| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 1 The word of life (1:1-4) 1:1 What was from the beginning (1:1) | The beginning | 3 A new commandment (2:7-17) 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. (2:13) |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 4 Warning against Antichrists (2:18-3:12) see 1-1 | see 1-1 | 6 Testing the Spirits (4:1-6) see 1-1 |
| Former half | Relation | Latter half |
| 7 God is love (4:7-5:5) 5:1 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.(5:1) | Begotten by God | 9 Epilogue (5:13-21) 5:18 We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. (5:18) |