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??1 JOHN 2

1 JOHN 2:3-27

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

  UBS4   NKJV   NRSV    TEV    NJB
Christ Our Advocate The Basis of Fellowship with Him
(1:5-2:2)		 Obedience Christ Our Helper To Walk in the Light
(1:5-2:28)
        First Condition: To Break With Sin
(1:8-2:3)
2:1-6 The Test of Knowing Him 2:1-2 2:1-2 Second Condition: To Keep the Commandments, Especially That of Love
  2:3-11 2:3-6 2:3-6 2:3-11
The New Commandment   Love for One Another The New Command  
2:7-14   2:7-11 2:7-8  
  Their Spiritual State True Relationship to God in Christ 2:9-11 Third Condition: Detachment from the World
  2:12-14 2:12-14 2:12-13 2:12-17
  Do Not Love the World True Appraisal of the World 2:14  
2:15-17 2:15-17 2:15-17 2:15-17  
The Antichrist Deceptions of the Last Hour Loyalty to the True Faith The Enemy of Christ Fourth Condition: To Be on Guard Against Antichrists
2:18-25 2:18-23 2:18-25 2:18-19 2:18-28
      2:20-21  
  Let Truth Abide in You   2:22-23  
  2:24-27   2:24-25  
2:26-27   2:26-27 2:26-27  

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO 2:3-27

  1. It is very difficult to outline 1 John because of its recurrent themes. However, most commentators agree that 1 John 2 continues the themes of 1 John 1, which are the characteristics of fellowship with God, both positive and negative.

  2. There is a structural parallel between 1 John 1 and 2. John presents the message in contrast to the false assertions of the Gnostics.

     

      Chapter 1   Chapter 2
    1. if we say. . . (1 Jn. 1:6-7)
    2. if we say. . . (1 Jn. 1:8-9)
    3. if we say. . . (1 Jn. 1:10)     		1. The one saying. . . (1 Jn. 2:4-5)
    2. The one saying. . . (1 Jn. 2:6)
    3. The one saying. . . (1 Jn. 2:8-11)

  3. This context lists several tests or evidences which reveal a true believer (1 John 2:3-25)
    1. Willingness to confess sin (initially and continually) (1 John 1:9)
    2. Lifestyle obedience (1 John 2:3-6)
    3. Lifestyle love (1 John 2:7-11)
    4. Victory over the evil (1 John 2:12-14)
    5. Forsaking the world (1 John 2:15-17)
    6. Perseverance (1 John 2:19)
    7. Correct doctrine (1 John 2:20-24; 4:1-3)

  4. Special Theological Concepts (in 1 John 2:18-19)
    1. "the last hour" (1 John 2:18)
      1. This phrase and similar phrases, such as "the last days," refer to the period of time from Jesus' birth in Bethlehem to the Second Coming. The kingdom has come, but is not yet fully consummated.
        SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS
      2. The people of Israel during the interbiblical period began to believe in two ages, the current evil age and the age of righteousness ushered in by the Spirit, which was still future. What the OT did not clearly reveal was the two comings of the Messiah, the first as Savior and the second as Consummator. These two ages overlap.
        SPECIAL TOPIC: THIS AGE AND THE AGE TO COME
      3. This is the metaphorical use of the term "hour" (kairos) as an unspecified period of salvation history (cf. John 4:21,23; 5:25,28; 16:2)
        SPECIAL TOPIC: HOUR
    2. "the antichrist" (1 John 2:18)
      Only John uses the term "antichrist" (cf. 1 John 2:18 [without the DEFINITE ARTICLE] 1 John 22; 4:3; 2 John 7 [with the DEFINITE ARTICLE]). Notice in 1 John 2:18 it is both PLURAL and SINGULAR (cf. 2 John 7).
      1. There are references to several end-time persons in biblical writers.
        1. Daniel ‒ horn of "the Little of the Fourth Beast" (cf. Dan. 7:7-8,23-26; 9:24-27)
        2. Jesus ‒ "Abomination of Desolation" (cf. Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; term from Dan. 11:31)
        3. John
            (1) antichrist, antichrists (cf. 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7)
            (2) "Beast coming out of the sea" (cf. Rev. 13:1-10)
        4. Paul ‒ "Man of Sin" or "Man of Lawlessness" (cf. 2 Thess. 2:3-4)
      2. John also makes a distinction between the eschatological person and the recurring spirit or attitude always present in the world (cf. 1 John 2:18; 4:3; 2 John 7;  Matt. 24:5,24; Mark 13:6,22).
      3. The PREPOSITION anti in Greek can mean (1) against or (2) instead of. This is as significant as the use of both the SINGULAR and PLURAL in 1 John 2:18. History is replete with those who have opposed God and His Christ
        1. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (little horn of Daniel 8; 11:36-45)
        2. Nero and Domitian (claimed deity but not Messiahship)
        3. Atheistic Communism
        4. Secular Humanism
          But also this is matched by those who are not against Christ, but claim to be the Christ.
            (a) the false teachers of Matt. 24:5,24 and Mark 13:6,22 (i.e., in Jewish war against Rome, A.D. 66-70)
            (b) modern cult leaders
            (c) the Antichrist (futurists see Dan. 7:8,23-26; 9:24-27; 2 Thess. 2:3; and Revelations 13 as referring to this endtime person)
        5. Christians in every age will experience both false teachers who deny Christ and false Messiahs who claim to be Christ. However, one day, the last day, one special incarnation of evil (i.e., the Antichrist) will do both!
           I have been in a Bible teaching ministry for over 55 years. My views on this subject have changed over time. Early on I was influenced by the futuristic view that puts most prophecies, both OT and NT, into a future time frame. However, currently I prefer a partial preterist view. The Bible study resources that have influenced me are
           (1) William Hendricksen, More Than Conquerors
           (2) Steve Gregg, YouTube videos on Revelation and Dispensationalism (www.thenarrowpath.com)
           (3) Ken Gentry, Before Jerusalem Fell (www.kengentry.com)
          I have tried to express my current understanding in SPECIAL TOPIC: Why Do OT Covenant Promises Seem So Different From NT Covenant Promises?
        6. "Abides in You" (1 John 2:19,24,27,28)
          1. Most modern evangelicals stress the need for a personal initial decision to trust/faith/believe in Christ, and this is surely true. However, the Bible's emphasis is not on a decision, but on discipleship (cf. Matt. 28:19-20).
          2. The doctrine of the Security of the Believer must be inseparably linked to the doctrine of Perseverance. It is not an either/or option, but a both/and biblical reality. In reality "abiding" is a biblical warning (cf. John 15:6)!
          3. Other passages on abiding are Matt. 10:22; 13:1-9,18-23; Mark 13:13; John 8:31; 15:1-27; 1 Cor. 15:2; Gal. 6:1; Rev. 2:2,7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7.

