1 John 1:8–10
To say we have no sin is to deceive ourselves; confessing brings forgiveness
Study it word by word8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, so as to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
In its context
6If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not do the truth;
7but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
…
Its words in the original
- εἴπωμενeipōmen· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ἁμαρτίανhamartian· sin
Sin: missing the mark, failing God and what he commands.
- ἔχομενechomen· have
Have, possess, hold.
- πλανῶμενplanōmen· lead astray, deceive
Lead astray, deceive; go astray.
- ἀλήθειαalētheia· truth
Truth.
- ἔστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- ὁμολογῶμενhomologōmen· confess, acknowledge
Confess, acknowledge openly; declare.
- πιστόςpistos· faithful, believing
Faithful, trustworthy; also believing, a believer.
- δίκαιοςdikaios· righteous, just
Righteous, just: someone who lives by what is right before God.
- ἀφῇaphēi· let go, forgive
Leave, let go, allow; said of sins and debts, forgive.
- καθαρίσῃkatharisēi· cleanse, purify
To cleanse, purify; of a leper, to heal him and declare him clean.
- ἀδικίαςadikias· unrighteousness
Injustice, unrighteousness.
- ἡμαρτήκαμενhēmartēkamen· sin
Sin: fail God, do what he forbids.
- ψεύστηνpseustēn· liar
Liar, someone who tells lies.
- ποιοῦμενpoioumen· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- λόγοςlogos· word
Word, saying, message; also reason, cause, account.