translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET study note

text: My little children. The direct address by the author to his readers at the beginning of 2:1 marks a break in the pattern of the opponents’ claims (indicated by the phrase if we say followed by a negative statement in the apodosis, the “then” clause) and the author’s counterclaims (represented by if with a positive statement in the apodosis) made so far in 1:6-10 . The seriousness of this last claim (in 1:10 ) causes the author to interrupt himself to address the readers as his faithful children and to explain to them that while he wants them not to sin, they may be assured that if they do, they can look to Jesus Christ, as their advocate with the Father, to intercede for them. After this, the last of the author’s three counter-claims in 1:5-2:2 is found in the if clause in 2:1 b.


text: See John 13:34-35 .


text: The reference to the darkness…passing away and the true light…already shining is an allusion to John 1:5, 1:9, and 8:12 . Because the author sees the victory of light over darkness as something already begun, he is writing Jesus’ commandment to love one another to the readers as a reminder to (1) hold fast to what they have already heard (see 1 John 2:7 ) and (2) not be influenced by the teaching of the opponents.


text: The one who hates his fellow Christian. The author’s paradigm for the opponents portrays them as those who show hatred for fellow Christians ( Grk “brothers,” but not referring to one’s physical siblings). This charge will be much more fully developed in chap. , where the author will compare the opponents to Cain (who is the model for one who hates a brother, since he ultimately murdered his own brother). In 1 John 3:17 the specific charge against the opponents will be failing to give material aid to a brother in need.


text: 1 John 2:3-11 . The section 2:3-11 contains three claims to intimate knowledge of God, each introduced by the phrase the one who says (participles in the Greek text) in 2:4, 6, and 9 . As with the three claims beginning with “if” in the previous section ( 1:6, 8, 10 ), these indirectly reflect the claims of the opponents. Each claim is followed by the author’s evaluation and its implications.


text: I am writing to you. The author appears to have been concerned that some of his readers, at least, would accept the claims of the opponents as voiced in 1:6, 8, and 10 . The counterclaims the author has made in 1:7, 9, and 2:1 seem intended to strengthen the readers and reassure them (among other things) that their sins are forgiven. Further assurances of their position here is in keeping with such a theme, and indeed, the topic of reassurance runs throughout the entire letter (see the purpose statement in 5:13 ). Finally, in such a context the warning which follows in 2:15-17 is not out of place because the author is dealing with a community that is discouraged by the controversy which has arisen within it and that is in need of exhortation.


text: The phrase the evil one is used in John 17:15 as a reference to Satan. Satan is also the referent here and in the four other occurrences in 1 John ( 2:14; 3:12; 5:18, 19 ).


text: Antichrists are John’s description for the opponents and their false teaching, which is at variance with the apostolic eyewitness testimony about who Jesus is (cf. 1:1-4 ). The identity of these opponents has been variously debated by scholars, with some contending (1) that these false teachers originally belonged to the group of apostolic leaders, but departed from it (“went out from us,” v. 19 ). It is much more likely (2) that they arose from within the Christian communities to which John is writing, however, and with which he identifies himself. This identification can be seen in the interchange of the pronouns “we” and “you” between 1:10 and 2:1 , for example, where “we” does not refer only to John and the other apostles, but is inclusive, referring to both himself and the Christians he is writing to ( 2:1 , “you”).


text: All of them do not belong to us. The opponents chose to depart rather than remain in fellowship with the community to which the author writes and with which he associates himself. This demonstrates conclusively to the author that they never really belonged to that community at all (in spite of what they were claiming). 1 John 2:19 indicates that the departure was apparently the opponents’ own decision rather than being thrown out or excommunicated. But for John, if they had been genuine believers, they would have remained in fellowship. Now they have gone out into the world, where they belong (compare 1 John 4:5 ).


text: The promise consists of eternal life , but it is also related to the concept of “remaining” in 2:24 . The person who “remains in the Son and in the Father” thus has this promise of eternal life from Jesus himself. Consistent with this, 1 John 5:12 implies that the believer has this eternal life now , not just in the future, and this in turn agrees with John 5:24 .


text: The phrase those who are trying to deceive you in 1 John 2:26 is a clear reference to the secessionist opponents mentioned earlier in 1 John 2:19 , who are attempting to deceive the people the author is writing to.


text: The anointing. The “anointing” ( χρῖσμα , crisma ) which believers have received refers to the indwelling Holy Spirit which has been given to them at their conversion.


text: The pronoun could refer to God or Jesus Christ, but a reference to Jesus Christ is more likely here.


text: The pronoun could refer (1) to God or (2) to Jesus Christ, but a reference to Jesus Christ is more likely here.


text: A reference to Jesus Christ is more likely here. Note the mention of the second coming (second advent) at the end of this verse.