SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 John 2000 – Page 2

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:7

Paragraph 3:7–10

Read 3:7–10 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John explains that our behavior shows whether we belong to God or to Satan.

3:7a

deceive you: (Logical Relationship) This is not a general warning about being deceived. John is specifically warning his readers not to be deceived about the question (in the next part of the verse) of who is really righteous. The two parts of the verse may therefore need to be linked together.

3:7b

The one who practices righteousness is righteous: (Emphasis) John is contradicting the false teachers who claimed that anyone could become righteous just by accepting their teaching. They claimed that it did not matter if a person continued to live an evil life. It is therefore important in translation to keep the emphasis on the fact that the only people who are righteous in God’s sight are those who do right (and no one else). See New English Bible.

righteous: (Meaning) This means that God accepts him as being good and right, and God approves of what he does.

3:7c

just as Christ is righteous: (Alternative Interpretations) In Greek, this phrase is literally “just as he is righteous.” There are different views about who this refers to:

(1) It refers to Christ. (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some think it refers to God. (New English Bible)

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:19

Paragraph 4:19–21

Read 4:19–21 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: This is the summary of John’s appeal that we should love other Christians because God has loved us so much.

4:19a

We love: (Lexical Problem) No object for this verb is expressed in the Greek. However John is talking about our love for God and for other people, so this may be made explicit if the verb “love” has to have an expressed object in your language. See Display.

The King James Version and Living Bible use the pronoun “him” in this verse part, but that is based on an inferior Greek text.

4:19b

because: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views on what ideas this implies and connects:

(1) It probably means that God’s love for us gives us the power to love.

(2) Some think it means that we have a duty to love because God loves us.

(3) Others think it means we are able to love because God’s love gives us the example to follow.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

He: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to God. See Good News Translation.

first: (Multiple Senses) This is used here in the sense of “before/previously.” John means that God loved us before we loved him or others.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:14

2:14 (Verse Number)

Note that Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible and some other versions have the verse number in a different place from King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Berean Standard Bible and others. In translation it may be best to follow the numbering system that is used in the major version in your area.

2:14e

strong: (Metaphor) This refers here to spiritual strength, perseverance in faith, ability to defend and proclaim the gospel.

2:14f

the word of God abides in you: (Metaphor) This metaphor is showing that the word of God is constantly present in the lives of the readers, so that they are always paying attention to it.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:18

3:18 (Logical Relationship)

Since this verse gives the main point of John’s argument, based on 3:16–17, it may be necessary in translation to make this clear.

3:18a

let us love not in: (Meaning) In translation it is important to avoid implying here that we should never say we love someone. John certainly assumes that we say we love people, but he is here warning that we should not only say we love people, we should also do things to help them.

love: (Lexical Problem) John is referring to loving our brothers or each other, and this can be made explicit in translation if it is necessary for the verb love to have an object.

speech: (Metaphor) The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speech is more literally “tongue.” This is a metaphorical way of referring to speech.

3:18b

and truth: (Meaning) If we actually help one another our love will be true love in accordance with God’s truth.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:10

Paragraph 5:10–12

Read 5:10–12 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: Here John shows that believing in Jesus can cause us to be confident that we have eternal life.

5:10b

this testimony: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to the testimony mentioned in the previous verses (5:6–9) by which the Holy Spirit assures us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

within him: (Meaning) This means that such a person has no doubts that these things are true because he is fully assured of them in himself.

5:10c

whoever does not believe God: (Logical Relationship) Even though this sentence refers to God instead of Jesus Christ, it is meant as a direct contrast to the last sentence (5:10a–b). In translation a conjunction such as “but” may be needed to introduce it. See Good News Translation, New English Bible.

does not believe God: (Meaning) This refers to not believing what God says about his Son. It does not mean, “does not believe in God.”

5:10d

has made Him out: (Meaning) John means that to refuse to believe God is the same as saying that God is a liar.

5:10e

because: (Logical Relationship) This gives the reason why John says that refusing to believe God is the same as saying he is a liar.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:2

1:2 (Parenthesis)

This verse is a comment about the Word of life, which John has just mentioned. In the next verse (1:3) he continues what he has been saying about the subject of his letter.

1:2a

And this is the life: (Meaning) This also refers to Jesus. See the note on 1:1 “Word of life” above.

was revealed: (Alternative Interpretations) Two interpretations of the form of the Greek verb are possible here:

(1) It probably means “he was revealed (by God),” “God caused him to become a human being, who people could see.” (Berean Standard Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Living Bible)

(2) Some think it means “he appeared,” “he became visible.” (New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

1:2c

testified: (Meaning) This means to tell or confirm the truth about something which one has personally experienced or seen.

1:2d

proclaim: (Meaning) This means to testify to something openly or publicly.

the eternal life: (Special Biblical Term) This is a biblical term which describes the type of life which God has and which he gives to us. It refers to both the length of that life and to its quality. It means life which is never-ending and which is heavenly rather than earthly. In this verse it refers to Jesus, just as “the life” does at the beginning of the verse. It is emphasizing that the life which Jesus brings us has always existed in heaven.

1:2e

with the Father: (Meaning) This is very similar to John 1:1 “the Word was with God.” It means that God and the Word (the Life) never existed separately, they were always together.

Father: (Expression) If it is necessary to specify whose father this is, say “our Father” here.

1:2f

was revealed to us: (Alternative Interpretations) See the note on 1:2a “revealed.” The same two interpretations are found here.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:25

2:25

this: (Pronoun Reference) The pronoun this refers back to the idea of remaining in the Son and in the Father.

He: (Pronoun Reference) The Greek pronoun translated He clearly refers to Jesus here.

to us: (Text) Some Greek manuscripts have “you.” This is what The Jerusalem Bible translates. But the best manuscripts have to us. It is recommended that you translate “to us” here.

eternal life: (Logical Relationship) John is saying that if we remain in the Son and in the Father, then we have the eternal life which Jesus promised. See Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English.

eternal life: (Special Biblical Term) Just as in other places in the New Testament where this term is used, it describes the heavenly life which God himself has and which he gives to us. See the note on 1:2d.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:7

Paragraph 4:7–10

Read 4:7–10 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: In these verses John urges us to love one another because God showed us how much he loved us by sending his Son to die for us.

4:7a

let us love: (Tense) The tense of the Greek verb here shows that this is an order or encouragement to continue loving each other.

4:7b

love comes from: (Metaphor) See the note on 2:16e “is not from.” The basic meaning of the metaphor here is that love is something especially associated with God and that he is the one who causes and enables Christians to love others.

4:7c

Everyone who loves: (Meaning) John is referring to Christians who love others. He does not mean that any non-Christian who loves someone is a child of God. In translation this may need to be made clear by saying, “Anyone of you who loves.”

who loves: (Lexical Problem) No object of love is mentioned here, but throughout this section John is talking about loving other people. So if the verb “love” requires an object in your language, you can say “who loves other people.” This applies also to 4:8a.

born of God: (Metaphor) This refers to the same idea as being a child of God, because such a person has received spiritual life from God.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:7

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:19

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:14

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:18

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:10

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:2

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:25

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:7

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