Notes on 1 John 2:15-27

Do not love the world - 1 John 2:15

do not love the world. Our priorities and practices are shaped profoundly by our affections. With a deep understanding of this truth, Augustine asked, "What do you love?" He answered, "Love God, and do as you please" because he knew loving God first would shape what we find pleasure in doing. This is the first of ten imperatives in the letter. The verb love (agapáo–) contrasts two different objects, love for the world system and love for the Father. John warns that we will be shaped by what and who we love. Agape is a self-giving love. If we give ourselves to the world system, we cannot give ourselves to God. Here, the word world (kosmos) has to do with worldly attitudes and values that are against God (see note on Jas. 4:4). To love the world is to live for the things that are in the world (v. 16) instead of seeking the things of God. Another possible reading of the genitive phrase "love of the Father" is "love from the Father" or "the Father's love" in contrast to the things that come from "the world" system in 2:16.

Lust and arrogance - 1 John 2:16

lust… arrogance. See WCF 5.4; BC 13. The word lust (epithumia) occurs thirty-eight times in the NT, and almost always indicates desire leading to sin. This first worldly thing contains the next two. That is, the lust of the eyes and arrogance of life (or possessions) are both parts of the lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes has to do with coveting that which belongs to others. The arrogance of life or possessions (see note on 3:17) is the other side of coveting, that is a sense of entitlement and self-importance that can result from a misuse of power and wealth. With these three things, John describes worldliness, which destroys love for and fellowship with God.

Passing Away - 1 John 2:17

passing away… live forever. John is not saying the obedience of Christians merits eternal life. Rather, he is contrasting the fate of those who love the world and those who love God, because God has saved and transformed them.

God' children - 1 John 2:18-27

God's Children Have the Spirit and Confess 'Jesus is the Christ'. John now turns to the occasion of his letter, those who have departed the church and denied that Jesus is the Christ. Having described a mark of obedience (2:1-11), despite the challenge of the world system (2:12-17), he now describes a true confession of Jesus as the Messiah or Christ (2:22). Like the upper room discourse of his Fourth Gospel, this section is rich in trinitarian thought. Whoever denies the Son also denies the Father, and a true confession of the Son as the Christ only arises from the anointing of the Spirit.

The last hour - 1 John 2:18

The last hour is only found here in the NT, but it marks the same period as last days or last times. This is the time between Jesus' first coming and his second coming (see notes on Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:20). It can also refer to the very last part of that period, right before Christ returns (see notes on 2 Tim. 3:1; Jas. 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18). John makes a distinction between the antichrist, who many associate with the man of lawlessness or the beast (see notes on 2 Thess. 2:3; Rev. 13:2), and antichrists, who share his opposition to Christ and his people .

They went out from us - 1 John 2:19

they went out from us… remained. See WCF 3.6; 17.2; WLC 61; BC 7. Having described the mark of obedience in 2:1-11, John describes the necessity of perseverance. Though once members of the community, they departed in order to oppose its teachings about the identity of Jesus. According to John, this demonstrated that they were not true members of the community. John goes on to explain how they denied that Jesus is the Christ (v. 22) and tried to lead others astray (v. 26).

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