1 John 2

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

The writer tells his "little children" that if anyone sins, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," the propitiation "for the sins of the whole world," and that we know we know him "if we keep his commandments." He warns, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world," for "the world passeth away... but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." "Many antichrists" have gone out from them, denying "that Jesus is the Christ," so the readers are to let what they heard from the beginning abide in them and "abide in him." 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:2 1 John 2:3 1 John 2:15 1 John 2:17 1 John 2:18 1 John 2:19 1 John 2:22 1 John 2:24 1 John 2:28

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

The writer addresses "little children," "fathers" and "young men," and warns of antichrists who "went out from us." 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:12 1 John 2:13 1 John 2:18 1 John 2:19 1 John overview

Where

The letter does not name its writer or its place. Early tradition places John at Ephesus in his later years and links the letter with the churches of the province of Asia. 1 John overview

When

"It is the last time," the writer says. Traditionally about AD 85-95, late in the apostle John's life. Many scholars date it about AD 90-110 and credit it to a leader in the circle linked with John's Gospel; others hold that John wrote it. 1 John 2:18 1 John overview

How it fits

Chapter 1 called readers to confess their sins; this chapter tells of the advocate who answers for sin. Chapter 3 begins, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 1:9 1 John 2:1 1 John 3:1

Key verses

Verse 1
"If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 Timothy 2:5 speaks of "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:2 1 Timothy 2:5
Verse 15
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world"; that is, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." 1 John 2:15 1 John 2:16
Verse 22
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22 1 John 2:23

Takeaway

Christ is our advocate when we sin; show that you know him by keeping his commands, loving your brother, refusing the world's pull, and holding to the truth about Jesus. 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:3 1 John 2:10 1 John 2:15 1 John 2:24

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-30.

Our advocate; keeping his commandments

¹My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ³And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. ⁶He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Love and the light

⁷Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. ⁸Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Love not the world

¹²I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. ¹³I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. ¹⁴I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. ¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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 pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Antichrists; abide in him

¹⁸Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. ²⁰But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ²¹I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. ²²Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. ²³Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. ²⁴Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. ²⁵And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. ²⁶These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ²⁷But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. ²⁸And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. ²⁹If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.