Christ is our advocate. We must keep his commandments and love one
another. We must not love the world nor give ear to new teachers, but
abide by the spirit of God in the church.
2:1. My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not
sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the just.
2:2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only,
but also for those of the whole world.
2:3. And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his
commandments.
We have known him, if we keep his commandments. . .He speaks of that
practical knowledge by love and affection, which can only be proved by
our keeping his commandments; and without which we can not be said to
know God as we should do.
2:4. He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments
is a liar: and the truth is not in him.
2:5. But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of
God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him.
2:6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as
he walked.
2:7. Dearly beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but an old
commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is
the word which you have heard.
2:8. Again a new commandment I write unto you: which thing is true both
in him and in you, because the darkness is passed and the true light
now shineth.
A new commandment. . .Viz., the commandment of love, which was first
given in the old law; but was renewed and extended by Christ. See John
13.34.
2:9. He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in
darkness even until now.
2:10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light: and there is no
scandal in him.
2:11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in
darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth: because the darkness hath
blinded his eyes.
2:12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven
you for his name's sake.
2:13. I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him who is from
the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome
the wicked one.
2:14. I write unto you, babes, because you have known the Father. I
write unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God
abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
2:15. Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any
man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.
2:16. For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh
and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, which is not
of the Father but is of the world.
2:17. And the world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof: but he
that doth the will of God abideth for ever.
2:18. Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that
Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby
we know that it is the last hour.
It is the last hour. . .That is, it is the last age of the world. Many
Antichrists;. . .that is, many heretics, enemies of Christ and his
church, and forerunners of the great Antichrist.
2:19. They went out from us but they were not of us. For if they had
been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us: but that they
may be manifest, that they are not all of us.
They were not of us. . .That is, they were not solid, steadfast, genuine
Christians: otherwise they would have remained in the church.
2:20. But you have the unction from the Holy One and know all things.
The unction from the Holy One. . .That is, grace and wisdom from the
Holy Ghost. Know all things. . .The true children of God's church,
remaining in unity, under the guidance of their lawful pastors, partake
of the grace of the Holy Ghost, promised to the church and her pastors;
and have in the church all necessary knowledge and instruction; so as
to have no need to seek it elsewhere, since it can be only found in
that society of which they are members.
2:21. I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but
as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth.
2:22. Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This
is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son.
2:23. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that
confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
2:24. As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning
abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the
beginning, you also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.
2:25. And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life
everlasting.
2:26. These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce
you.
2:27. And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him
abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you: but as his
unction teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie. And as
it hath taught you, abide in him.
You have no need, etc. . .You want not to be taught by any of these men,
who, under pretence of imparting more knowledge to you, seek to seduce
you (ver. 26), since you are sufficiently taught already, and have all
knowledge and grace in the church, with the unction of the Holy Ghost;
which these new teachers have no share in.
2:28. And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear
we may have confidence and not be confounded by him at his coming.
2:29. If you know that he is just, know ye, that every one also who
doth justice is born of him.