What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have stared at with eyes, what we have observed and our hands have handled, about the Reason of life -- and the life was manifested, and we have stared at and witness and announce to you the perpetual life which was with the Father and manifested to us -- what we have stared at and what we have heard, we also announce to you so that you also may have communion with us. And our communion is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And we write these things so that our joy might be fulfilled.
And this is the message we have heard from Him and we announce to you: that God is light and there is no darkness at all in Him. If we should say that we have communion with Him and should walk in darkness, we deceive, and do not do the truth. If however we should walk in the light as He is in the light, we have communion with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son purifies us from every kind of sin. If we should say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we should confess our sins, He is faithful and just, so He may forgive our sins, and might purify us from every kind of injustice. If we should say that we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His Reason is not in us.
My darlings, I write these things to you so that you might not sin. And if any should sin, we have an intercessor with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just. And He is reconciliation for our sins, nor for our sins alone, but for the sins of the whole universe. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we are vigilant with His commands. The one saying, "I know Him," but not being vigilant with His commands, is a liar, and in him there is no truth. But whoever may be vigilant with his reason, in him devotion to God has been completed. By this we know that we are in Him: The one claiming to remain in Him ought to walk in just the way that He has walked.
O you to whom I am devoted, I am not writing to you a new command, but an ancient command, which you have possessed from the beginning. The ancient command is the reason you have heard. On the other hand, I am indeed writing to you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is departing and the true light even now shines. The one claiming to be in the light but hating his brother is even now in the darkness. The one devoted to his brother remains in the light, and there is no stumblingblock in him. However, the one hating his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and he does not know where he is going because darkness has blinded his eyes.
I am writing to you, darlings, because your sins have been sent away through His name. I am writing to you, elders, because you have known the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, youths, because you have conquered the evil one. I am writing to you, children, because you know the Father.
I have written to you, elders, because you have known the one who is from the beginning. I have written to you, youths, because you are mighty, and God's Reason remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
[1 John 1:1-2:14, my very rough translation. Note that I translate 'logos' as Reason throughout; it is usually translated, due to the influence of Latin translations, as Word.]
