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1 John 2:20-27 – The Anointing
Who, in O.T. times, were anointed? Prophets (1 Kgs.19:16), Priests (Ex.28:41; 40:13-15), and Kings (1 Sam.10:1; 1 Kgs.1:39).
“Ordinary Measure of the Holy Spirit”
Baptism (Tertullian)
What is the Anointing?
“Extraordinary Measure of the Holy Spirit” (Guy N. Woods, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2, and 3 John, and Jude, pp.245-247,251-254.)
The Gift of Discernment
1. “…Antichrist, formerly among the disciples, and now apostates, were advocating false and heretical doctrines designed to lead the disciples astray. These teachers were readily recognizable because the faithful had received an anointing from the Lord. In this anointing these saints had been supplied with an endowment enabling them to discern false spirits, and their teaching – to detect those who falsely asserted their inspiration: `Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God’; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.’ (1 Jn.4:1) This test they were able to make by comparing the teaching of the Spirit within them with the pretensions of the those teachers who affected to be similarly led.
2. “This anointing which they had received enabled them to know `all things.’ This phrase, `all things,’ is, of course, to be interpreted in the light of the context, and with reference to matters there considered. It was not the apostle’s purpose to imply that such anointing made those who received it omniscient; other side, why was he, an inspired apostle, writing to them all? If, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they had come into possession of all knowledge, why this Epistle to them? The `all things’ must, therefore, be limited to include the things pertaining to the antichrists.
3. “The anointing supplied them with such information as they needed to recognize and refute the false teachers who had gone out from among them. So, the apostle after affirms (1 Jn.4:26-27)
“We conclude, therefore, that the `anointing’ which these to whom John particularly wrote had received a miraculous measure of the Spirit….The meaning is that those thus endowed were able to weigh the claims of the teachers about them; they were in possession of the means with which to apply an infallible test thereto; and they could, therefore, know whether such men spoke for God or not. There is no support here whatsoever for the theory that all Christians have the anointing of the Holy Spirit or that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit extends to all believers today; or that men are justified in setting aside the revealed and written word of God to follow the leading of the so-called revelations with which they affect to be endowed….Here, again, is evidence of the correctness of our exposition….If all the disciples were embraced in these remarks; if all received the anointing of the Holy Spirit; if all possessed knowledge of `all things;’ and if none of them needed that any one should teach them, why the Epistle itself?”
1. Ironically, what Mr. Woods claims for these few Christians is exactly what the gnostics claimed for themselves.
2 Cor.1:21-22
*Against only a few is the fact John is fighting against an esoteric elite spiritual hierarchy in the gnostics.
Jn,16:13; 1 Cor.13
The Anointing – The Holy Spirit (and His Message)
“It is quite plain from the general context of the New Testament, and specifically in this epistle, that John refers to the Holy Spirit. This Spirit had been promised to the disciples as a teacher (Jn.14:26; 16:13f) who would abide forever (Jn.14:16). All truth with respect to the gospel comes ultimately from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor.12:3f). The Holy Spirit had done his work, and Christians were living within the framework of his revelation and had this anointing abiding in them, so John could say, you have no need that any one should teach you. Other passages teach this same idea: Jer.31:34, quoted in Heb.8:11; compare 1 Thess.4:9; Jn.6:45….John is setting the work of this Spirit in the church over against the claim of the false teachers who denied that Jesus is the Christ. Everywhere the test is that of the `truth’ (2:21; 3:19), the `message’ (1:5; 3:11), `what ye have heard from the beginning’ (2:24), or the `word’ (2:14) contrasted with the false teaching of the deceivers. Notice that when John first introduced the idea of the anointing (vss.20,21) it is set over against `knowing the truth.'” (J.W. Roberts, The Letters of John, pp.71-72.)
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