1 John

5 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1Good cause there is to believe the Apostles' preaching. 5 And this is one point of their preaching, that to have participation with God, we must not only believe, but also abstain from all mortal sin, 8 though we all sin venially.
2. 2If any sin mortally, he must not despair. 3 To know God rightly, is not to believe only, but to keep his commandments: 7 and that this is no new doctrine, but the very primitive, though a new life it is. 9 Therefore he that believeth must also love his brethren: 11 and that men must not love the world, but do that which God willeth. 18 Many are gone out of the Church and become Seducers, all the ministers of Antichrist: but true Christians must continue in their old faith, considering the reward, and that they need not go to school to any Heretic, the Holy Ghost himself being the schoolmaster of the Church. 29 he doth earnestly inculcate justice and good works.
3. 3It is not for the sons of God, to sin mortally, but for the sons of the Devil, whereby they are known one from another, and not by only faith. 11 True faith it is, that we also love our brethren, giving both our life and substance for them. 19 Such unfeigned love may have great confidence before God. 23 because the keeping of his commandments doth much please him, which consist in faith and charity.
4. 4We may not believe all that boast of the spirit, but try them. Whether they teach Catholic articles of the faith (namely the incarnation of Christ:) whether their doctrine be not worldly, and themselves disobedient hearers of the Apostles. 7 We must love one another, considering the exceeding love of God in sending his Son to save us. 17 An argument of perfect charity is, if we have nothing in our conscience to fear in the day of Judgment. 19 And an argument that we love God is, if we love our brethren.
5. 5They that love God, must love his natural Son Jesus, and his sons by adoption, and keep his commandments, which in the regenerate are light. 4 But not, unless they continue in the Catholic faith, namely of this article, that Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore able to give us life everlasting. 14 and our petitions, 16 and our prayers for all our brethren that sin not unto death, dying in their mortal sins by impenitency. Last of all, he warneth them not to communicate with idols.