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1 John 2 – Text and Notes
Vv.1-2 – Jesus is Our Advocate
1 My little children [teknion (5040); Jn.13:33; 1 Jn.2:12,28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21; Extended Notes], I [more personal than “we” in 1:4] am writing these things to you so that you may not sin [aorist; What John said earlier concerning being in the light consisting of confessing sins (1:7) was not meant as permission or license to sin. Nevertheless, more than likely, in this verse he is condemning the licentious gnostics rather than combating a misunderstanding of his first comment (a.k.a. Rom.6:1ff).]. And if anyone [indefinite third person] sins [aorist], we have [first person – John includes himself as one capable of sinning.] an Advocate [Gr. Paracletos, one called alongside to help; only in Jn.14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7] with the Father, Jesus [Human] Christ [Divine] the [no article] righteous;
2 and He Himself [both the human/flesh and the divine/spirit] is the propitiation [or, satisfaction, expiation; hilasmos; 4:10] for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world [not just to the “spirituals” (i.e., gnostics]. [Jn.3:16]
Vv.3-6 – Knowing Jesus Means Obeying Jesus
3 By [en] this we know [present; ginosko (1097) – “to know through experience; to perceive through the senses; `subjective knowledge’ (Green); the knowing comes from `an active relation between the one who knows and the person or thing known’ (Vine; effectively coming to know, or the entering into knowing through first-hand or personal interaction; knowledge usually gained through personal acquaintance or some relationship of intimacy or connection” (The Discovery Bible, pp.535-536)] that we have come to know [perfect active; ginosko (1097) -] Him, if we keep [present active, i.e., keep on keeping] His commandments [2:4; 3:22-24; 4:21; 5:2,3]. [Knowledge of God and knowing God, demanded obedience instead of freeing from obedience as said some Gnostics. Also, contrary to gnostic philosophy, true knowledge of God means going back to the old knowledge, not receiving something new.] [While we are not saved by our works, we cannot be saved without our works.]
4 The one who says, “I have come to know [perfect active; know/ginosko (cf. v..3)] Him,” [Apparently this was a gnostic mantra.] and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, [cp. 1:6the word has an emphatic sense, which its Greek sentence implies or cannot show] and the truth is not in him; [1:8,10]
5 but whoever [not just the “spirituals” (i.e., gnostics)] keeps [present active] His word [logos – “When used in reference to God, logos means `God’s word, command, commission,’ as well as `of divine revelation through Christ and His messengers’ (Arndt/Gingrich); the essence, reason, or cause of a matter, having particular reference to the `thought to which it is connected’ (Cremer); `reasoned speech’ (Vine) (p.545)] in him the love [not just knowledge] of God [for or from?] has truly been perfected [perfect passive]. By this we know that we are in Him: [the word has an emphatic sense, which its Greek sentence implies or cannot show]
6 the one who says he abides [present active] in Him ought [opheilei; i.e., as in a debt, “a special, personal obligation” (Vincent, v.2, p.329)] himself to walk [present active] in the same manner as He walked. [The argument that those who know God keep His commandments is based upon Jesus’ example.]
Vv.7-8 – Old and New Commandments
7 Beloved [1st time used although the KJV reads, Brethren; 3:2,21; 4:1,7; 3 Jn.1,2,5,11], I am not writing a new [Extended Notes; kainos (2537) – “new in quality; new and different; …usually involved bringing in a superior innovation or advance and corresponds to heteros, another of a different kind” (The Discovery Bible, p.541)] commandment to you, but an old [i.e., ancient, old in reference to time, not character or quality;] commandment which you have had [imperfect active; lit., were having] from the beginning; the old [the word has an emphatic sense, which its Greek sentence implies or cannot show] commandment is the word which you have heard [imperfect active].
8 On the other hand [lit., Again], I am writing a new [kainos (cf. v.7)] commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because [hoti; explanation of the paradox or explanation of how it was true in them.] the darkness is passing away [parago; present middle; v.17] and the true Light [lit., the light, the true] is already shining [present active; What is the application: Second Coming? Victory of truth over error? Ultimate defeat of Satan?].
Vv.9-11 – Light vs. Darkness
9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. [Hate here and v.11, is not the presence of something actively negative, but the absence of something actively positive – love (3:17).]
10 The one who loves [love/agapao – “in biblical and ecclesiastical usage agapao and its associated noun, agape, refer to an unselfish, outgoing affection or tenderness for another without necessarily expecting anything in return. It seeks a person’s highest good on the basis of a decision of will and an inclination of heart. This verb “to love” rarely occurs in secular Greek in the B.C. period, although the Greek O.T. uses it often for the Hebrew ‘aheb, which in some other contexts is translated phileo.” (The Discovery Bible, p.538)] his brother [2:10,11; 3:10,15,17; 4:20,21; 5:16] abides [present active] in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling [for him or for others?] in him.
