John Epistles

1, 2 and 3 John have now been published in the Plain English Version! The consultant has approved it for publishing; our volunteer proofreaders have checked it; it's been formatted for printing; and it's been published online. (One day it will also be recorded so that people can listen to it, but that will take a little longer.)

You can find it in the YouVersion Bible app, Australian Bibles app and android PEV app. It's also available online at: https://ebible.org/study/?w1=bible&t1=local%3AengPEV&v1=J11_1 and https://www.bible.com/bible/2530/1JN.1.PEV

1 John felt like it took a really long time, both because we were busy with other things, and because it's really hard translate. John is often abstract and metaphorical and not always consistent in how he uses metaphorical language which makes it difficult to explain in plain language.

Some of the questions that came up during the final check include how we translate:

• "beloved" – my friends / my good friends / my Christian friends

• "little children" –  Listen, my Christian friends. I am like your father, and you are like my kids / Listen, my Christian friends. I’m talking to you now like you are my kids / my friends

• "the Spirit" – the Holy Spirit / God's spirit

• "him who is true" – the only true God / the only real God

We also found pictures to go in the John Epistles booklet. The one below of Gaius and his family helping travelling Christians was designed by our intern Bek with the help of AI.

Give thanks that 1, 2 & 3 John are now available in the PEV!

Pray that people will find out about the translation and have access to it.