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Beware of Antichrists
The writer tells his readers that they are in the final hour because many antichrists have already appeared. He explains what their departure means and identifies the central lie that must be rejected.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This letter section addresses the readers as “little children” and contrasts two groups. Some people went out from the community, while the readers have an anointing from the Holy One and know the truth. The passage centres on truth and lies about Jesus as the Christ.
1 John 2:18–23Main takeaway
This passage teaches that denying Jesus as the Christ means denying the Son and so not having the Father.
Follow the letter’s teaching
01Many antichrists show the final hourThe writer says, “these are the end times” and “the final hour”. The reason given is not only something the readers had heard about Antichrist coming, but what is happening now: “many antichrists have arisen”.
Explanation
The writer says, “these are the end times” and “the final hour”. The reason given is not only something the readers had heard about Antichrist coming, but what is happening now: “many antichrists have arisen”. In this passage, their presence is presented as a sign of the final hour.
02Their departure revealed they did not belongThe writer explains that these people “went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us”. He adds that if they had belonged, “they would have continued with us”.
Explanation
The writer explains that these people “went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us”. He adds that if they had belonged, “they would have continued with us”. Their leaving showed what was true about them. The key idea here is belonging, shown by continuing with the community.
03The readers know the truthIn contrast, the readers have “an anointing from the Holy One” and “have knowledge”. The writer says he is not writing because they do not know the truth, but because they do know it.
Explanation
In contrast, the readers have “an anointing from the Holy One” and “have knowledge”. The writer says he is not writing because they do not know the truth, but because they do know it. He also states a sharp contrast: “no lie is of the truth.”
04Denying the Son denies the FatherThe writer identifies “the liar” as the one who denies that “Jesus is the Christ”. He says this person is “the Antichrist” because he denies “the Father and the Son”.
Explanation
The writer identifies “the liar” as the one who denies that “Jesus is the Christ”. He says this person is “the Antichrist” because he denies “the Father and the Son”. Then he makes the contrast plain: whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, while the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
Questions to explore
01What present sign does the writer give for calling this “the final hour”?
Answer from verse 18 by naming what has already happened now: “many antichrists have arisen.”
02How does verse 19 connect belonging with continuing?
Use the writer’s own contrast between “didn’t belong to us” and “would have continued with us”.
03What does the passage say a liar denies, and what result follows from denying or confessing the Son?
Join verse 22 and verse 23: the denial concerns Jesus as the Christ, and the result concerns having or not having the Father.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 John 2:18–23
18Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour.
19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
20You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
21I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
23Whoever denies the Son doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.