2:1–11 John reminds his audience of Jesus’ saving work and exhorts them to love one another—which will show that they are true believers in Jesus. By contrast, those with hateful dispositions are clearly not followers of Jesus. Jewish literature of this period regularly understood the world in dichotomous terms, such as light and darkness. For example, documents like the War Scroll and Book of War, from the Dead Sea Scrolls community, depict enemies as sons of darkness and the faithful as sons of light (see the War Scroll 1.1–17; Book of War 3.13–4:26). The people of this community believed that an end-times war was coming when they, the “sons of light,” would be led in a victorious battle against the “sons of darkness” and the army of Belial (another term for the devil). Following several biblical passages, they called their enemy the Kittim, a term they seem to have applied to the Romans (see Dan 11:30). In addition, the document known as Pesher Habakkuk indicates that their community was founded by someone referred to as “the teacher of righteousness” and that they characterized one of their primary enemies as the “man of the lie” (see Pesher Habakkuk 2.1–2; 5.10). John similarly sees himself as living near the end-times and his followers as children of the light, founded by the righteous one, Jesus (1 John 2:29; 4:4–6; 5:2–4). John sees Christians as in a spiritual war against liars and evil in general—a war against the antichrist, people he calls antichrists, and the devil (vv. 1, 4; 3:8, 20; 4:3). John’s metaphors would have been familiar to Jewish people of the period and functioned like an interreligious dialogue, with John clarifying the truth of these matters. Like the literature of his time, John views people as either in the light (with Jesus) or in the darkness (working against him; compare note on 2 Cor 6:15).

2:1 My little children John frequently indicates his close relationship with his audience by calling them his children or his beloved. John likely means that his audience is his spiritual children, in the sense that he was the instigator of their relationship with Jesus. John’s term of endearment also could reflect his age: He addresses the community in a fatherly or grandfatherly manner, as someone who is older and wiser.

you may not sin One of the purposes of Jesus’ saving act is to empower people to overcome sin.

an advocate John creates the image of a person pleading for or defending believers—a judicial advocate in the heavenly courtroom (compare Heb 4:14–5:6; 1 John 1:8 and note; note on John 14:26).

Paraklētos Word Study

2:2 the propitiation for our sins Refers to Jesus’ sacrificial death for the sins of humanity (compare Rom 3:25; Heb 9:5).

Atonement

whole world God’s salvation through Christ is available to the whole world, not just to John and his audience. This does not imply that everyone will be saved, but that Christ’s death results in forgiveness for all those who enter into relationship with Him. This starts with the confession of sin, acceptance of the gospel, and obedience to Jesus’ commandments (see 1 John 1:9; 2:4–5, 22–23).

2:3 keep his commandments Obedience reveals commitment to Christ; this serves as a valid test for determining someone’s relationship with Him (compare John 15:10). John will later explain that he means believing in Jesus and loving one another (1 John 3:23).

2:4 truth is not in this person These people are revealed to be hypocritical. For John, a person cannot have an authentic relationship with Jesus and obstinately oppose His commandments with their actions.

2:5 love of God has been perfected The act of God’s love becoming complete in a person—accomplishing its purposes of transforming them. This results in them loving others.

2:6 as that one walked Jesus is the example Christians are to follow—it is the Christian’s obligation to live as Jesus lived.

2:7 Dear friends A collective term for the Christian community John is addressing. The Greek term used here, agapētoi, communicates John’s love and compassion.

2:8 new commandment The commandment is old in that it has been proclaimed to John’s audience since they first heard the gospel—and since it was given to Moses as part of the law (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:36–40). It is new in that it is now integral to the message of Jesus; it is viewed in a new light. The commandment is not just to love one another, but to love as Christ loved—even to the point of being willing to lay down one’s life (see John 13:34–35; 15:13; compare Rom 5:7–8).

true in him It is part of the personhood of Jesus and fully realized in Him, as His efforts in the world show.

true light already is shining A reference to God’s work in the world through Jesus, which is in the process of overcoming evil in the world (1 John 1:5; John 8:12).

2:9 in the darkness until now Hatred runs counter to who Jesus is. The enemies of John’s efforts are those against the true humanity and eternality of Jesus and what He represents, love. These enemies falsely represent Jesus by pretending to follow Jesus while continuing to practice hatred.

2:10 his brother A reference specifically to those within the Christian community, although it may be applied to anyone (compare Luke 10:27).

cause for stumbling Refers to a person causing someone else to sin. When someone breaks God’s commandments regularly—especially when their actions directly harm others—their behavior often prompts others to do the same, encouraging a cycle of sinful behavior.

2:11 blinded his eyes People who shamelessly practice sin may claim to be enlightened, but they are deceiving themselves (2 Pet 1:9; 2:19–22; Rev 3:17).

2:12–14 John reminds his audience that—unlike those who walk in darkness (1 John 2:11)—they have overcome evil. The designations of children, fathers, and young men could be synonyms used for rhetorical purposes; they might represent different age groups or be labels for varying stages of spiritual maturity, or perhaps time in the Christian community.

2:12 on account of his name It is because of Jesus’ death and resurrection alone that people are offered relationship with God.