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," and "Call Upon"?

SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NEED TO PERSEVERE

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

?1 JOHN 2:3-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:3-6
   3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

2:3 "By this we know that we have come to know Him" Literally this is "we know that we have known Him." This is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE followed by a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE emphasizing that the Christians of these traumatized churches can have the full assurance of their salvation despite the Gnostic false teachings.

The word "know" is used in its Hebrew sense of personal relationship (cf. Gen. 4:1; Jer. 1:5; see SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW) and its Greek sense of facts about something or someone. The gospel is both a person and a body of truth. The emphases in this phrase are

  1. we can know God in Christ (John 1:1-18)
  2. we can know what He wants for our lives (James and 1 John)
  3. we can know that we know! (cf. 1 John 5:13)

One of the assurances of our relationship with God is revealed by our actions and motives (cf. Matthew 7; James, 1 Peter). This is a recurrent theme of 1 John (cf. 1 John 2:3,5; 3:24; 4:13; 5:2,13).

John's writings use two Greek words for "know" (ginōskō and oida) often (27 times in the five chapters of 1 John) and synonymously. There seems to be no discernable semantic distinction between these terms in Koine Greek. The choice is stylistic. It is also interesting that John does not use the intensified term epiginōskō (so common in Paul).

John is writing to encourage believers (i.e., true assurance) as well as refute heresy (i.e., a false assurance)! The Gospel of John and 1 John use the terms for "know" more than any other of the books in the NT. 1 John is a book of assurance based on knowledge of the gospel and commensurate lifestyle love and obedience (cf. The book of James).

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE

▣ "if" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which means potential action. This CONDITION adds a note of contingency.

▣ "we keep His commandments" Notice the conditional element ("if" and a PRESENT ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE). The New Covenant is unconditional as to God's offer but conditional as to mankind's repentant faith and obedient response (cf. 1 John 2:3-5; 3:22,24; 5:2,3; John 8:51-52; 14:15,21,23; 15:10; Rev. 2:26; 3:8,10; 12:17; 14:12). One of the evidences for true conversion is obedience to the Light (both Jesus and the gospel, cf. Luke 6:46). Even in the OT obedience was better than sacrificial ritual (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22; Jer. 7:22-23). Obedience does not bring or secure salvation, but it does evidence salvation. It is not the basis (cf. Eph. 2:8-9), but the fruit (cf. Eph. 2:10).

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP

2:4 "The one who says" This is the textual marker for John's diatribe format.

▣ "I have come to know Him" This is one of several assertions of the false teachers (cf. 1 John 1:6,8,10; 2:4,6,9). This is a diatribe ("the one who says. . .") similar to Malachi, Romans, and James. The false teachers were claiming to know (PREFECT TENSE) God, but were trying to separate salvation from godly living. They were separating justification from sanctification. They claimed superior (i.e., secret oral teachings from Jesus) knowledge of God, but their lifestyles revealed their true motives (Luke 6:43-45).

▣ "and does not keep His commandments" This is PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE which speaks of habitual lifestyle action. Our lives reveal our spiritual orientation (cf. Matthew 7; 1 John 3:6,9). 1 John 2:4 expresses the truth negatively, while 2:5 expresses the same truth positively.

▣ "is a liar" There is nothing worse than self-willed deception! Obedience is evidence of true conversion. You shall know them by their fruit (cf. Matt. 7:15-23; 13:1-23; Luke 6:43-45; 1 John 3:6,9).

John calls several religious people (teachers, preachers) liars (cf. 1 John 1:6; 2:4,22; 4:20). They are religious but not right with God (cf. Matt. 7:21-23)!

