I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.

I assure you ¹  that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you! ² 

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions ¹  to you

I am writing to you, ¹  little children, that ²  your sins have been forgiven because of his ³  name.

I am writing to you, fathers, that ¹  you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that ²  you have conquered the evil one. ³ 

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter. ¹ 

Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written ¹  you, in which ²  I am trying to stir up ³  your pure mind by way of reminder:

(My little children, ¹  I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ² ) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate ³  with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, ⁴ 

Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive ¹  I may not have to deal harshly with you ²  by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. ¹  The old commandment is the word that you have already ²  heard.

On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him ¹  and in you, because ²  the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. ³