< 1 John 1 >

1 [I, John, am writing to you about] the one who existed before [there was anything else]. He is the one whom we [apostles] listened to [as he taught us!] We saw him! We ourselves looked at him and touched him! [He is the one who taught us] the message that [enables people to have eternal] life (OR, live [spiritually]).
Was von Anfang war, was wir gehört und mit Augen gesehen, was wir geschaut und mit Händen betastet haben, das berichten wir von dem Wort des Lebens.
2 Because he came here [to the earth] and we have seen him, we proclaim to you clearly that the one whom we have seen is the [one who] has always lived. He was [previously] with his Father in heaven, but he came to live among us. (aiōnios g166)
Ja, das Leben ist erschienen, und jenes ewige Leben, das bei dem Vater war und uns offenbar geworden ist, das haben wir gesehen, das bezeugen und verkünden wir euch. (aiōnios g166)
3 We proclaim to you the [message about Jesus], the one whom we saw and heard, in order that you may have a close relationship with us. The ones whom we have a close relationship with are God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
Was wir gesehen und gehört, das verkündigen wir auch euch, damit auch ihr mit uns Gemeinschaft habt. Aber diese Gemeinschaft mit uns ist auch eine Gemeinschaft mit dem Vater und mit seinem Sohn Jesus Christus.
4 I am writing to you about these things so that [you (will be convinced/believe]) [that they are true, and as a] result we may be completely joyful.
Dies schreiben wir, damit unsere Freude vollkommen sei.
5 The message that we heard from Christ and proclaim to you is this: God is [pure in every way. He never sins. He is like] [MET] a [brilliant] light that has no darkness at all.
Dies ist die Botschaft, die wir von ihm gehört und euch verkünden: "Gott ist Licht, und in ihm ist keine Finsternis."
6 If we claim to have a close relationship with [God], but [we conduct our lives in an impure manner, that is like] living [MET] in [evil] darkness. We are lying. We are not conducting our lives according to [God’s] true message.
Behaupten wir, wir haben Gemeinschaft mit ihm, und wandeln trotzdem in der Finsternis, so lügen wir und betätigen die Wahrheit nicht.
7 But living [in a pure manner], as God is [living in a pure manner] [MET] [in every way, is like living] in God’s light. If we do that, we have a close relationship with each other. Not only that, but [God] (acquits us/removes [the guilt]) [of] all our sins because [he accepts] what his Son Jesus did for us [when his] blood [flowed from his body when he died. So we should conduct our lives] ([in a manner according to what God says is pure]).
Wandeln wir aber im Licht, wie er im Licht ist, so haben wir Gemeinschaft miteinander, und das Blut Jesu, seines Sohnes, reinigt uns von jeder Sünde.
8 Those who say they never behave sinfully are deceiving themselves, and refusing [to accept as] true [what God says about them].
Behaupten wir: wir haben keine Sünde, so betrügen wir uns selbst, und die Wahrheit wohnt nicht in uns.
9 But God will do what he says that he will do, and what he does is [always] right. So, if we confess to him that we [have behaved] sinfully, he will forgive [us for] our sins and (will free us from/remove) [the guilt of] all our sins. [Because of that], [we should confess to him that we have behaved sinfully].
Bekennen wir aber unsere Sünden, dann ist er treu und gerecht, so daß er uns die Sünden erläßt und uns reinigt von jeglichem Unrecht.
10 [Because God says that everyone has sinned], those who say/claim that they have never behaved sinfully talk [as though] God lies! They reject what God says [about us]!
Behaupten wir: wir haben nicht gesündigt, so machen wir ihn zum Lügner, und sein Wort wohnt nicht in uns.

< 1 John 1 >