¶ Behold what love the father hath shewed on us, that we should be called the sons of God. For this cause the world knoweth you not because it knoweth not him. Dearly beloved, now are we the sons of God, and yet it hath not appear what we shall be. But we know that when it shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin, committeth unrighteousness also, for sin is unrighteousness. And ye know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. As many as bide in him, sin not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither hath known him.
¶ Babes let no man deceive you, He that doth righteousness, is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth since the beginning. For this purpose appeared the son of God, to loose the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this are the children of God known, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
¶ For this is the tidings, that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: not as Cain which was of the wicked and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's good. Marvel not my brethren if the world hate you. We know that we are translated from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother, is a man slayer. And ye know that no man slayer hath eternal life abiding in him.
¶ Hereby perceive we love: that he gave his life for us: And we ought also to give our lives for the brethren. Whosoever hath this world's goods and seeth his brother in necessity, and shutteth up his compassion from him: how dwelleth the love of God in him? My babes, let us not love in word, neither in tongue: but with deed, and in verity: And thereby we know that we are of the verity, and will before him put our hearts out of doubt: For (if our hearts condemn us) God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. Tenderly beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we trust to God ward: and whatsoever we ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.
¶ And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his son Iesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that there abideth in us of the spirit which he gave us.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526