  1. 1 John 1:7 ‒ "If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie"
  2. 1 John 2:4 ‒ "if one says, 'I have come to know Him, and does not keep His commandments,'" he is a liar
  3. 1 John 2:22 ‒ "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ"
  4. 1 John 4:20 ‒ "if womeone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar"

2:5 "but whoever keeps His word" This is PRESENT ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIBE which speaks of habitual lifestyle action. The authors of the UBS' A Handbook on The Letters of John (Haas, Jonge, and Swellengrebel) offer an interesting comment on this Greek construction: "a relative pronoun with the Greek particle, 'an' or 'ean' and the following verb in the subjunctive occurs in 1 John 3:17,22; 4:15; 5:15; 3 John 5. It seems to express generally occurring circumstances" (p. 40). Obedience is a crucial aspect of covenant faith. This is the central message of 1 John and James. One cannot say He knows God and yet reject both the living Word and the written Word by lifestyle sin (cf. 1 John 3:6,9)!

▣ "in him the love of God has truly been perfected" This is a PERFECT PASSIVE INDICATIVE which speaks of completed action (cf. 1 John 4:12,17,18). It is uncertain, grammatically speaking, whether the GENITIVE is speaking of

  1. God's love for us (cf. 1 John 4:12)
  2. our love for God (cf. 1 John 5:3)
  3. God's love in general in believers' hearts

The term "perfect" (telos, cf. 1 John 4:12,17,18) means mature, complete, or fully equipped for an assigned task (cf. Eph. 4:12), not without sin (cf. 1 John 1:8,10).

SPECIAL TOPIC: END OR FULL (telos)

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVE (agapē)

▣ "By this we know that we are in Him" Here again is the emphasis on believers' ability to have a faith confidence in their relationship with God. The concept of our being in Him ("abiding," cf. 1 John 2:6) is a recurrent theme of John's writings (cf. John 14:20,23; 15:4-10; 17:21,23,26; 1 John 2:24-28; 3:6,24; 4:13,16).

2:6 "abides" The NT also asserts that both the Father and the Son abide (i.e., "remains") in us (cf. John 14:23 and 17:21). Notice that even in a clause which emphasizes assurance there is the need for, and implied warning, of "ought" (cf. 1 John 2:6, PRESENT INFINITIVE, "abides in Him"). The gospel is a conditional covenant with rights and responsibilities!

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE

▣ "ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" This is another emphasis on "true faith" as lifestyle faith (cf. James 2:14-26). Faith is not only a decision, but an ongoing personal relationship with Jesus that naturally issues in daily Christlike living. Eternal life has observable characteristics! This is parallel to 1 John 1:7. The goal of Christianity is not just heaven when we die, but Christlikeness now (cf. Rom. 8:29-30; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3; 1 Pet. 1:15)! We are saved to serve. We are sent on mission as He was sent on mission. As He laid down His life for others, so we too, must see ourselves as servants (cf. 1 John 3:16).

"He" is literally "that One," which is a common idiom in John's writings for "Jesus" (cf. John 2:21; 19:35; 1 John 2:6; 3:3,5,7,16; 4:17). Often it is used in a derogatory way (cf. John 7:11; 9:12,28; 19:21).

If "that One" refers to Jesus, then who does the "in Him" of 1 John 2:6a refer to? John often used a purposeful ambiguity. It could refer to the Father (cf. John 15:1-2,9-10) or the Son (cf. John 15:4-6). This same ambiguity can be illustrated in "the Holy One" of 1 John 2:20.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE

?1 JOHN 2:7-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:7-11
 7Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

2:7 "Beloved" John often calls his readers by affectionate terms (cf. 1 John 2:1). This term was used by the Father to refer to Jesus at His baptism (cf. Matt. 3:17) and transfiguration (cf. Matt. 17:5). It is a common designation of the saved in John's letters (cf. 1 John 3:2,21; 4:1,7,11; and 3 John 1,2,5,11).

The Textus Receptus has "brothers" (MSS K, L, NKJV), but 1 John uses this as a VOCATIVE only in 1 John 3:13. "Beloved" is supported by the uncial Greek manuscripts (א, A, B, C, P, and the Vulgate, Peshitta, Coptic, and Armenian versions (see Bruce Metzger, A Textual Commentary On the Greek New Testament, p. 708).

SPECIAL TOPIC: BELOVED

SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM

▣ "I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment" This terminology of "old" vs. "new" seems to go back to Lev. 19:18, repeated by Jesus (i.e., Mark 12:31). This is characteristic of John's writings (cf. John 13:34-35; 15:12,17). The command was to love one another as Jesus loved them (cf. John 13:34; 1 John 3:11,23; 4:21; 2 John v. 5).

The phrase "not a new commandment" occurs first for emphasis. Love is not a New Covenant emphasis, but a biblical emphasis. It clearly reveals who one's father is!

Remember, 1 John is written against a group of false teachers who have invaded the church. These charlatans are quickly identified by their lifestyle activities. They were elitists who caused strife not fellowship, distrust not trust, and selflessness not communal love!

