton Qeon allV o`ti autoj hgaphsen h`majkai apesteilen
ton Ui`on autou i`lasmon peri twn a`martiwn h`mwn) 11 Agaphtoi( ei ou`twj o` Qeoj hgaphsen
h`maj kai h`meij ofeilomen allhlouj agapan)
[As He is so are we in this world]
12 Qeon oudeij pwpote teqeatai) Ean agapwmen allhlouj o` Qeoj en h`min me,nei kai h`
agaph autou teteleiwmenh estin en h`min)8 13 En toutw ginwskomen o`ti en autw menomen kai
autoj en h`min( o`ti ek tou Pneumatoj autou dedwken h`min) 14 Kai( h`meij teqeameqa kai
marturoumen o`ti o` Pathr apestalken ton Ui`on Swthra tou kosmou) 15 ]Oj an9 o`mologhsh10
o`ti Ihsouj estin o` Ui`oj tou Qeou( o` Qeoj en autw me,nei kai autoj en tw Qew) 16 Kai h`meij
egnwkamen kai pepisteukamen thn agaphn h]n ecei o` Qeoj en h`min) ~O Qeoj agaph estin( kai
o` menwn en th agaph en tw Qew me,nei( kai o` Qeoj en autw)11 17 En toutw teteleiwtai h`
agaph meqV h`mwn i`na parrhsian ecwmen12 en th h`mera thj krisewj( o`ti kaqwj ekeinoj estin
kai h`meij esmen en tw kosmw toutw)

1 35
ginwsketai f [67%] RP,HF,CP || ginwskete A,B,C [25%] OC,TR,NU || ginwskomen [8%] (Since most versions are
nd
based on TR or NU, we are used to the 2 person, which may have contributed to the use of this passage as a litmus test for
demonization.)
2
omologei f35 (73.5%) RP,HF,CP || 1 ton A,B (24.2%) OC,TR,NU || omit sentence [homoioteleuton] (2%) || one other
variant (0.2%)
3
criston f35 (91.4%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B (6%) NU || kurion (alone) || omit sentence [homoioteleuton] (2%) ||
two other variants (0.4%)
4
en sarki elhluqota f35 (94.8%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B (2.6%) NU || omit sentence [homoioteleuton] (2%) || three
other variants (0.6%)
5
ek rell || --- [30%]
6
o qeoj rell || --- [15%]
7
hgaphsamen f35 A [98.2%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || hgaphkamen B [1.6%] NU || hgaphsen
8
teteleiwmenh estin en hmin f35 (90.7%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 3412 A (7.9%) NU || 1342 B (0.8%) || three other
variants (0.6%)
9
an f35 ,A [92.5%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || ean B [7.5%] NU
10
omologhsh rell || omologhsei [16%] || olologh A [1%] || omologei [1%]
11
autw f35 A [37%] OC,TR || 1 menei B [63%] RP,HF,CP,NU (Since the repetition of the verb is unnecessary, does it become
the harder reading?)
12
ecwmen rell || ecomen [12%] || scwmen [1%]
5
 1 John

[There is no fear in love]

18 Foboj ouk estin en th agaph\ allV h` teleia agaph exw ballei ton fobon( o`ti o`
foboj kolasin ecei\ o` de foboumenoj ou teteleiwtai en th agaph) 19 ~Hmeij agapwmen auton1
o`ti autoj prwtoj2 hgaphsen h`maj)
20 Ean tij eiph o`ti ~~Agapw ton QeonVV( kai ton adelfon autou misei(3 yeusthj
estin) ~O gar mh agapwn ton adelfon autou4 o]n e`wraken( ton Qeon o]n ouc e`wraken pwj5
dunatai agapan? 21 Kai( tauthn thn entolhn ecomen apV autou i`na o` agapwn ton Qeon
agapa kai ton adelfon autou)
[Our faith overcomes the world]
5)1 Paj o` pisteuwn o`ti Ihsouj estin o` Cristoj ek tou Qeou gegennhtai\ kai paj o`
agapwn ton gennhsanta agapa kai6 ton gegennhmenon ex autou) 2 En toutw ginwskomen o`ti
agapwmen ta tekna tou Qeou( o`tan ton Qeon agapwmen kai taj entolaj autou thrwmen)7
3 Au`th gar estin h` agaph tou Qeou( i`na taj entolaj autou thrwmen\ kai ai` entolai autou
bareiai ouk eisin( 4 o`ti pan to gegennhmenon ek tou Qeou nika ton kosmon\ kai au`th estin
h` nikh h` nikhsasa ton kosmon h` pistij h`mwn)8 5 Ti,j estin9 o` nikwn ton kosmon ei mh o`
pisteuwn o`ti Ihsouj estin o` Ui`oj tou Qeou?
[Receive the witness of God]
6 Ou`toj estin o` elqwn diV u`datoj kai ai`matoj(10 Ihsouj11 Cristojouk en tw u`dati
monon( allV en tw u`dati kai12 tw ai`mati) Kai to Pneuma estin to marturoun( o`ti to Pneuma
estin h` alhqeia\ 7 o`ti treij eisin oi` marturountej138 to Pneuma kai to u`dwr kai to
ai`makai oi` treij eij to e`n eisin) 9 Ei thn marturian twn anqrwpwn lambanomen( h`
marturia tou Qeou meizwn estin\ o`ti au`th estin h` marturia tou Qeou h]n14 memarturhken
peri tou Ui`ou autou) 10 ~O pisteuwn eij ton Ui`on tou Qeou ecei thn marturian en e`autw\15
o` mh pisteuwn tw Qew16 yeusthn pepoihken auton( o`ti ou pepisteuken eij thn marturian h]n
memarturhken o` Qeoj peri tou Ui`ou autou) 11 Kai au`th estin h` marturia o`ti zwhn aiwnion
edwken o` Qeoj h`min(17 kai au`th h` zwh en tw Ui`w autou estin) 12 ~O ecwn ton Ui`on ecei thn
zwhn\ o` mh ecwn ton Ui`on tou Qeou thn zwhn ouk ecei)

