Warning Against Antichrists (1 John 2:18-27)
Warning Against Antichrists (1 John 2:18–27): Meaning and Reflection
In 1 John 2:18–27, John warns believers about the presence of antichrists, individuals who deny the true nature of Christ and seek to lead others away from the gospel. John’s letter is deeply concerned with the purity of the Christian faith, especially as false teachings began to infiltrate the early church. The warning in this passage serves as a call for vigilance, urging Christians to remain steadfast in their understanding of Christ and to guard against those who would distort the truth. John emphasizes that the presence of antichrists is a sign of the last days, a period characterized by widespread deception and the rise of those who oppose the gospel.
This passage also underscores the importance of abiding in the truth that believers have already received and the need for discernment in recognizing false teachings. John calls the faithful to remain rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which offers eternal life. The contrast between true believers and false teachers is stark, with John stressing that those who truly know God will remain committed to the truth, while those who deny the Son are ultimately deceived.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of 1 John 2:18–27 and Commentary
1 John 2:18: “Children, it is the last hour; as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour.”
John begins by addressing his readers as “children,” a term that expresses both affection and authority. He states that “it is the last hour,” indicating that the eschatological age—the time between Jesus’ first and second coming—has already begun. The presence of antichrists is a sign that the final days are unfolding. The term “antichrist” here refers to those who oppose or deny Christ, and John notes that the appearance of such individuals is a fulfillment of prophetic warnings. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns of false Christs and false prophets in the last days (Matthew 24:23–24). Raymond E. Brown, in The Epistles of John, suggests that this reference to “many antichrists” indicates the pluralistic nature of false teachings that sought to distort the true gospel (Brown, 1982, p. 274).
John’s statement underscores the urgency of remaining vigilant and holding fast to the truth of the gospel. As false teachers proliferate, the need for discernment and faithfulness becomes even more critical. I. Howard Marshall, in The Epistles of John, comments that the “last hour” is not just a chronological term but also a theological one, marking the period of tension between the coming kingdom of God and the ongoing battle against evil in the world (Marshall, 1978, p. 151).
1 John 2:19: “They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but by going out they made it plain that none of them belonged to us.”
John further explains that the antichrists were once part of the Christian community but have now departed. Their departure from the faith reveals that they were never truly part of the body of believers. This is a sobering reality for the early church, as some within the community had been swayed by false teachings and had abandoned the true faith. The rejection of the gospel and the departure from the community of believers are signs of their lack of genuine faith.
This verse calls attention to the importance of perseverance in the faith. True believers remain in fellowship with one another and continue in the teaching of Christ. The Gospel of John echoes this concept in John 6:66–69, where many disciples leave Jesus after his hard teachings, but Peter affirms, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This consistency in following Jesus is a hallmark of true discipleship.
1 John 2:20–21: “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.”
John contrasts the believers with the false teachers, reminding them that they have received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which gives them knowledge of the truth. This anointing empowers them to discern truth from error, and they are not ignorant of the gospel’s message. John’s reassurance is important because it helps the believers understand that they are equipped to recognize false teachings when they encounter them. The anointing is a mark of their security in Christ, and the knowledge they possess comes from the Holy One—Jesus himself.
In John 14:26, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, saying, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” This direct connection between the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of truth emphasizes the vital role the Spirit plays in helping believers stay grounded in the gospel. When we recognize error we have evidence of God's Spirit at work in us!
1 John 2:22–23: “Who 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. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.”
John clarifies that the heart of the antichrist’s deception is the denial of the true identity of Jesus Christ. To deny Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah) is to reject both the Son and the Father. This is a stark warning against any teaching that diminishes or distorts the nature of Christ. John asserts that a proper relationship with the Father is impossible without acknowledging the Son, highlighting the inseparable nature of the Father-Son relationship in Christian theology. This is similar to Jesus’ words in John 14:6, where he says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This doctrine of Christ is central to the Christian faith. As Karen H. Jobes observes in 1, 2, and 3 John, the heresy that John is confronting is a denial of the full divinity and humanity of Christ, which is the foundation of Christian salvation (Jobes, 2014, p. 147). The acknowledgment of Christ as both fully God and fully man is essential to the gospel message.
1 John 2:24–25: “Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.”
John encourages the believers to hold fast to the original teachings they received, the gospel message that was proclaimed to them at the outset of their Christian journey. By doing so, they will remain in fellowship with both the Son and the Father, and they will receive the promised eternal life. This emphasizes the importance of doctrinal stability and the need for believers to stay grounded in the truth.
John’s focus on remaining in the teachings of Christ echoes the themes in the Gospel of John, particularly in John 8:31–32, where Jesus tells the people who had believed in hum, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” The perseverance in truth is not only a safeguard against false teaching but also the key to the believer’s salvation.
1 John 2:26–27: “I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you; but as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
John reassures the believers that the Holy Spirit, the anointing they have received, is sufficient to guide them in truth. They do not need to rely on false teachers who seek to deceive them because the Spirit within them teaches them all they need to know. The presence of the Holy Spirit is a safeguard against deception, ensuring that believers are able to recognize and reject false teachings. The word “abide” is key here, as it encourages Christians to remain in communion with the Holy Spirit, allowing the truth to dwell in them.
This final assurance parallels the promise of the Holy Spirit’s guidance in John 16:13, where Jesus says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” The believer’s relationship with the Holy Spirit is foundational for discerning truth from error, and it is this abiding relationship that protects them from deception.
Warning Against Antichrists (1 John 2:18–27): Meaning for Today
John’s warning against antichrists serves as a timeless reminder for Christians today to be vigilant and discerning in their faith. The presence of false teachings continues to be a challenge for the church, as individuals and movements arise that seek to distort the true message of the gospel. This passage calls believers to remain rooted in the gospel they have received, to abide in the truth of Christ, and to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
In a world where many voices claim to offer truth, it is easy to be misled. However, John assures believers that they have been given everything they need to recognize and resist deception. The Holy Spirit is not only a teacher but also a protector, ensuring that those who remain in Christ are not led astray.