SPECIAL TOPIC: "COMMANDMENT" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

▣ "the old commandment" In 1 John 2:3 the word "commandment" is PLURAL, but here it is SINGULAR. This seems to imply that love fulfills all other commandments (cf. Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 13:13). Love is the gospel's mandate!

▣ "which you had from the beginning" This is an IMPERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE which refers to the hearer's first encounter with the gospel message (cf. 1 John 2:24; 1:1; 3:11; 2 John 5-6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ARCHĒ

▣ "have heard" The Textus Receptus adds the phrase "from the beginning" (used in the earlier part of the verse).

2:8 "which is true in Him and in you" Truth is seen in Jesus' actions and attitude. It should also be seen in His followers (cf. 1 John 3:16).

SPECIAL TOPIC: TRUTH/TRUE

▣ "commandment" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "COMMANDMENT" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

▣ "the darkness is passing away" This is PRESENT MIDDLE INDICATIVE (according to A. T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, p. 212). For those who know God in Christ, the new age has dawned and is continuing to dawn in their hearts and minds (i.e., realized eschatology).

"The darkness" reflects the doctrine and lifestyle of the Gnostic false teachers.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THIS AGE AND THE AGE TO COME

▣ "the true Light is already shining" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "LIGHT"

2:9 "yet hates his brother" This is PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE which speaks of a settled ongoing attitude. Hate is an evidence of darkness (cf. Matt. 5:21-26). Notice the literary antithetical parallelism (i.e., v. 9, NEGATIVE; v. 10, POSITIVE).

2:10 "The one who loves his brother abides in the Light" PRESENT TENSE VERBALS dominate this context. Love is an evidence of believer's salvation and personal relationship with and knowledge of truth and light. This is the new, yet old commandment (cf. 1 John 3:11,23; 4:7,11,21). Eternal life has observable characteristics!

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: "LIGHT"

NASB, NKJV, REB  "and there is no cause for stumbling in him"
NRSV  "in such a person there is no cause for stumbling"
TEV  "there is nothing in us that will cause someone else to sin"
NJB  "there is in him nothing to make him fall away"
Peshitta  "And there is no cause for displeasure in him"

There are two possible translations of this verse.

  1. the believer who walks in love will not personally stumble (cf. 1 John 2:11; Ps. 119:165)
  2. the believer who walks in love will not cause others to stumble (cf. Matt. 18:6; Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:13)

Both are true! The gospel benefits the believer and others (both other believers and the lost).

In the OT "stumbling" is the opposite of faith (sure-footed, stable stance). God's will and commands were illustrated by a straight, level, unobstructed path or way. This is how "walk" can be imagery for lifestyle.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY

2:11 "But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness" There is a PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE (hates) followed by a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE (walks). Hate is a sign of unbelief (cf. 1 John 3:15; 4:20). Light and darkness, love and hate cannot exist in the same person (yet they do). This is typical of John's black or white statements. He expresses the ideal! Often, however, believers struggle with prejudice, unlove, and neglect! The gospel brings

  1. an instantaneous change
  2. a change through time

▣ "the darkness has blinded his eyes" This can refer either to

  1. God hardening rebellious Israel (cf. Isa. 6:9-10; Matt. 13:15; John 12:40; see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD HARDENED)
  2. believers' remaining sin nature (cf. 2 Pet.1:8-9)
  3. the actions of Satan (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4)

There are three enemies of mankind:

  1. the fallen world system
  2. a personal angelic tempter, Satan
  3. our own fallen, Adamic nature (cf. Eph. 2:2-3,16; James 4)

?1 JOHN 2:12-14

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:12-14
 12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. 13I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

2:12-14 All of the VERBS in these verses (except "I am writing") are PERFECT TENSE, which speaks of action in the past resulting in an ongoing state of being. As the previous context addressed the false teachers, this context addresses the believer. There are three different titles given to believers: "little children," "fathers," and "young men." This paragraph does not fit smoothly into the context of lifestyle evidences of assurance. It is possible that we are not dealing with three groups but a literary device describing the settled condition of all Christians.

There is a series of six hoti CLAUSES in 1 John 2:12-14. They may be PURPOSE CLAUSES (NASB, NRSV, NJB, "because") or simply a literary way to introduce statements of fact (NET Bible, "that").

  1. that their sins are forgiven in His name (1 John 2:12)
  2. that they know Him (1 John 2:13,14 [twice])
  3. that through Christ they have overcome the devil (1 John 2:13,14)
  4. that they are strong because the Word of God abides in you (1 John 2:14)

2:12 "Little children" See full note at v. 1. Notice in this context (vv. 12-14) several age designations are used. It is my opinion that they all refer to believers, not separate age groups.

▣ "because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake" Jesus' ministry is mankind's only hope for forgiveness (PERFECT PASSIVE INDICATIVE). Theologically this refers to substitutionary atonement (i.e., Isaiah 53; Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 5:21).

In Hebrew understanding, the name equals the character and personality (cf. 1 John 3:23; 3 John 7; Rom. 10:9-13; Phil. 2:6-11).

SPECIAL TOPIC: The Name of the Lord (NT)

2:13 "Him who has been from the beginning" The PRONOUNS in 1 John are ambiguous and can refer to God the Father or God the Son. In context this one refers to Jesus' preexistent Deity.

