1 John 2:21–29

21

I 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.

22

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 22–23. He who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist: is in a special manner an adversary of Christ and the Christian religion, when he denies Jesus to be the Messias, or to have been from eternity the true Son of God.—He who denieth him to be the Son, neither hath he the Father. He who denies either of these truths denieth both. He who denies the Son of God to be the eternal Son, denies the Father to be the eternal Father. Witham.

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23

Whoever denies the Son doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 22–23. He who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist: is in a special manner an adversary of Christ and the Christian religion, when he denies Jesus to be the Messias, or to have been from eternity the true Son of God.—He who denieth him to be the Son, neither hath he the Father. He who denies either of these truths denieth both. He who denies the Son of God to be the eternal Son, denies the Father to be the eternal Father. Witham.

EXPLANATION

MT omits: He who confesses the Son has the Father also.

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24

Therefore, 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.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 24. Let that (faith) which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you: when you received the Christian faith, and were baptized in the name of the three divine Persons. The promise which was then made to you, was life everlasting. Witham.

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25

This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.

26

These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.

27

As 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.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 27. You have no need, and so forth You want not to be taught by any of these men, who, under pretence of imparting more knowledge to you, seek to seduce you, (verse 26) since you are sufficiently taught already, and have all knowledge and grace in the Church, with the unction of the Holy Ghost, which these new teachers have no share in. Challoner.—His unction teacheth you concerning all things. Unction here signifies the doctrine which they received together with the Holy Ghost or Spirit of God; in which he exhorts them to remain, as being sufficient for their instruction, and to make them avoid the new teachers of false doctrine. Witham.

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28

Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.