1
auton f35 [84%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B [2.6%] NU || ton qeon [13,4%]
2
prwtoj rell || prwton [15%]
3
misei f35 [74%] || mish A,B [26%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU (The point of the argument hinges on the hating being fact, so the
Indicative is correct.)
4
autou rell || --- [1%] OC
5
pwj f35 A (95.8%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || ou B (4.2%) NU
6
kai f35 ()A [98%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP[NU]ECM || --- B [2%]
7
thrwmen f35 A [89%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || poiwmen B [11%] NU
8
hmwn f35 ,A,B (56.4%) RP,OC,TR,NU || umwn (43.2%) HF,CP || --- (0.4%) (John is making a general statement, that is
properly inclusivefirst person.)
9
estin f35 A [88%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || de 1 [12%] [NU]ECM || 1 de B
10
aimatoj f35 B (77.2%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || 1 kai pneumatoj A (14.2%) || pneumatoj kai 1 (4.8%) || pneumatoj
(3.2%) || two other variants (0.6%)
11
ihsouj f35 A,B [97%] RP,HF,OC,CP,NU || 1 o [3%] TR
12
kai f35 [70%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || 1 en (A)B [30%] NU
13
marturountej f35 ,A,B (99%) RP,HF,CP,NU || 1 en tw ouranw o pathr o logoj kai to agion pneuma kai outoi
oi treij en eisen kai treij eisin oi 1 en th gh (1%) OC,TRthe (1%) breaks down like this: (61) [16th], (629) [14th], (918)
th th th
[16 ], 2318 [18 ], 2473 [17 ], wherein the cursives in ( ) all differ from each other; the two that agree verbatim with TR were
probably copied from it. The only one that is clearly early enough to have served as TRs exemplar, 629, is far too differentit
lacks the seven last words in TR, omits another five, changes five and adds two19 out of 40 words is too much. (OC is in very
small print.)
14
hn f35 [91%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || oti A,B [9%] NU
15
eautw f35 [48%] TR,CP,NU || autw A,B [52%] RP,HF,OC
16
qew rell || uiw A [11%]
17
o qeoj hmin f35 B [24%] CP || 312 A [76%] RP,HF,OC,TR,NU
6
 1 John

13 Tauta egraya u`min toij pisteuousin eij to onoma tou Ui`ou tou Qeou i`na eidhte
o`ti zwhn aiwnion ecete(1 kai i`na pisteuhte eij to onoma tou Ui`ou tou Qeou)2
[Our confidence]
14 Kai au`th estin h` parrhsia h]n ecomen proj auton o`ti ean ti aitwmeqa kata to
qelhma autou( akouei h`mwn) 15 Kai ean oidamen o`ti akouei h`mwn( o] ean3 aitwmeqa( oidamen
o`ti ecomen ta aithmata a] hthkamen parV4 autou)
[Sins not leading to death]
16 Ean tij idh ton adelfon autou a`martanonta a`martian mh proj qanaton( aithsei(
kai dwsei autw zwhn toij a`martanousin mh proj qanaton) Estin a`martia proj qanaton\ ou
peri ekeinhj legw i`na erwthsh)5 17 Pasa adikia a`martia estin( kai estin a`martia ou proj
qanaton)
18 Oidamen o`ti paj o` gegennhmenoj ek tou Qeou ouc a`martanei\ allV o` gennhqeij ek
tou Qeou threi e`auton(6 kai o` ponhroj ouc a`ptetai autou)
19 Oidamen o`ti ek tou Qeou esmen( kai o` kosmoj o`loj en tw ponhrw keitai)
[Conclusion]
5)20 Oidamen de o`ti o` Ui`oj tou Qeou h`kei kai dedwken8 h`min dianoian( i`na ginwskwmen9
7

ton alhqinon\10 kai esmen en tw alhqinw( en tw Ui`w autou Ihsou Cristw) Ou`toj estin o`
alhqinoj Qeoj( kai h` zwh h`11 aiwnioj) 21 Teknia( fulaxate e`autouj12 apo twn eidwlwn)
Amhn)13(14