The phrase "from the beginning" is used in two distinct ways in John's writings.

  1. referring to creation, or even before
    1. Jesus' preexistence (cf. John 1:1,15,30; 2:13,14; 3:13; 8:56-58; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6-7; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:3)
    2. the devil sinning from the beginning (cf. John 3:8; 8:44; also note Rev. 12:9; 20:2)
  2. referring to the beginning of Jesus' ministry (cf. 1 John 1:1-3,5; 2:24; 3:11)
  3. possibly from the giving of the Mosaic revelation (cf. 1 John 2:7)

▣ "you have overcome" This is a recurrent promise and warning in 1 John (cf. 1 John 2:14; 4:4; 5:4-5,18-19). This is expressed in a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE which speaks of the culmination of a process. Here again, John writes in black and white terms (this realized eschatological victory is so reminiscent of the Gospel of John). Believers are victors, yet because of the "already but not yet" tension of the Kingdom of God, they still struggle with sin, temptation, persecution, and death.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THIS AGE AND THE AGE TO COME

▣ "the evil one" This is a reference to Satan (cf. Matt. 13:19,38; and possibly 5:37; 6:13; John 17:15), who is mentioned again in 1 John 2:13-14; 3:12; 5:18.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEVIL

▣ "because you know the Father" One of the biblical connotations of "know" involves the Hebrew sense of intimate personal relationship (cf. Gen. 4:1; Jer. 1:5) and the Greek concept of "facts about." The gospel is

  1. a person to welcome (Jesus)
  2. truths about that person (doctrine) to accept
  3. a life like that person to live!

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW (using mostly Deuteronomy as a paradigm)

▣ "who has been from the beginning" See full note above.

2:14 "you are strong" Notice that their strength is based on the abiding word of God. This is similar to Paul's admonitions in Col. 3:16; Eph. 6:10-18. The abiding word is the gospel. It is both

  1. conceptual and personal
  2. God initiated and individually received
  3. both a decision and a discipleship
  4. both truth and trustworthiness

There is purposeful ambiguity, so common in John's writings!

▣ "the word of God abides in you" This personifies the concept of the word of God (the gospel, cf. 1 John 2:24). This is an allusion to John 15. It is used in a negative sense in John 5:38 and 8:37.

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

▣ "you have overcome the evil one" Remember, all the VERBS in vv. 12-14 are PERFECT TENSE, which speaks of an accomplished event/action in the past that has become a settled state. Believers are in a settled relationship with Jesus by faith. These VERBS describe who they are. They are victors and overcomers! However, to this must be added an emphasis on perseverance (cf. 1 John 2:17,19,24,27,28; 5:18; and 2 John 9). The doctrine of the security of the believer must be balanced with the truth that those who are truly redeemed will hold out until the end (cf. Rev. 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21). This does not imply sinlessness now, though that is a theoretical possibility in Christ's finished work (cf. Romans 6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NEED TO PERSEVERE

SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEVIL

?1 JOHN 2:15-17

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:15-17
 15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves 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 boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

2:15 "Do not love" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE with a NEGATIVE PARTICLE which usually means to stop an act that is already in progress. The love of the world characterized one sect of the Gnostic false teachers.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVE (agapē)

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

▣ "the world" This term is used six times in this paragraph in two different senses in the NT:

  1. the physical planet and/or the created universe (cf. John 3:16; 16:33; 1 John 4:14)
  2. human society organized and functioning apart from God (cf. 1 John 2:15-17; 3:1,13; 4:4-5; 5:4-5,19)

The first refers to initial physical creation (cf. Genesis 1-2) and the second to fallen creation (cf. Genesis 3). For a good brief discussion see

  1. Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 733-734
  2. Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, pp. 660-664

SPECIAL TOPIC: KOSMOS (world)

SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN GOVERNMENT

▣ "nor the things in the world" This could refer to

  1. sexual lust
  2. a love of material things
  3. a love of power, prestige, influence, etc. (cf. Rom. 12:2; James 1:27)

This fallen world system attempts to meet all of mankind's needs apart from God. It structures life in such a way that humans appear to be independent. Institutions that all of us are grateful for can become idolatrous when they allow independence from God. Examples include:

  1. human governmental systems
  2. human educational systems
  3. economic systems
  4. medical systems
  5. political systems

As Augustine said so well, "man has a God-shaped hole" in his life. We try to fill that hole with earthly things, but we can only find peace and fulfilment in Him! We were created for fellowship with Him! Independence is the curse of Eden!

▣ "If" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which means potential action. What we love is evidence of whose we are. . .God's or Satan's (cf. Matt. 6:19-24,33-34).

2:16 "the lust of the flesh" This refers to fallen mankind's self-seeking attitude (cf. Gal. 5:16-21; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 2:11). This is the essence of the Fall of Genesis 3.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FLESH (sarx)

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND

▣ "the lust of the eyes" The Jews recognized that the eyes are the windows of the soul. Sin begins in the thought life and works its way out to action. One's actions develop into lifestyle domination (e.g., Prov. 23:7).

▣ "and the boastful pride of life" This refers to human pride apart from God (i.e., humans trusting in their own resources). In The Jerome Bible Commentary, vol. II, Raymond Brown, a renowned Catholic Johannine scholar, says of the phrase,

 "However, alazoneia, found also in James 4:16, has a more active meaning than mere pride: It denotes arrogance, boastfulness, the conviction of self-sufficiency" (p. 408).

