1 Johnchapter 2

A.We Have an Advocate — and We Keep His Wordvv. 1-6

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. 4 If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.

B.An Old Command Made New: Light or Darknessvv. 7-11

7 Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard. 8 Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining. 9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

C.Fathers, Young Men, Children — Love Not the Worldvv. 12-17

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

D.Many Antichrists, and the Anointing That Teaches Youvv. 18-29

18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. 24 As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. 26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 28 And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

'If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world' (2:1-2).

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'If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world' (2:1-2). The tests follow, we know that we know him if we keep his commandments, and he that hateth his brother is in the darkness. John addresses the church in tiers, little children, fathers, young men, then warns: 'Love not the world… the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever' (2:15-17). Then the schism: 'it is the last hour,' many antichrists have arisen, and 'they went out from us, but they were not of us.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Epistle · John — 1 John overview

A. 1–6 We Have an Advocate — and We Keep His Word
B. 7–11 An Old Command Made New: Light or Darkness
C. 12–17 Fathers, Young Men, Children — Love Not the World
D. 18–29 Many Antichrists, and the Anointing That Teaches You

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

1 John 47 verses
- 1 John 4:3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
- 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
- 1 John 4:13By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
- 1 John 4:14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
- 1 John 4:15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
- 1 John 4:17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
- Read 1 John 4: 1 more there →
1 John 27 verses
- 1 John 2:11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- 1 John 2:13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
- 1 John 2:14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- 1 John 2:18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.
- 1 John 2:20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
- 1 John 2:22Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.
- Read 1 John 2: 1 more there →
John 146 verses
- John 14:6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- John 14:7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
- John 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
- John 14:21Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
- John 14:23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
- John 14:26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- Read John 14 →
1 John 35 verses
- 1 John 3:2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
- 1 John 3:7Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- 1 John 3:11This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
- 1 John 3:13So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
- 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
- Read 1 John 3 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

John 12 verses
- John 1:13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
- John 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- Read John 1 →
John 152 verses
- John 15:9As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
- John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- Read John 15 →
John 132 verses
- John 13:15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
- John 13:34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- Read John 13 →
1 Corinthians 112 verses
- 1 Corinthians 11:1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 11:19And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
- Read 1 Corinthians 11 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.