2nd Sunday of Easter: Comparing translations of 1 John 5:1-6

This morning I have the privilege of being the lector and proclaiming the 2nd reading (1 John 5:1-6).In order to proclaim we need to understand. It seems to me that the NABRE translation used in the lectionary is difficult to understand:

 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

2 In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

 

For me, "the one begotten by him" is ambiguous. The New International Version gives us:

 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 

 

This is easier to understand but harder to do. There are times when I strain just be courteous, not loving towards some of God's children. John goes on to say that "his commands are not burdensome". He assures us that "everyone born of God overcomes the world.

 

It is an ongoing struggle in which we need to remind ourselves that we claim spiritual progress, not perfection, placing our hope in John's promise:

 

3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.