The term "life" is bios which refers to earthly, physical, temporal life on this planet (what mankind shares with the plants and animals, cf. 1 John 3:17, i.e., much like Hebrew nephesh). These characterizations describe

  1. sects of Gnostic false teachers
  2. unregenerate fallen mankind (pagans)
  3. God help us, they also describe immature Christians!

SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH

▣ "is not from the Father, but is from the world" There are two reasons Christians must not love the world.

  1. that love is not from the Father (cf. 1 John 2:16)
  2. the world is passing away (cf. 1 John 2:17; 2 Pet. 3:7,10,12)

SPECIAL TOPIC: FATHERHOOD OF GOD

2:17 "The world is passing away" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE INDICATIVE (cf. 1 John 2:8). This relates to the Jewish two ages. The new and consummated age is coming; the old age of sin and rebellion is passing away (cf. Rom. 8:18-25; 2 Pet. 3:7,10,12).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THIS AGE AND THE AGE TO COME

▣ "but the one who does the will of God lives forever" Notice how eternal life (i.e., literally "abides into the age") is connected to a loving lifestyle, not just a past profession of faith (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; James 2:14-26).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE WILL (thelēma) OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER (Greek idiom)

?1 JOHN 2:18-25

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:18-25
 18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

2:18-25 This continues 1 John's emphasis on how one identifies a true believer from a false believer. In this context, the emphasis focuses on doctrine, particularly the incarnation of Jesus (i.e., truly God, truly man, cf. 1 John 4:1-3).

2:18 "Children" See note at 1 John 2:1.

▣ "it is the last hour" Literally it is "last hour" with no ARTICLE (found only here). Like "the last days," this is one of the phrases used in the NT to describe a judgment coming of Jesus Christ (cf. Matt. 7:22; 10:15; 11:22,24; 12:36; John 6:39-40,44,54; 11:24; Acts 17:31; Heb. 10:25; 2 Pet. 2:9; 3:7; 1 John 4:17; Jude v. 6). This is an important concept because in our day so many interpreters have been influenced by

  1. C. H. Dodd's "realized eschatology" (a major tenet of amillennialism)
  2. a futuristic view like that of dispensationalism
  3. As I study biblical eschatology, it becomes more and more certain to me how the ambiguity of the Bible itself demands less dogmatism. There seem to be texts that support
    1. an A.D. 70 "coming" in judgment on Jerusalem and the temple (cf. Matthew 24)
    2. a judgment "coming" to inaugurate the millennium (i.e., Dispensationalism)
    3. an end of time coming (i.e., "the Second Coming," cf. Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 John 2:18,28)
    4. the ambiguity can be clearly seen in James 5:7-9; 1 Pet. 4:5-7; 1 John 2:18. John's Revelation could be seen in light of a. or c. above.

It is surely true that John uniquely and forcefully teaches that the Kingdom of God has come in Jesus. However, this text reveals that there is also a future consummation (event or period). Both are true. This is another expression of the NT tension (paradox) between "the already and the not yet" (i.e.; "is coming") of the two Jewish ages, which are now overlapped in time.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HOUR

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS (NT)

▣ "antichrist. . .antichrists" This descriptive phrase is both SINGULAR and PLURAL; neither term has the ARTICLE (following MSS א*, B, C, but it does in 1 John 2:23; 4:3; 2 John v. 7). Only John uses this term in Scripture (cf. 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7). See fuller note in Contextual Insight to 1 John 2:3-27, D.

The PREPOSITION "anti" can have two meanings.

  1. against or "opposed to"
  2. instead of or "in the place of"

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANTICHRIST

▣ "is coming" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) INDICATIVE. In Koine Greek some forms of the Greek VERB fell out of use and other forms took over their function. Deponent VERBS are MIDDLE or PASSIVE VOICE in form, but are translated as ACTIVE VOICE in meaning. Here the PRESENT is used to express the certainty of a future event. The Antichrist, SINGULAR, is coming and many false teachers or false messiahs similar to him have already appeared (antichrists).

It is just theologically possible that

  1. Depending on the date of the writing of 1 John, it could refer to A.D. 66-70.
  2. since Satan does not know the time of Christ's return, he has someone already prepared to step into world leadership at any moment of opportunity. We have seen these types of individuals throughout history. This would assert a futurist view.

▣ "have appeared" This is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE. The "anti"-Christ spirit is already present and active in this fallen world (i.e., the false teachers), yet there is still a future manifestation (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2). Some commentators understand this to refer to the Roman Emporer of John's day (i.e., Nero or Domitian), while others see it as a future world empire of the last day. In many senses, it is both! The last hour was inaugurated at the Incarnation and will last until the consummation (the Second Coming of Christ).

2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not really of us" This is a perfect example of false teaching and false professions in the visible church (cf. Matt. 7:21-23; 13:1-9,18-23,24-30). Their lack of truth, love, and perseverance are evidences that they are not believers. Heresy always comes from within!

