1 John 2:18

Little children [π α ι δ ι α]. See on ver. 13.

The last hour [ε σ χ α τ η ω ρ α]. The phrase only here in the New Testament. On John's use of wra hour, as marking a critical season, see John 2:4; John 4:21; John 4:23; John 5:25; John 5:28; John 7:30; John 8:20; John 11:2; John 11:3; John 11:27; John 16:2; John 16:4; John 16:25; John 16:32. The dominant sense of the expression last days, in the New Testament, is that of a period of suffering and struggle preceding a divine victory. See Acts 2:17; James 5:3; 1 Peter 1:20. Hence the phrase here does not refer to the end of the world, but to the period preceding a crisis in the advance of Christ's kingdom, a changeful and troublous period, marked by the appearance of "many antichrists."

Antichrist. Peculiar to John in the New Testament. The absence of the article shows its currency as a proper name. It may mean one who stands against Christ, or one who stands instead of Christ; just as ajntistrathgov may mean either one who stands in the place of a strathgov praetor, a propraetor (see Introd. to Luke, vol. 1, p. 246, and note on Acts 16:20), or an opposing general. John never uses the word yeudocristov false Christ (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). While the false Christ is merely a pretender to the Messianic office, the Antichrist "assails Christ by proposing to do or to preserve what he did, while denying Him." Antichrist, then, is one who opposes Christ in the guise of Christ. Westcott's remark is very important, that John's sense of Antichrist is determined by the full Christian conception of Christ, and not by the Jewish conception of the promised Savior.

Cometh [ε ρ χ ε τ α ι]. The prophetic present, equivalent to is about to come. The same term is used of Christ (John 14:3; John 21:22; Revelation 22:20).

Are there [γ ε γ ο ν α σ ι ν]. Rev., more correctly, have there arisen.

Whereby [ο θ ε ν]. Lit., whence. Only here in John. It is found in Matthew and Luke, and frequently in Hebrews, and not elsewhere.