Iohannis I 1
1 Quod fuit ab initio, quod audivimus, quod vidimus oculis nostris, quod perspeximus, et manus nostrae contrectaverunt de verbo vitae:
[I, John, am writing to you about] the one who existed before [there was anything else]. He is the one whom we [apostles] listened to [as he taught us!] We saw him! We ourselves looked at him and touched him! [He is the one who taught us] the message that [enables people to have eternal] life (OR, live [spiritually]).
2 et vita manifestata est, et vidimus, et testamur, et annunciamus vobis vitam aeternam, quae erat apud Patrem, et apparuit nobis: (aiōnios g166)
Because he came here [to the earth] and we have seen him, we proclaim to you clearly that the one whom we have seen is the [one who] has always lived. He was [previously] with his Father in heaven, but he came to live among us. (aiōnios g166)
3 quod vidimus et audivimus, annunciamus vobis, ut et vos societatem habeatis nobiscum, et societas nostra sit cum Patre, et cum Filio eius Iesu Christo.
We proclaim to you the [message about Jesus], the one whom we saw and heard, in order that you may have a close relationship with us. The ones whom we have a close relationship with are God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
4 Et haec scribimus vobis ut gaudeatis, et gaudium vestrum sit plenum.
I am writing to you about these things so that [you (will be convinced/believe]) [that they are true, and as a] result we may be completely joyful.
5 Et haec est annunciatio, quam audivimus ab eo, et annunciamus vobis: Quoniam Deus lux est, et tenebrae in eo non sunt ullae.
The message that we heard from Christ and proclaim to you is this: God is [pure in every way. He never sins. He is like] [MET] a [brilliant] light that has no darkness at all.
6 Si dixerimus quoniam societatem habemus cum eo, et in tenebris ambulamus, mentimur, et veritatem non facimus.
If we claim to have a close relationship with [God], but [we conduct our lives in an impure manner, that is like] living [MET] in [evil] darkness. We are lying. We are not conducting our lives according to [God’s] true message.
7 Si autem in luce ambulamus sicut et ipse est in luce, societatem habemus ad invicem, et sanguis Iesu Christi, Filii eius, emundat nos ab omni peccato.
But living [in a pure manner], as God is [living in a pure manner] [MET] [in every way, is like living] in God’s light. If we do that, we have a close relationship with each other. Not only that, but [God] (acquits us/removes [the guilt]) [of] all our sins because [he accepts] what his Son Jesus did for us [when his] blood [flowed from his body when he died. So we should conduct our lives] ([in a manner according to what God says is pure]).
8 Si dixerimus quoniam peccatum non habemus, ipsi nos seducimus, et veritas in nobis non est.
Those who say they never behave sinfully are deceiving themselves, and refusing [to accept as] true [what God says about them].
9 Si confiteamur peccata nostra: fidelis est, et iustus, ut remittat nobis peccata nostra, et emundet nos ab omni iniquitate.
But God will do what he says that he will do, and what he does is [always] right. So, if we confess to him that we [have behaved] sinfully, he will forgive [us for] our sins and (will free us from/remove) [the guilt of] all our sins. [Because of that], [we should confess to him that we have behaved sinfully].
10 Si dixerimus quoniam non peccavimus: mendacem facimus eum, et verbum eius non est in nobis.
[Because God says that everyone has sinned], those who say/claim that they have never behaved sinfully talk [as though] God lies! They reject what God says [about us]!
