1 John 2-3
- God Is Light (1:5), Chapters 1:1–2:2
- God Is Love (4:8), Chapters 2:3–4:21
- God Is Life (5:12), Chapter 5
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Chapter 2
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world – “sacrifice” (hilasmos) is the noun form of a word that in the New Testament means “to atone” or “to expiate.”
3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands – Cf. 1Thessalonians 5:16-22.
8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining – Cf. John 13:34.
12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name – “Dear children” (Teknion) literally means “little born ones” = all Christians.
13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father – “Dear children” here is a different word (paidion) and carries the idea of “immature ones”.
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him – “love” is agapaō. The Greek word for “world” is kosmos. It means the ordered world system.
“Worldliness is not so much a matter of activity as of attitude. It is possible for a Christian to stay away from questionable amusements and doubtful places and still love the world, for worldliness is a matter of the heart.” Warren Wiersbe
16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world – Cf. Genesis 3: 6.
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour – Paul wrote about this in 2Thessalonians 2:3-10. The prefix anti means against but it can mean “the opposite of” or “instead of” or “an imitation of.” The Antichrist is the “imitation of Jesus”; the “instead of” Jesus. The word ‘antichrist’ occurs in the Bible only in the letters of John (1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3; 2 John 7).
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth – “know” (eidō) knowledge by intuition. “Anointing” (charisma) usually refers to the pouring of olive oil on a person’s head. This word means “to smear on”. Used of gifts of the spirit.
Chapter 3
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is – Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:12.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous – “Dear children” (Teknion) literally means “little born ones” = all Christians.
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous – Cain went out from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 11:4).
15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him – Cf. Matthew 5:21-22.
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