1 John 2:21

New Living Translation

So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Do you think I am writing this letter because you don't know the truth? No, I am writing because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.

Revised Standard Version
I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I wrote not vnto you as though ye knewe not the trueth: but as though ye knewe it and knowe also that no lye commeth of trueth.

Hebrew Names Version
I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

New American Standard Bible
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

New Century Version
I do not write to you because you do not know the truth but because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.

Update Bible Version
I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have not written to you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

World English Bible
I have not written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I have not written to you, because ye know not the truth; but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Weymouth's New Testament
I have written to you, not because you are ignorant of the truth, but because you know it, and you know that nothing false comes from the truth.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y wroot not to you, as to men that knowen not treuthe, but as to men that knowen it, and for ech leesing is not of treuthe.

English Revised Version
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Berean Standard Bible
I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.

Contemporary English Version
I did not need to write you about the truth, since you already know it. You also know that liars do not belong to the truth.

Amplified Bible
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie [nothing false, no deception] is of the truth.

American Standard Version
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Bible in Basic English
I have not sent you this letter because you have no knowledge of what is true, but because you have knowledge, and because that which is false has nothing in common with that which is true.

Complete Jewish Bible
It is not because you don't know the truth that I have written to you, but because you do know it, and because no lie has its origin in the truth.

Darby Translation
I have not written to you because ye do not know the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

International Standard Version
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

Etheridge Translation
I have not written to you because you know not the truth, but you know it, and that no lie is of it, of the truth.

Murdock Translation
I have not written to you, because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no falsehood is of the truth.

King James Version (1611)
I haue not written vnto you, because yee know not the trueth: but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the trueth.

New Life Bible
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth. I have written because you do know the truth and you know that no lie comes from the truth.

New Revised Standard
I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.

English Standard Version
I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Geneva Bible (1587)
I haue not written vnto you, because ye knowe not the trueth: but because ye knowe it, and that no lie is of the trueth.

George Lamsa Translation
I have written to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie comes out of the truth.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because, no falsehood, is, of the truth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I haue not written vnto you, as though ye knewe not the trueth: but because ye knowe it, and that no lye is of the trueth.

Good News Translation
I write you, then, not because you do not know the truth; instead, it is because you do know it, and you also know that no lie ever comes from the truth.

Christian Standard Bible®
I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth.

King James Version
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Lexham English Bible
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because every lie is not of the truth.

Literal Translation
I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because every lie is not of the truth.

Young's Literal Translation
I did not write to you because ye have not known the truth, but because ye have known it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I haue not wrytte vnto you, as though ye knewe not ye trueth but ye knowe it, & are sure, yt no lye cometh of ye trueth.

Mace New Testament (1729)
I have not written to you, as to people unacquainted with the truth of the gospel: but as to such who know it, and know that it cannot give rise to any imposture.

New English Translation
I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

New King James Version
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I'm not writing you to tell you some truth you don't know. I'm writing to you because you do know the truth. It ain't hard to understand that no lies comes from the truth.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Contextual Overview

²⁰ But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. ²¹ So I am writing to you not because you don't know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. ²² And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. ²³ Anyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. ²⁵ And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. ²⁶ I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. ²⁷ But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

because ye know not: Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 9:9, Romans 15:14, Romans 15:15, 2 Peter 1:12

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 17:24 - the word Psalms 119:118 - their deceit Proverbs 11:9 - through Isaiah 32:3 - General John 10:5 - General 1 John 2:12 - write 1 John 2:27 - and ye 1 John 5:13 - have I 2 John 1:1 - known Revelation 2:2 - thou hast

Cross-References

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.

1 Samuel 26:12
So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul's head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul's men into a deep sleep.

Job 4:13
It came to me in a disturbing vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep.

Job 33:15
He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.

Proverbs 19:15
Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

Daniel 8:18
While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I have not written unto you,.... Either this epistle, or rather what particularly here regards those apostates from the truth, in order to shun them and not be deceived by them: the apostle here obviates an objection that he saw might be made upon what he last said, that they knew all things; and, if so, why then did he write the things he did, since they knew them before? to which he answers, that he did not write to them as to ignorant, but as to knowing persons:

because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it: the Father, who is the God of truth; Christ, who is truth itself; and the Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth; and the Gospel, which is the word of truth; and the Scriptures, which are the Scriptures of truth, and from whence truth is to be fetched, and by them to be confirmed and defended; and which, if they had not known, it would have been to no purpose for him to have written to them about the antichrists that were come into the world; and though they did know the truth, it was very proper to put them in remembrance of it, and to establish them in it, against these deceivers, which supposes former knowledge of it:

and that no lie is of the truth; either springs from it, or is according to it, but just the reverse. The apostle has respect to the errors and heresies of the above apostates, which were flagrant contradictions to the Gospel, and as distant from it as a lie is to truth; and of such lies, and of those liars, he speaks in the next verses. The Arabic version reads, "and that every liar is not of the truth".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth - You are not to regard my writing to you in this earnest manner as any evidence that I do not suppose you to be acquainted with religion and its duties. Some, perhaps, might have been disposed to put this construction on what he had said, but he assures them that that was not the reason why he had thus addressed them. The very fact that they did understand the subject of religion, he says, was rather the reason why he wrote to them.

But because ye know it - This was the ground of his hope that his appeal would be effectual. If they had never known what religion was, if they were ignorant of its nature and its claims, he would have had much less hope of being able to guard them against error, and of securing their steady walk in the path of piety. We may always make a strong and confident appeal to those who really understand what the nature of religion is, and what are the evidences of its truth.

And that no lie is of the truth - No form of error, however plausible it may appear, however ingeniously it may be defended and however much it may seem to be favorable to human virtue and happiness, can be founded in truth. What the apostle says here has somewhat the aspect of a truism, but it contains a real truth of vital importance, and one which should have great influence in determining our minds in regard to any proposed opinion or doctrine. Error often appears plausible. It seems to be adapted to relieve the mind of many difficulties which perplex and embarrass it on the subject of religion. It seems to be adapted to promote religion. It seems to make those who embrace it happy, and for a time they apparently enjoy religion. But John says that however plausible all this may be, however much it may seem to prove that the doctrines thus embraced are of God, it is a great and vital maxim that no error can have its foundation in truth, and, of course, that it must be worthless. The grand question is, “what is truth;” and when that is determined, we can easily settle the inquiries which come up about the various doctrines that are abroad in the world. Mere plausible appearances, or temporary good results that may grow out of a doctrine, do not prove that it is based on truth; for whatever those results may be, it is impossible that any error, however plausible, should have its origin in the truth.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. I have not written, c. — It is not because ye are ignorant of these things that I write to you, but because you know them, and can by these judge of the doctrines of those false teachers, and clearly perceive that they are liars for they contradict the truth which ye have already received, and consequently their doctrine is a lie, and no lie can be of the truth, i.e. consistent with Christianity.