1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:1 MY LITTLE CHILDREN. This way of addressing his readers shows John’s great love for them (see also vv. 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:21). MAY NOT SIN. See note on... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:2 PROPITIATION means “a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath and turns it to favor” (see note on Rom. 3:25). As the perfect sacrifice for sin, Jesus turns away God’s wrath (see also 1 John 4:10). FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD does not mean every person will be saved. John clear... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:3 BY THIS WE KNOW. Assurance of salvation is possible (see note on 2 Pet. 1:10). 1 John 1:1 mentions several tests that give assurance (see 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 5:2). Here the test [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:5 LOVE OF GOD IS PERFECTED. This love is not only a feeling. It is also an ethical response (KEEPS HIS WORD). MAY KNOW. See note on v. 3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:6 WALK IN THE SAME WAY. Believers can imitate Christ’s faith, love, devotion, obedience, and selflessness (v. 1 John 2:5). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:7 The Unchanging Commandment in a Changing World. John emphasizes the love commandment. He then describes the challenge of living as a Christian in a dark world (vv. 1 John 2:8, 1 John 2:9, 1 John 2:11) dominated by “the evil one” (vv. 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:8 THE DARKNESS IS PASSING AWAY. The age to come has not yet fully arrived (see 1 John 3:2), but it is getting closer. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:9 HATES HIS BROTHER. John often uses strongly contrasting terms for emphasis (e.g., light vs. darkness, truth vs. lies). DARKNESS HAS BLINDED HIS EYES. “Darkness” and “blindness” in Scripture often symbolize rejecting God’s truth and continuing in sin (see John 3:19; John 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:12 John knows his message is greater than the evil he describes. Some view LITTLE CHILDREN, FATHERS, and YOUNG MEN as symbolizing the stages of spiritual maturity in a Christian’s life. Others think “little children” refers to all John’s readers (see note on 2:1), while “fath... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:15 DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD warns against loving a world system that is opposed to God (compare John 12:31; James 4:4; 1 John 5:19). LOVE OF THE FATHER probably refers both to God’s love for his people and their love for him. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:16 ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD. John does not consider the whole created order evil (see Genesis 1:31). Rather, he gives examples of what believers should avoid (DESIRES OF THE FLESH, etc.). Human desires are part of God’s creation. They are evil only when they are expressed in... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:17 THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY. History is speeding toward a conclusion planned by God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:18 Overcoming the Antichrist by Confessing the Son. John describes the challenges Christians face and how these may be met. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:19 Some people had recently left the church (OUT FROM US). Their leaving showed that they were not truly OF US. That is, they did not have genuine faith. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:20 ANOINTED BY THE HOLY ONE. Spiritually transformed by the Holy Spirit. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:23 WHOEVER CONFESSES THE SON HAS THE FATHER ALSO (compare 1 John 5:13; see note on John 3:18). The world’s religions do not offer many different paths to the one God. Only Christianity confesses that Jesus is God’s Son (see 1 John 4:3; 1 John 4:15). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:24 WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING. The authentic message of Christ’s death for sin and his defeat of death. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:27 ANOINTING. See note on v. 20. This anointing ABIDES, giving Christians the discernment to recognize doctrinal error. NO NEED THAT ANYONE SHOULD TEACH YOU. They have no need for any instruction that differs from the gospel message. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:28 Having reaffirmed his readers’ commitment to the true Son of God, not the Antichrist (vv. 1 John 2:18), John urges them to strive for the ethical integrity and sense of urgency appropriate to their spiritual identity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img... [ Continue Reading ]
1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:29 To KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS means the believer has placed his faith in Christ, not in his own moral virtue. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]