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Connecting Statement:
John gives believers basic principles of fellowship—obedience and love.
Beloved
"You people whom I love" or "Dear friends"
I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment
"I write to you to love one other, which is not a new thing to do but an old commandment that you had heard." John refers to Jesus' command to love one another.
from the beginning
Here, "beginning" refers to when they decided to follow Christ. AT: "from when you first believed in Christ" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)
The old commandment is the word that you heard.
"Word" here is a synecdoche for "message." AT: "The old commandment is the message that you heard. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche)
Yet I am writing a new commandment to you
"But in one way the commandment I write to you is a new commandment"
which is true in Christ and in you
"which is true, as shown in Christ's deeds and your deeds"
the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining
Here "darkness" refers to evil and "light" refers to goodness. AT: "because you are ceasing to do evil and you are doing more and more good" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)