« | 1 John 5 |
1 The people who believe that Jesus is the Christ are God's children. Anyone who loves the Father also loves the Father's children.
2 How do we know that we love God's children? We know because we love God and we obey his commands.
3 Loving God means obeying his commands. And God's commands are not too hard for us,
4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world.
5 It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 Jesus Christ is the one who came. He came with water and with blood. He did not come by water only. No, Jesus came by both water and blood. And the Spirit tells us that this is true. The Spirit is the truth.
7 So there are three witnesses that tell us about Jesus:
8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three witnesses agree.
9 We believe people when they say something is true. But what God says is more important. And this is what God told us: He told us the truth about his own Son.
10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the truth that God told us. Whoever does not believe God makes God a liar, because they do not believe what God told us about his Son.
11 This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now.
14 We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say.
15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.
16 Suppose you see your fellow believer sinning (sin that does not lead to eternal death). You should pray for them. Then God will give them life. I am talking about people whose sin does not lead to eternal death. There is sin that leads to death. I don't mean that you should pray about that kind of sin.
17 Doing wrong is always sin. But there is sin that does not lead to eternal death.
18 We know that those who have been made God's children do not continue to sin. The Son of God keeps them safe. The Evil One cannot hurt them.
19 We know that we belong to God, but the Evil One controls the whole world.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding. So now we can know the one who is true, and we live in that true God. We are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and he is eternal life.
21 So, dear children, keep yourselves away from false gods.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.