2:13 who is from the beginning Refers to Jesus. See 1:1 and note.

conquered the evil one Believers share in Christ’s victory on the cross, which defeated Satan (compare Col 2:14–15; Heb 2:14). God is greater than any powers (see 1 John 3:24; 4:12; 5:18; compare John 12:31; 16:11, 33). In the context of the present letter, the reference to the evil one specifically refers to the practices of those who have separated from the Christian community (1 John 2:18–19; 3:6–9).

2:14 you are strong Likely a reference to the strength to overcome evil and stand for what is right against false teachings.

2:15–17 In these verses, John exhorts believers to oppose the values of the evil one. He also reminds his audience that those who love and obey God have the gift of eternal life. John characterizes the world, a reference to the value of culture, as filled with lust, pride, and greed (v. 16). John may be dialoguing with Stoic philosophy, which often advocated for the denial of these appetites (although perhaps only feigned to do so). Stoics, Stoicism AYBD

2:15 Do not love the world The values of human societies should not define believers. Instead, they should be shaped by Jesus’ values. John is in favoring of love, but acquiescing to evil is not love. The believer’s passion should not be for what culture offers but for what God desires.

2:16 flesh A dichotomy to the Holy Spirit’s work (see note on John 3:6). John is not suggesting that being human is a negative thing; rather, he is referring to worldly values that are unacceptable to God.

For John, a war wages between people’s evil desires (and the desires of evil spiritual powers) and God’s desires (see note on John 1:5). Paul identifies the same conflict and uses the same Greek word to do so (compare note on Gal 5:19–21).

of the eyes A reference to lustful behavior.

arrogance of material possessions Wealth used for the purposes of personal gain demonstrates a selfish view of self-worth. Instead, wealth should be used for the care for others (1 John 3:16–18; compare Rev 3:17).

2:17 the world is passing away An allusion to the end of the present age, which is characterized by evil (compare Gal 1:4; 2 Cor 4:4); John declares that the oppressive systems of human societies are coming to an end. John’s view of the last days becomes more apparent in the remainder of the letter.

2:18–27 John now identifies the problem that needs addressing. He reassures his audience that the view of Christ that John passed along to them is correct, while the view of those who have left their Christian community is false (see 1 John 2:26). In v. 3, John gave his audience a test by which they could examine their relationship with Jesus. Here, he gives them a theological test: if they hold the view of Christ which they had originally been taught by him, they will remain in relationship with the God as Father and God as Son, and others in the Church (see 1:3).

2:18 it is the last hour Refers to the time preceding Jesus’ second coming (technically referred to as the Parousia; see v. 28).

antichrist is coming John may have inherited this language about the false-messiah from Jesus’ discussion of the end times. Jesus had noted that those who falsely claim authority—as anointed (messianic) leaders—would come (see Mark 13:21–22; Matt 24:4–5, 24).

many antichrists Refers to those who have withdrawn from the community John is addressing. He identifies them in this way because they spread false teaching about Jesus. By extension, the term could refer to anyone who is opposed to Jesus. This would fit with John’s larger dichotomous viewpoint that people are either in the light (of Jesus) or in the darkness (against Jesus).

2:19 They went out from us Although the antichrists emerged from the Christian community, they do not represent the viewpoints of the Church or Jesus.

they were not of us John indicates that these secessionists—antichrists—are not authentic believers in Jesus.

that it might be shown Because the antichrists withdrew from the Christian community, they could not receive correction. Their decision to depart from the Church revealed their true character. John’s correctives seem to indicate that his opponents were teaching hatred, accommodating the values of society and denying that the eternal Christ came in the flesh (1 John 2:15–17; 3:15; 4:2). They were also actively misleading others (v. 25).

2:20 anointing from the Holy One The Holy Spirit has come upon the believing community; God has chosen them for a specific purpose.

2:21 because you do know it John appeals to their knowledge of the truth, setting up the argument in the remainder of this chapter. John writes to remind his audience of what they believe and who they are.

2:22 one who denies The antichrists in the community denied that Jesus was the anointed one of God, the Messiah, who suffered and died as a human (compare 4:2 and note).

2:23 does not have the Father John emphasizes that the only way to relationship with God the Father is through God the Son (compare John 14:6).

2:24 heard from the beginning A reference to the message of Jesus’ saving work and, by extension, to the commandment to love as He loved (see 1 John 2:8 and note).

remain in the Son and in the Father Although salvation is not dependent on any action a person can take, remaining in authentic relationship with God is.

2:25 eternal life The gift that Jesus freely offers the world via His death and resurrection. See John 3:16 and note.

2:26 trying to deceive Refers to the antichrists.

2:27 need that anyone teach you John appeals to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in believer’s lives, which helps them discern truth from falsehood (compare 1 John 2:20).

2:28–3:10 John characterizes God’s children—those who remain in authentic relationship with Him—as those who obey Him and refrain from sin. He contrasts them with those who left the congregation.

2:28 whenever he is revealed John desires for the believers to be found doing Jesus’ work at Christ’s second coming.

2:29 practices righteousness Those who do wrong by others reveal themselves to not be in right relationship with God. A person’s actions should be the first measure of whether they are in relationship with God.

fathered by him Believers in Jesus are adopted into God’s family (compare note on Eph 1:5).