1 John 2

King James Version

Full text for 1 John Chapter 2

1¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

3¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7¶ Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12¶ I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

18¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20¶ But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.]

24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life.

26These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28¶ And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The apostle John assures believers that Jesus Christ is their advocate and propitiation for sins, urging them to avoid sin and demonstrating true knowledge of God through obedience to His commandments. He emphasizes the commandment of love, contrasting those who walk in light by loving their brother with those in darkness who hate. John warns against loving the world and its transient desires, and against the spirit of antichrist, while reminding believers of their anointing and the promise of eternal life for those who abide in Christ.

Medium Summary

John begins by assuring his "little children" that Jesus Christ serves as an advocate and propitiation for their sins, encouraging them to avoid sin. He establishes that genuine knowledge of God is evidenced by obedience to His commandments, asserting that those who claim to know Him but do not keep His word are liars. John then presents the commandment of love, both as an old truth and a new reality in the light of Christ, stating that hating one's brother signifies remaining in darkness. He addresses various groups within the church—children, fathers, and young men—affirming their forgiveness, knowledge of God, and victory over the wicked one. A significant warning is issued against loving the world and its inherent lusts and pride, as these are contrary to the Father's love and are fleeting. Finally, John alerts them to the presence of "many antichrists" who deny the Father and the Son, distinguishing them from true believers who possess an anointing that teaches them truth and enables them to abide in Christ, ensuring confidence at His coming and the promise of eternal life.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the apostle John addressing his "little children," emphasizing the purpose of his writing: that they should not sin. He immediately offers comfort, stating that if anyone does sin, they have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for the sins of believers and the entire world. John then establishes a crucial test for knowing God: keeping His commandments. He declares that anyone claiming to know God but failing to obey His word is a liar, lacking truth. Conversely, keeping God's word perfects His love in a person, signifying their abiding in Him and obligating them to walk as Christ walked. The discussion turns to the commandment of love, presented as both an "old" truth known from the beginning and a "new" one, made manifest as the darkness recedes and the true light shines. He starkly contrasts loving and hating one's brother, asserting that one who hates remains in spiritual darkness, while one who loves abides in the light, free from stumbling. John then directly addresses different spiritual stages within the community—little children, fathers, and young men—affirming their forgiveness, knowledge of God from the beginning, and victory over the wicked one, reinforcing their strength in God's abiding word. A strong admonition follows against loving the world or the things within it, identifying worldly desires (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life) as originating not from the Father but from the world itself, which is transient. He warns that the world and its lusts will pass away, but those who do the will of God will abide forever. The apostle then introduces the concept of "the last time" and the emergence of "many antichrists," who are characterized by denying that Jesus is the Christ and by separating from the community, thereby revealing their true nature. He reassures believers that they possess an "unction" from the Holy One, an anointing that teaches them all truth, rendering external seduction ineffective. This anointing confirms their knowledge of the truth and enables them to discern lies. John urges them to let the original teaching abide in them, ensuring their continued fellowship with the Son and the Father and securing the promise of eternal life. He concludes by exhorting them to abide in Christ, so that at His appearing, they may have confidence and not be ashamed, affirming that righteousness is the mark of those born of Him.

Core Concepts

  • Advocate and PropitiationJesus Christ is presented as the righteous advocate for believers when they sin, and as the propitiation for their sins, extending this atonement to the whole world.
  • Keeping CommandmentsTrue knowledge of God is demonstrated by obedience to His commandments, with failure to obey indicating a lack of truth and a false claim of knowing Him.
  • The New/Old Commandment (Love)The commandment to love one another is both an ancient truth and a new reality, signifying the presence of God's light and distinguishing those who abide in light from those who remain in darkness.
  • Love Not the WorldBelievers are warned against loving the world and its desires (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life), as such love is antithetical to the love of the Father and is fleeting.
  • Antichrist and the Last TimeThe chapter identifies the "last time" by the presence of "many antichrists" who deny Jesus as the Christ and deny the Father and the Son, distinguishing themselves from true believers.
  • The Anointing (Unction)Believers possess an anointing from the Holy One that teaches them all truth, enabling them to discern error and to abide in Christ without needing to be taught by those who would seduce them.
  • Abiding in ChristA recurring theme is the call to "abide in Him," which is linked to keeping His word, having the anointing, and ensuring confidence at His coming, leading to eternal life.