1 John 2 Study Notes

2:17 Like the darkness in v. 8, the world with its lust is passing away because of the coming of Christ. This opens the way for doing the will of God and establishing fellowship with him forever.

2:18 John warned against many antichrists. This is probably a reference to misguided or diabolical individuals who were guilty of the sins that he described and condemned. They opposed and sought to replace the true Christ.

2:19 The phrase they went out from us shows there had been a division among the church members to whom John wrote. But not all who were in the church were authentic believers. Their departure from the fellowship and the apostolic truth was proof of this.

2:20 The anointing in this verse could be the Holy Spirit, but it more likely refers to the gospel or the saving message—the teaching that believers had received.

2:21 A mark of those who truly know is the ability to admit their lack of knowledge and their desire to learn more. True believers are always “disciples” (learners).

2:22 The error John referred to here was not ethical but theological—false teaching about the Father and the Son.

2:23 This verse affirms the unity and identity of God the Father and the Son. Yet it also affirms their distinctiveness.

2:24 The phrase from the beginning refers to the earliest exposure of John’s readers to gospel teaching. There is a direct tie between what they have heard and the status of their souls as residing (or not residing) in the Son and in the Father.

2:25 Despite John’s earlier ethical warnings to remain faithful, salvation is a matter of God’s faithfulness, not human achievement.

2:26 God’s people cannot always avoid conflict; usurpers and destroyers arise, trying to deceive.

2:27 On anointing, see note at v. 20. John was content to entrust his readers to the powerful message they had received.

2:28 Ashamed refers to the guilt and terror of judgment by God. Those who remain in him avoid this grim prospect.

2:29 The doctrinal knowledge of John’s if statement sets up the ethical response implied by does what is right, but the response is a function of spiritual rebirth (born of him) and not human effort.