This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1My 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:
2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7Brethren, 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.
8Again, 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.
9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11But 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.
12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13I 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.
14I 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.
15Love 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.
16For 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.
17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18Little 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.
19They 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.
20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24Let 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.
Antichrists and the warning
In verse 19, John told us about people who left, calling them antichrists. Here, he is warning those who haven’t left yet. He emphasizes there is “no doubt”: the people who left were never truly part of the faithful body, because if they had been, they would have stayed. John is not warning true believers that they might become antichrists. Rather, he is teaching how to detect and avoid being deceived by them (vv. 22–23).
“Which ye have heard from the beginning”
The “that” John is speaking of is the truth of Jesus incarnate, life manifested, and eternal life revealed, which:
He introduced in 1 John 1:1-2
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
And then John states, they heard in 1 John 1:3
”That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you”
This is the apostolic gospel they first received, the truth which, when believed, gaurantees a person continues.
John has already established believers’ security
If someone is deceived and turns away, John’s framework shows they were never truly saved. True believers may struggle, sin, or waver temporarily, but God preserves them, chastises them and they repent and return because the Spirit abides in them.
Perseverance is certain for true believers
1 John 2:19 “if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us”
Not “will,” but “shall” abide
1 John 2:27 “and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him”
Their sins are already forgiven
John 2:12 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”
They can know they have eternal life
1 John 5:13 “That ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
The truth permanently dwells in believers
2 John 2 ”For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.”
Jesus confirms believers hear, follow, and absolutely no way they can perish
John 10:27–28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me... they shall never perish”
The warning explained in context
New Testament authors can't see hearts, nor can hearers always discern their own, so conditional 'if' warnings act as loving wake-up calls: no continuance makes it manifest there was no true salvation to begin, as John states (1 Jn 2:19), prompting self-examination (2 Cor 13:5).
The condition ("if... then...") is real, but in context it's evidential and preservative. The phrase that you “also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father”is a warning for and ultimately a revealer of those who are not are “not of us” (v. 19). A true believer need not fear, because God preserves them (Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24; 1 Peter 1:5; Hebrews 12:2).”
In context, we can see those who left the body of believers were unbelievers, fake Christians, antichrists who denied Jesus’ incarnation (1 John 1:1–3). This warning describes those who do not let the apostolic teaching abide in them about Jesus:
Deny Jesus → you are a liar and antichrist (v. 22)
Deny Jesus → you deny the Father (v. 23)
If you continue in what you have heard, you will continue in the Son, and in turn, in the Father. If you do not, this is written to wake you up (cf. Ephesians 5:14). Those who are not abiding in the gospel, the doctrine that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, do not have eternal life and are called deceivers and antichrists. These are not believers that fell away:
2 John 2:9 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
Key point: John does not presume to know anyone’s heart, only God does. Therefore, departure or permanent rejection becomes visible evidence (“made manifest,” 2:19) to him that faith in Jesus was never present. In love, John warns his readers: since some have already left, examine yourself and be sure that you truly believe the testimony of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1–3).
25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27But 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.
28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
2
1 John 2 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1My 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:
2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7Brethren, 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.
8Again, 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.
9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11But 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.
12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13I 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.
14I 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.
15Love 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.
16For 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.
17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18Little 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.
19They 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.
20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24Let 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.
Antichrists and the warning
In verse 19, John told us about people who left, calling them antichrists. Here, he is warning those who haven’t left yet. He emphasizes there is “no doubt”: the people who left were never truly part of the faithful body, because if they had been, they would have stayed. John is not warning true believers that they might become antichrists. Rather, he is teaching how to detect and avoid being deceived by them (vv. 22–23).
“Which ye have heard from the beginning”
The “that” John is speaking of is the truth of Jesus incarnate, life manifested, and eternal life revealed, which:
He introduced in 1 John 1:1-2
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
And then John states, they heard in 1 John 1:3
”That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you”
This is the apostolic gospel they first received, the truth which, when believed, gaurantees a person continues.
John has already established believers’ security
If someone is deceived and turns away, John’s framework shows they were never truly saved. True believers may struggle, sin, or waver temporarily, but God preserves them, chastises them and they repent and return because the Spirit abides in them.
Perseverance is certain for true believers
1 John 2:19 “if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us”
Not “will,” but “shall” abide
1 John 2:27 “and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him”
Their sins are already forgiven
John 2:12 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”
They can know they have eternal life
1 John 5:13 “That ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
The truth permanently dwells in believers
2 John 2 ”For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.”
Jesus confirms believers hear, follow, and absolutely no way they can perish
John 10:27–28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me... they shall never perish”
The warning explained in context
New Testament authors can't see hearts, nor can hearers always discern their own, so conditional 'if' warnings act as loving wake-up calls: no continuance makes it manifest there was no true salvation to begin, as John states (1 Jn 2:19), prompting self-examination (2 Cor 13:5).
The condition ("if... then...") is real, but in context it's evidential and preservative. The phrase that you “also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father” is a warning for and ultimately a revealer of those who are not are “not of us” (v. 19). A true believer need not fear, because God preserves them (Philippians 1:6; Jude 1:24; 1 Peter 1:5; Hebrews 12:2).”
In context, we can see those who left the body of believers were unbelievers, fake Christians, antichrists who denied Jesus’ incarnation (1 John 1:1–3). This warning describes those who do not let the apostolic teaching abide in them about Jesus:
Deny Jesus → you are a liar and antichrist (v. 22)
Deny Jesus → you deny the Father (v. 23)
If you continue in what you have heard, you will continue in the Son, and in turn, in the Father. If you do not, this is written to wake you up (cf. Ephesians 5:14). Those who are not abiding in the gospel, the doctrine that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, do not have eternal life and are called deceivers and antichrists. These are not believers that fell away:
2 John 2:9 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
Key point: John does not presume to know anyone’s heart, only God does. Therefore, departure or permanent rejection becomes visible evidence (“made manifest,” 2:19) to him that faith in Jesus was never present. In love, John warns his readers: since some have already left, examine yourself and be sure that you truly believe the testimony of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1–3).
25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27But 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.
28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.