1
toij pisteuousin eij to onoma tou uiou (-tou uiou 2.5%) tou qeou ina eidhte (idhte 7%) oti zwhn aiwnion
ecete (echte 7%) (ecete aiwnion 2.5% TR) f35 (89.9%) RP,HF,OC(TR)CP || ina eidhte oti zwhn ecete aiwnion
(aiwnion ecete ) oi pisteuontej (toij pisteuousin B 1% NU) eij to onoma tou uiou tou qeou A,B (3.8%) (NU)
|| toij pisteuousin eij to onoma tou uiou tou qeou (4.7%) || ina eidhte oti zwhn ecete aiwnion (1.6%)
2
kai ina pisteuhte (pisteushte 10.2%, pisteuete 2.4%) eij to onoma tou uiou tou qeou f35 (90.3%)
RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B (4.4%) NU || part of a larger lacuna (5.2%) (The longer form does seem to be awkwardmore
than sufficient stimulus for Alexandrian editors to delete.)
3
ean f35 [86%] RP,HF,CP,NU || an A,B [13%] OC,TR || --- [1%]
4
par f35 A [95%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || ap B [4%] NU || --- [1%]
5
erwthsh rell || erwthsei [13%] || erwthshte [1%]
6
eauton f35 [92%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,ECM || auton A,B [8%] NU
7
oidamen de rell || kai 1 A [15%] || 1 [11%]
8
dedwken rell || edwken A [15%]
9
ginwskwmen f35 [66%] RP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU || ginwskomen A,B [34%]
10
alhqinon rell || 1 qeon A [24%]
11
h zwh h f35 [60%] HF || 2 A,B [26%] RP,OC,CP,NU || 12 [6%] TR || 23 [4%] || --- [4%] (The omission of the second
article could be an easy case of homoioteleuton. Why the Alexandrians omitted the first article is hard to say, but that doesnt
make them right.)
12
eautouj f35 A [75%] HF,OC,TR,CP || eauta B [25%] RP,NU
13
amhn f35 (82%) RP,HF,OC,TR,CP || --- A,B (18%) NU
14 35
The citation of f is based on forty-three MSS18, 35, 141, 149, 201, 204, 328, 386, 394, 432, 604, 664, 757, 824, 928, 986,
1072, 1075, 1100, 1248, 1249, 1503, 1548, 1637, 1725, 1732, 1754, 1761, 1768, 1855, 1864, 1865, 1876, 1892, 1897, 2221,
2352, 2431, 2466, 2554, 2587, 2626 and 2723all of which I collated myself. 204, 824, 1100 and 2554 are very pure
35
representatives of f in 1 John, with not a single variant, and so for the exemplars of 35, 1503, 1637, 1725, 1732, 1864, 1865,
1897 and 2723. For 204, 824, 1100 and 2554 to have no variants after all the centuries of transmission is surely an eloquent
demonstration of the faithfulness and accuracy of that transmission. Since these MSS come from all over the Mediterranean
world (Sinai, Jerusalem, Patmos, Constantinople, Buchares, Aegean, Trikala, Athens, Meteora, Sparta, Ochrida, Mt. Athos [nine
different monasteries], Vatican, etc.) they are certainly representative of the family, giving us the precise family profileit is
reflected in the Text without exception.
I have included six published editions in the apparatusRP,HF,OC,TR,CP,NU. RP = Robinson-Pierpont (2005), HF =
Hodges-Farstad, OC = the Greek Text of the Greek Orthodox Church (also used by other Orthodox Churches), TR = Textus
26 3 27 4
Receptus, CP = Complutensian Polyglot, NU = N-A /UBS (N-A /UBS offer changes in the critical apparatus, not in the text;
26 3
the text is still that of N-A /UBS ). ECM basically reproduces NU, but wherever it disagrees it is overtly cited in the apparatus.
Where all six printed editions are in agreement, I arbitrarily limit inclusion in the apparatus to variants with at least [10%]
attestation.
ECM collated 132 continuous text manuscripts (MSS) for 1 John, including some fragments, which number represents
about 20% of the extant (known) MSS. By a careful comparison of TuT and ECM I believe we can arrive at some reasonably
close extrapolations. Thus I venture to predict, if complete collations ever become available, that for any non-Byzantine variants
listed with 5 to 1% support (in my apparatus) the margin of error should not exceed 1%; for non-Byzantine variants listed with

7
 1 John

10 to 6% support the margin of error will hardly exceed 2%; where there is some division among the Byzantine witnesses the
margin of error will rarely exceed 10%. However, I guarantee the witness of Family 35.
th
As an arbitrary decision, I have limited the citation of individual MSS to those dated to the 5 century or earlier. I use rell to
indicate that the reading is supported by all other witnesses, and printed editions (of the six included in the apparatus),
compared to the other reading. The Greek font used is Bwgrkl and may be downloaded free from http://www.bibleworks.com.