The author of 1 John is very careful in his choice of VERB TENSES. 1 John 2:19 reflects

  1. the false teachers have left (AORIST)
  2. they were never truly a part (IMPERFECT)
  3. if they had been a part they would not have left (a SECOND CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE with a PLUPERFECT VERB)

SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY

▣ "if" This is a SECOND CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which is called contrary to fact. It should be translated, "If they had belonged to us, which they did not, then they would have stayed with us, which they did not."

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK GRAMMATICAL TERMS, VII

▣ "they would have remained with us" This is a PLUPERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE which speaks of completed action in past time. This is one of several references to the doctrine of Perseverance (cf. 1 John 2:24,27,28). True faith remains and bears fruit (cf. Matt. 13:1-23). See full note on "remain" (menō) at v. 24. It could be translated "abide," as in John 15.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NEED TO PERSEVERE

2:20 "you have an anointing from the Holy One" "You" is PLURAL which is emphasized in the Greek text in contradistinction to those who had left the Christian fellowship. It is possible that the Gnostics were influenced by the eastern "mystery" religions and taught a special anointing which brought knowledge and identification with a deity. John asserts that it was believers, not the Gnostics, who had the anointing (special equipping and empowerment) from the Spirit. The Spirit helps believers understand the Apostolic witness (i.e., Scripture).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE (BDB 603)

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

NASB  "and you all know"
NKJV  "and you know all things"
NRSV, REB  "and all of you have knowledge"
TEV  "and so all of you know the truth"
NJB  "and have all received knowledge"
Peshitta  "and you are enabled to distinguish between men"

This was a significant statement in light of Gnostic false teachers' arrogant assertions about their secret knowledge (i.e., oral teachings from Jesus). John asserts that believers have basic Christian knowledge (1 John 2:27 and John 16:7-14 and Jer. 31:34), not exhaustive knowledge either in religion or other realms or knowledge (cf. 1 John 3:2). For John, the truth is both conceptual and personal, as is the "anointing," which can refer to the gospel or the Spirit.

There is a Greek manuscript variant in this phrase. The NKJV follows the uncial manuscripts A, C, and K, having panta, a NEUTER PLURAL used as a DIRECT OBJECT, while NASB follows manuscripts א, B, and P, having pantes, a MASCULINE PLURAL, which focuses on the SUBJECT "you all." In light of the exclusivistic claims of the false teachers, the last option is best. The UBS4 gives it a "B" rating (almost certain). The anointing and knowledge are given to all believers, not a select, special, intellectual, spiritual few!

2:21 This verse has three hoti (purpose) clauses. It is one of many verses which assert that John's readers have faith assurance of redemption and know the truth (cf. 1 John 5:13). In this verse assurance is based on an anointing from the Spirit who has given believers a hunger for and knowledge of the gospel (v. 20).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE

2:22 "Who is the liar" This phrase has the DEFINITE ARTICLE, therefore, John is referring either to

  1. a specific false teacher (possibly Cerinthus)
  2. the "big lie" and denial of the gospel (cf. 1 John 5:10)

"The liar" is parallel to "antichrist." The spirit of the antichrist is present in every age; a basic definition (the two connotations of the PREPOSITION "anti") is "one who denies that Jesus is the Christ" or "one who tries to replace Jesus as the Christ."

▣ "that Jesus is the Christ" The Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 408, makes a good point,

"The author does not mean simply the fulfillment by Jesus of the OT and Jewish expectation of a messiah. 'Christ' here has its full sense as the preferred NT designation of Jesus, whose words and deeds have proclaimed him the divine Savior of mankind (cf. John 1:29; Acts 2:31; Rom. 1:4)."

It is possible that this doctrinal affirmation functioned

  1. as a polemic against Gnosticism
  2. a Palestinian creedal formula that clearly separated the Synagogue from the Church; it may reflect the post-Jamnia (A.D. 70) curse formulas of the rabbis (i.e., "The Eighteen Benedictions")
  3. like "Jesus is Lord," it may have been an early baptismal affirmation (i.e., Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:9,11)

SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

2:22-23 "the one who denies the Son" Apparently the Gnostic false teachers claimed to know God, but they denied, decentralized, and depreciated the place of the Messiah (i.e., Christ, cf. 1 John 4:1-3; 5:10-13; John 5:23).

Based on the writings of the Gnostics from the second century A.D., the comments within the NT, and the early church fathers, the following beliefs emerge.

  1. The Gnostics tried to wed Christianity to Greek philosophy (Plato) and the eastern mystery religions.
  2. They taught that Jesus was divine but not human because spirit was good, but matter (flesh) was evil. Therefore, there was no possibility of a physical incarnation of deity.
  3. They taught two things about salvation
    1. one group asserted that "a special knowledge" of angelic spheres (aeon) between the High, good God and the physical world brought a salvation of the spirit unrelated to the actions of the body on the physical plain.
    2. another group accentuated "physical asceticism" (cf. Col. 2:20-23). They asserted that a total denial of bodily wants and needs was crucial to a true salvation.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

2:23 This verse in the Textus Receptus, following the uncial manuscripts K and L, has accidently shortened the original text by omitting the second parallel reference to the Father, which is strongly supported by the Greek uncial manuscripts א, A, B, and C.

