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I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Verse 12. I write to you, little children, and so forth Saint Augustine and divers others think that by these different words, he only means Christians more or less instructed and advanced in the knowledge and practice of the Christian faith. Others expound it with a regard also to their different ages and advancement in years. Witham.
I 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.
I 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.
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.
Verse 15. If any man love the world, this wicked world, or any thing in it, as pleasures, riches, honours, so that his affections be more upon these then upon God, the charity of the Father (or of God) is not in him. Witham.
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.
Verse 16–17. All that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, under which is comprehended all that pleaseth the senses, or the concupiscence of the eyes; that is a longing after such things which enter by the eyes, as of riches in gold and silver, in apparel, in houses and palaces, train and equipage, and so forth curiosity as to vain arts and sciences; or, the pride of life, as to honours, dignities, and preferments. But the world passeth away, and all these things that belong to it.—He that doth the will of God, abideth for ever, with God in heaven. Witham.
The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.
Verse 16–17. All that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, under which is comprehended all that pleaseth the senses, or the concupiscence of the eyes; that is a longing after such things which enter by the eyes, as of riches in gold and silver, in apparel, in houses and palaces, train and equipage, and so forth curiosity as to vain arts and sciences; or, the pride of life, as to honours, dignities, and preferments. But the world passeth away, and all these things that belong to it.—He that doth the will of God, abideth for ever, with God in heaven. Witham.
Little 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.
Verse 18. It is the last hour. That is, according to the common interpretation, the last age of the world, from the coming of Christ to the day of judgment, and the end of the world, which Saint Paul calls the end and consummation of ages. Hebrews 9:26.—And as you have heard that antichrist (the great antichrist) cometh, or is to come in this last age: now there are already many antichrists; that is as the word signifies, many adversaries to Christ, who are forerunners of the great and last antichrist. Witham.—Many antichrists; that is, many heretics, enemies of Christ and his Church, and forerunners of the great antichrist. Challoner.—S. Cyprian says all are called antichrists that have divided themselves from the charity and unity of the Catholic Church. Ep. lxxvii. ad Magnum.—Whereby we know that it is the last hour, it being foretold that many false prophets should rise in the latter days. Matthew 24:11. and so forth Witham.
They 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.
Verse 19. They were not of us, true and profitable members; though it can scarce be doubted but that some of them, at least for some time, truly believed: and by their going off, God was pleased to make it manifest that they were not of his faithful members. Such were Simon Magus, Cerinthus, Ebion, Nicolas of Antioch, and so forth Witham.—They, and so forth That is, they were not solid, steadfast, genuine Christians, otherwise they would have remained in the Church. Challoner.—The true note or mark of heresy, is the going out of or leaving the Catholic Church. God permitteth some to go out, that the true and tried faithful may be known.
You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
Verse 20. You have an unction from the holy one. You are sufficiently instructed by the grace and spirit of God against such false teachers. Witham.—An unction, and so forth That is, grace and wisdom from the Holy Ghost. Challoner.—And you know all things, as to what you ought to believe and practise, and therefore I have not written to you as to ignorant persons. Witham.—The true children of God’s Church, remaining in unity, under the guidance of their lawful pastors, partake of the grace of the Holy Ghost, promised to the Church and her pastors; and have in the Catholic Church all necessary knowledge and instruction, so as to have no need to seek it elsewhere, since it can be only found in that society of which they are members. Challoner.
Or, “know what is true”, or, “know all things”