English: Easy to Read Version

[1] 1:1 Word The Greek word is "logos," meaning any kind of communication. Here, it means Christ-the way God told people about himself.

[2] 1:3 fellowship Associating with people and sharing things together with them. Believers in Christ share love, joy, sorrow, faith, and other things with each other and with God. Also in verse 7.

[3] 1:5 light This word is used to show what God is like. It means goodness or truth.

[4] 1:5 darkness A symbol of sin and evil, which characterize Satan's kingdom.

[5] 2:8 darkness A symbol of sin and evil, which characterize Satan's kingdom.

[6] 2:9 light A symbol of goodness and truth, which characterize God's kingdom.

[7] 2:13 Evil One The devil or Satan, the ruler of demons and enemy of God.

[8] 2:18 Christ Literally, "Anointed," a title that comes from the Old Testament ceremony in which perfumed oil was poured or rubbed on someone being appointed to a high office, especially that of prophet, priest, or king, to show that this person was chosen by God for that role. The Hebrew word is "Messiah," a title used for Old Testament kings and for the one God would send as prophet, priest, and king to bring people back to a good relationship with him.

[9] 2:20 gift Literally, "anointing." This might mean the Holy Spirit. Or, it might mean teaching or truth as in verse 24. Also in verse 27.

[10] 2:20 Holy One God or Christ.

[11] 3:9 the new life God gave them Literally, "his seed."

[12] 3:12 Cain The son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother Abel. Read Gen. 4:1-16.

[13] 3:12 Evil One The devil or Satan, the ruler of demons and enemy of God.

[14] 3:15 believer Where this word is marked, it is literally "brother," a term used by followers of Jesus Christ to refer to fellow members of God's family.

[15] 3:15 Anyone . murderer Those who hate someone have in their mind the same motive that causes murder. So, morally, hating is equal to murder. Jesus taught his followers about this sin. See Mt. 5:21-26.

[16] 3:24 Spirit See "Holy Spirit."

[17] 4:1 false prophet A person who claims to speak for God but does not really speak God's truth.

[18] 4:2 Christ Literally, "Anointed," a title that comes from the Old Testament ceremony in which perfumed oil was poured or rubbed on someone being appointed to a high office, especially that of prophet, priest, or king, to show that this person was chosen by God for that role. The Hebrew word is "Messiah," a title used for Old Testament kings and for the one God would send as prophet, priest, and king to bring people back to a good relationship with him.

[19] 4:13 Spirit See "Holy Spirit."

[20] 4:17 him Christ or God.

[21] 5:1 Christ Literally, "Anointed," a title that comes from the Old Testament ceremony in which perfumed oil was poured or rubbed on someone being appointed to a high office, especially that of prophet, priest, or king, to show that this person was chosen by God for that role. The Hebrew word is "Messiah," a title used for Old Testament kings and for the one God would send as prophet, priest, and king to bring people back to a good relationship with him.

[22] 5:6 water This probably means the water of Jesus' baptism.

[23] 5:6 blood This probably means the blood Jesus shed on the cross.

[24] 5:6 Spirit See "Holy Spirit."

[25] 5:16 believer Where this word is marked, it is literally "brother," a term used by followers of Jesus Christ to refer to fellow members of God's family.

[26] 5:18 The Son . safe Literally, "The one who was born from God keeps him safe" or ". keeps himself safe."

[27] 5:18 Evil One The devil or Satan, the ruler of demons and enemy of God.