Notes on 1 John 2:17-27

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).

An anointing from the Holy One - 1 John 2:20

an anointing from the Holy One. See WCF 1.5; WLC 4. The Father anointed the Son with the Holy Spirit at his baptism as the ultimate prophet like Moses, priest like Melchizadek, and king in David's line (see notes on Matt 3:16-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:32-34; Acts 10:38; Heb. 1:1-9). But, Christ also pours out his Spirit on his followers, giving them the task to imitate and represent him and to disciple the nations (see notes on Acts 1:8, 2:14-21). In this letter John describes these tasks as discernment and persevering witness (2:27-28). In his gospel, John describes the Spirit's work as convicting the world of its guilt with regard to sin and righteousness (see notes John 16:8-11). Those reading John's letter can be assured that their confession of Christ as the Just One, who died for sins is true and powerful.

Denies that Jesus is the Christ - 1 John 2:22

denies… Christ. In his gospel, John wrote to show that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of God (see notes on John 20:31), because this claim was dividing the synagogue (see notes on John 9:22). In the wake of this division, some who were influenced by Greek dualism wanted to claim that Christ only seemed (dokeo¯) to be human. As God, he could not have assumed flesh and died an atoning death (see notes on 4:2-3, 15; 5:1, 6-8). Those who departed from John"s church embraced this early form of the Docetic heresy, denying the gospel

The Father - 1 John 2:23

the Father. See notes on Jn. 5:23; 14:6-7; 15:23

What you heard from the beginning - 1 John 2:24

what you heard from the beginning. John uses this phrase several times (1:1; 2:7, 13, 14; 3:8, 11, 2 Jn. 5-6) to describe his teaching, which gives eyewitness testimony to Jesus' historical ministry (see notes 1:1-3), a teaching that has formed and nourished their fellowship over the years

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