1.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Verse 1
My little children. This is a term of endearment; it was rendered appropriate in this case by the venerable age of the apostle.
2.
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Verse 2
He is the propitiation for our sins; having made atonement for them by his death.
3.
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Verse 5
Perfected; exemplified and fulfilled.
6.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Verse 6
To walk; to live and act.
7.
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
Verse 7
I write no new commandment; that is, in the principle which he had been inculcating above, namely, that a conformity to the will of God in heart and life, is the only test of the honesty of religious professions.
8.
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
Verse 8
A new commandment; the precept enjoining brotherly love, enforced in the 1 John 2:8-11. John designates it as a new commandment, in imitation of the language used by the Savior in John 13:34.--Is true in him; is exemplified in him.
9.
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12.
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
Verse 12
Many conjectures have been offered in regard to the distinctions intended by the writer in the several classes of persons addressed in this passage (1 John 2:12-14,) and in the nature and appropriateness of the reasons assigned in each case. But it is not certain that any accurate logical distinctions were intended. We are probably to regard the changes in the forms of expression as only designed to give variety to the mode of presenting the considerations by which the various classes of Christians should feel impelled to give most serious and earnest attention to the instructions which they received.
13.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
Verse 13
Him that is from the beginning; the Redeemer. (1 John 1:1.)
14.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Verse 18
Antichrists; false teachers; whose doctrines and characters are more particularly described in verses which follow.--Whereby we know, &c. The Savior had predicted the appearance of false Christs and false prophets, as a sign of the approach of great changes, the nature of which was only obscurely intimated. (Mark 13:22-30.) It is probable that John here refers to that prediction. In precisely what sense, however, he uses the expression the last time, is somewhat uncertain.
19.
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
Verse 20
An unction; an anointing, considered as the ceremony or induction to office. The idea is, that they had been admitted to the station and privileges of the children of God by the Holy One himself, and would not prove apostate, like those mentioned in the 1 John 2:19.
21.
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
Verse 21
No lie is of the truth; no false doctrine can come from true piety.
22.
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Verse 22
Antichrist, that denieth, &c.; that is, by denying that Jesus is the Christ, he denies both the Father and the Son, as is shown in the 1 John 2:23.
23.
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Verse 23
The latter part of this verse is so printed in all copies of the common English version, on account of a doubt by the translators, whether the words which represent it properly belong in the original, They are found in some manuscripts, and are wanting in others.
24.
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Verse 24
Let that therefore; that belief.
25.
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26.
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
Verse 26
Them that seduce you; the false teachers.
27.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Verse 27
The anointing; the unction referred to in 1 John 2:20.
28.
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29.
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.