The Bible — World English Bible
1 John 2
In brief
1 John 2 continues the statement that God is light. John writes so that his readers will not sin, but if anyone sins, Jesus Christ the righteous is an advocate with the Father. Knowing God is shown by obedience and by love for a brother. John speaks to three groups of readers, calls them not to love the world, whose desire is passing away, and warns against those who deny that Jesus is the Christ. He finally invites them to remain in him, strong in the anointing they received.
The chapter in 6 parts
1My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
2And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
3This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.
4One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.
5But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him:
6he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.
7Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.
8Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines.
9He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness even until now.
10He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.
11But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
13I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father.
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 remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.
17The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.
18Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour.
19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
20You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
21I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
23Whoever denies the Son doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24Therefore, as for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father.
25This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.
26These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.
27As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.
28Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Key verses
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
John wants his readers to avoid sin, but he also offers an assurance: Jesus pleads for those who fall and is himself the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The text does not excuse sin, it announces forgiveness.
he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.
Remaining in Christ is not limited to a statement: it shows in the way we walk as he walked.
Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.
The call not to love the world is aimed at the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride of life, not at creation or at people. The world passes away, but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
Believers have received the anointing from the Holy One. The sermon sees in it the presence of the Holy Spirit, who teaches and guides from within.
Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
John concludes with a call to remain in Christ, so that we may have confidence when he appears. Waiting for his return becomes a reason for faithfulness rather than for fear.
Bible verses to meditate on
What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about 1 John 2
What does it mean in 1 John 2:1 that we have an advocate with the Father?
John writes so that his readers will not sin, but he knows they can fall. Jesus Christ the righteous then pleads for them with the Father, because he is himself the atoning sacrifice for sins. This offers forgiveness without making light of sin.
What does it mean not to love the world in 1 John 2:15?
The text does not condemn creation or people but what opposes the Father: the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride of life. The world and its desire pass away, while whoever does the will of God remains forever.
What is the anointing in 1 John 2:20?
John says that believers have received the anointing from the Holy One. Many Christians see in it the Holy Spirit who remains in them and teaches them. Traditions differ on how to speak of it, but all see in it a gift made to all believers.
Who are the antichrists John speaks about in 1 John 2?
John speaks of those who deny that Jesus is the Christ, who deny the Father and the Son, and who have separated from the community. For him there are already many antichrists. The passage above all invites us to stay attached to what was heard from the beginning.
Articles quoting 1 John 2
World English Bible translation — public domain.