▣ "the one who confesses" This is the exact opposite of "whoever denies" in 1 John 2:22 [twice] and 23 [once].

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION/PROFESSION

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," "Call Upon"?

▣ "the Son" Fellowship with God is only available through faith in the Son (cf. 1 John 5:10-12,13). Faith in Jesus is not an option! He is the only way to the Father (cf. John 5:23; 14:6; Luke 10:16).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF GOD

▣ "the Father" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

2:24 "As for you" This shows a very emphatic contrast between John's hearers or readers and the false teachers and their followers who left the Christian fellowship (cf. 1 John 2:27).

▣ "let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE with a grammatical emphasis on "you" (which is at the beginning of Greek phrase) in contradistinction to the false teachers' message. The gospel is personified and described as an indwelling guest.

This is the first of two reasons given for the Christians' victory over the false teachers (the liars). The word translated "abide" is menō, which means "remain" (cf. vv. 6,19; John 15:3,4,5,6,7,9,10,16). It is used three times in v. 24. It is similar in meaning to "abide with." It denotes that true faith is characterized by perseverance. True faith will hold out to the end!

The second one is found in 1 John 2:20 and 27, where the anointing of the Spirit is mentioned. Again, the gospel as both message and person are linked by the phrase "from the beginning" (i.e., of the ministry of Jesus contained in Scripture, cf John 15:27; 1 John 2:13,14,24 [twice]). God's word is both content and personal, both written and living (cf. 1 John 1:8,10; 2:20,24)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

▣ "If" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which means potential action. This continues the warning and admonition related to "abiding." The cessation of abiding reveals that they were never a part (cf. 1 John 2:18-19). The lifestyle evidence of "abiding" brings a faith assurance (cf. John 15). Abiding is a message heard and received and a fellowship with both the Son and the Father (cf. John 14:23) which is revealed in lifestyle choice, both positively (love) and negatively (rejection of the world).

2:25 "This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life" Again the PRONOUNS in 1 John 2:25 are very ambiguous and can refer to God the Father or God the Son. Maybe this was purposeful (as in 2 Peter 1). Apparently this statement is much like John 3:15-16 and 6:40. The believer's hope rests in the character and promises of God (cf. Isa. 45:23; 55:11). Our intimate fellowship with the Triune God issues in the hope and assurance of the promise of eternal life (cf. 1 John 5:13). Eternal life has observable characteristics.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

?1 JOHN 2:26-27

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1 JOHN 2:26-27
   26These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

2:26-27 This is a summary recap of the previous context.

2:26 "those who are trying to deceive you" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE. There are deceivers in every age (cf. Matt. 7:15; 24:11,24; 2 John 7). These are often sincere religionists who attend and are active in Christian gatherings.

2:27 "the anointing" This seems to emphasize the result of the anointing (i.e., it remains, v. 24), not the means (the Spirit) or the elements (the gospel truths) involved. Anointing was an OT concept of the special call and equipping of a person for a God-given task. Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed. This term is etymologically related to the term "Messiah." Here it refers to the resulting stability which the Holy Spirit's enlightening of the heart and mind to the gospel brings to believers (cf. John 16).

The false teachers were claiming a special revelation from God (i.e., special anointing). John asserts that all believers already have the true anointing when they trust the Anointed One, are filled with His Spirit, and abide in God's word.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE (BDB 603)

▣ "abides" This is the recurrent term menō (remain, vv. 6,19,24,27).

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

▣ "which you received" This is an AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE which points to some completed past act. The "anointing" is parallel to "you have heard" in 1 John 2:24. The gospel must be received

  1. individually by faith (cf. John 1:12; 3:16)
  2. as a body of truth (cf. 2 John 9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Jude 3,20)

Both of these acts are mediated by the Holy Spirit.

For "receive" see See SPECIAL TOPIC: RECEIVE

▣ "and you have no need for anyone to teach you" 1 John 2:27 is a parallel to 1 John 2:20 (i.e., the New Covenant, cf Jer. 31:34). John is using recurrent themes (1 John 2:20,24,27). The Holy Spirit, not the Gnostic false teachers, is our ultimate and indispensable teacher (cf. John 14:26). However, this does not mean that the office and gift of teacher is not active in the early church and today (cf. Eph. 4:11; Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28). It simply means that basic things concerning salvation come from the Holy Spirit and the Bible, not from any special, gifted, human teacher, although He often uses them as a means.

▣ "but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie" This refers to spiritual truth. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit guiding his/her conscience. We must be sensitive to the Spirit's gentle leadership in areas of truth and ethics.

▣ "just as it has taught you, you abide in Him" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE (cf. v. 28). John uses the concept of "abide" (i.e., "remain") extensively in this letter as an element of faith assurance for his readers (cf. John 15). Biblical faith is a covenant in which God takes the initiative and sets the agenda, but humans must initially respond and continue (remain)! There is both a divine aspect and a human aspect involved in abiding.

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ABIDING" IN JOHN'S WRITINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. Describe the false teachers' beliefs.
  2. Give the evidence by which we can know that we are truly redeemed.
  3. Explain the relationship between habitual sin and isolated acts of sin.
  4. Explain the relationship between the perseverance of the saint and the security of the believer.
  5. List and define the three enemies of man.

 

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