11 But the one who hates [cf., v.9] his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. [As opposed to the Gnostics, true light is not from a higher knowledge, but a higher motive – love.]
Vv.12-14 – Fathers, Young Men, Children
12 I am writing [grapho; present active] to you, little children [teknion (5040)], because your sins have been [aphiemi; perfect passive] forgiven [perfect] you for His name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know [perfect; know/ginosko (cf., v.3)] Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome [perfect; 2:14; 4:4; 5:4,5; Rev.2:7,11,17,26l 12:11; 21:7] the evil one [3:12; 5:19]. I have written to you, children [padia (3813)], because you know [perfect] the Father.
14 I have written [epistolary aorist referring to this epistle – to be interpreted in the present by the readers] to you, fathers, because you know [perfect] Him who has been from the beginning [1:1]. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong [ischuroi], and the word [logos (cf. v.5); Word?] of God abides in you, and you have overcome [perfect] the evil one.
Vv.15-17 – Do not Love the World
15 Do not love [negative present imperative] the world [kosmos; 5:19; Jn.1:10; 17:14ff; Physical universe? Spiritual sphere of Satan? Gnostics taught the world was evil, and yet felt free to indulge in it’s values.] nor the things in the world. If anyone loves [present active] the world, the love of [for or from?]the Father is not in him. [“It is impossible for love to the world to coexist with love to God, as it is impossible for light and darkness to co-exist.” (via, Vincent, v.2, p.335)]
16 For all that is in the world [the definition of the world is about to follow], the lust of [for or from? Is there a difference?] the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride [only here and Jms.4:16] of life, [life/bios – “the period or duration of earthly life…in a secondary sense, the means by which life is sustained; and thirdly the manner in which that life is spent” (Trench)] is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 The world is passing away [present middle], and also, its lusts; but the one who does [present active] the will of God abides forever.
Vv.18-25 – Antichrist vs. Anointing
18 Children, it is the last hour [definite article not in Greek in either occurrence; “last hour” only here in NT although John does uses hora “for a crisis” – Jn.2:4; 4:21,23; 5:25, 28, etc. (Robertson, v.6, p.215). What is happening in this last hour? Darkness is passing away (v.8); True Light is already shining (v.8); World is passing away (v.17); Antichrist is coming/came (v.18)]; and just as you heard [aorist active of akouo] that antichrist [Extended Notes; “anti can mean substitution or opposition” (Robertson, v.6, p.215] is coming, even now many antichrists [i.e., gnostics] have appeared; [perfect]
19 They went out [voluntarily, not withdrawn from] from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it might be shown [lit., they might be made manifest; aorist] that they all are not of us. [1 Cor.11:19] [“They” and “us” would be considered power words in this verse as each is listed 5 times.]
20 But [lit., And] you have an anointing [chrisma – same root as Christos (Christ)] from the Holy One, and you [some manuscripts read, you know all things] all know.
21 I have not written [opposite of the times he says why he did write them] to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because [or, know that] no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar [1:6; 2:4] but the one who denies that Jesus [human] is the Christ [divine] [This was the Cerinthian heresy.]? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father [divine] and the Son [divine and human].
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also [Within context denying the Son or confessing the Son is in reference to Gnosticism. Today the application would be to any theology or philosophy that denies the duality of Jesus fully incarnated.].
24 As for you, let that abide [present imperative] in you which you heard from the beginning [1:1]. If what you heard from the beginning abides [aorist] in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 This is the promise [epaggelia] which He Himself made [lit., promised] to us: eternal life [lit., the life the eternal].
Vv.26-27 – The Anointing Teaches Us All Things
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive [deceive/planao – to lead astray; passive; wander from the truth into error, falsity and delusion; the inevitable pain and confusion that always results from trusting false promises or believing a lie] you.
27 As for you, the anointing [cf. v.20] which you received [aorist active] from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach [didasko; present active] you; but as His anointing [cf. v.20] teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide [present imperative] in Him.
Vv.28-29 – Those Born of God Practice Righteousness
28 Now, little children [teknion (5040)], abide [present imperative] in Him, so that when He appears [parousia; aorist], we may have [aorist] confidence and not shrink [lit., be put to shame from Him; aorist] away from Him in shame at [or, in] His coming [lit., presence].
29 If you know [know/oida – to know intellectually; to gain knowledge by observation (versus by experience or through the senses); to know something on the basis of an absolute or achieved knowledge; to know about something without necessarily standing in any personal relation or connection with it] that He is righteous, you know [know/ginosko (cf. v.3)] that everyone also who practices righteousness is born [perfect] of Him [Father or Son?].
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