13 Parents, I am writing to you,because you have knownthe one who was therefrom the beginning.Young people, I am writing to you,because you have defeatedthe evil one.
14 Children, I am writing to you,because you have knownthe Father.Parents, I am writing to you,because you have knownthe one who was therefrom the beginning.Young people, I am writing to you,because you are strong.God's message is firmin your hearts,and you have defeatedthe evil one.
15 Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you cannot love the Father.
16 Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have everything we see. None of this comes from the Father.
17 The world and the desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live for ever.
18 Children, this is the last hour. You heard that the enemy of Christ would appear at this time, and many of Christ's enemies have already appeared. So we know that the last hour is here.
19 These people came from our own group, yet they were not part of us. If they had been part of us, they would have stayed with us. But they left, which proves that they did not belong to our group.