1 John 2

1 John · Chapter 2

1 John 2:7

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.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.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.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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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.Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

1 John 2:7-11Love and the light

About 1 John 2The 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 2:11 John 2:21 John 2:31 John 2:151 John 2:171 John 2:181 John 2:191 John 2:221 John 2:241 John 2:28

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
Beloved,Ἀγαπητοί,AgapētoiG0027
beloved

ἀγαπητός (agapētos) ἀγαπητός, -ή, -όν (ἀγαπάω), [in LXX chiefly for יָתִיד, יָדִיד ;] beloved (see M, Pr., 221); (a) by God: of Christ, Mat.3:17; of men, Rom.1:7; (b) by Christians, of one another: 1Co.4:14; frequently as form of address, ib. 10:14; opposite to ἐχθρός, Rom.11:28 (see AR, Eph., 229; Cremer, 17; MM, VGT, see word). (AS)

notοὐκoukG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

a commandmentἐντολὴνentolēnG1785
commandment

ἐντολή (entolē) ἐντολή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἐντέλλω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for מִצְוָה; in pl. frequently in Pss for פִּקּוּד ;] 1. generally, a charge, injunction, order, command: Luk.15:29, Jhn.10:18 11:57 12:49-50 14:31, Act.17:15, Col.4:10; ἐ. σαρκίνη, Heb.7:16, 18 2. Esp. of religious precepts and commandments; …

newκαινὴνkainēnG2537
new

καινός (kainos) καινός, -ή, -όν [in LXX (Eze.11:19, al.) for חָדָשׁ, exc. Isa.65:15 (אַחֵר) ;] of that which is unused or unaccustomed, new in respect to form or quality, fresh, unused, novel: opposite to παλαιός, ἀρχαῖος, Mat.9:17 13:52, Mrk.2:21-22 Luk.5:36, 38, 2Co.5:17, Eph.4:24; πλήρωμα, Mrk.2:21; μνημεῖον, Mat.27:60, Jhn.19:41; διαθήκη (T, WH, R, txt., omit), Luk.22:20, 1Co.11:25, 2Co.3:6, Heb.8:8" (LXX), Heb.8:13 9:15; οὐρανοί, γῆ, 2Pe.3:13, Rev.21:1" (LXX) Ἰερουσαλήμ, Rev.3:12 21:2; ἄνθρωπος, Eph.2:15 (cf. Eze.18:31); πάντα, Rev.21:5; γέννημα τ. ἀμπέλου, Mat.26:29, Mrk.14:25; διδαχή, Mrk.1:27, Act.1 …

I am writingγράφωgraphōG1125
to write

γράφω (graphō) γράφω, [in LXX chiefly for כּתב ]; 1. to scrape, graze (Hom.), and later (Hdt.) to sketch, draw. 2. to write; (a) of forming or tracing letters on writing material: Jhn.8:[6], Gal.6:11, 2Th.3:17; (b) to express in writing, commit to writing, record: Luk.1:63, Jhn.19:21, 22 Rev.1:11, 19 al.; of scripture as a standing authority (Deiss., BS, 112ff.), γέγραπται, it stands written (Luther), Mat.4:4, Mrk.7:6, Luk.4:8, Rom.1:17, 1Co.1:31, al.; id. before ἐν, Mrk.1:2, Act.1:20, al.; with accusative, to write of: Jhn.1:46, Rom.10:5; before περί, Mat.26:24, Mrk.14:21, Jhn.5:46; al.; with dative (WM …

to youὑμῖνhuminG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

a commandmentἐντολὴνentolēnG1785
commandment

ἐντολή (entolē) ἐντολή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἐντέλλω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for מִצְוָה; in pl. frequently in Pss for פִּקּוּד ;] 1. generally, a charge, injunction, order, command: Luk.15:29, Jhn.10:18 11:57 12:49-50 14:31, Act.17:15, Col.4:10; ἐ. σαρκίνη, Heb.7:16, 18 2. Esp. of religious precepts and commandments; …

oldπαλαιὰνpalaianG3820
old

παλαιός (palaios) παλαιός, -ά, -όν (πάλαι), [in LXX: Lev.25:22 26:10, Sng.7:13 (14) (יָשֵׁן), יָשֵׁן), Jos.9:4-5, Jer.38:11 (בָּלֶה), etc. ;] old, ancient; opposite to νέος, καινός: οἶνος, Luk.5:3; διαθήκη, 2Co.3:14; ἐντολή, 1Jn.2:7; ζύμη, 1Co.5:7-8; ὁ π. ἄςθρωπος (for similar phrases, see Westc., Eph., 68), Rom.6:6, Eph.4:22, Col.3:9; neut. pl., καινὰ καὶ π., Mat.13:52; of things not merely old, but worn by use (as Jo, l.with, LXX), Mat.9:16-17, Mrk.2:21-22, Luk.5:36-37.† SYN.: see: ἀρχαῖος (AS)

whichἣνhēnG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

you have hadεἴχετεeicheteG2192
to have/be

ἔχω (echō) ἔχω, [in LXX for אָצֵל (ἐχόμενος), יֵשׁ,בַּעַל, etc., 59 words in all ;] (on the Aktionsart of the various tenses, see M, Pr., 110, 145, 150, 183), to have, as in cl., in various senses and constructions. I. Trans.; 1. 1. to have, hold, hold fast, etc.; (a) to hold, as, in the hand: Rev.5:8 14:6, al.; ἐν τ. χειρί, Rev.1:16 10:2, al.; (b) of arms and clothing, = φέρω, φορέω, to bear, wear: Mat.3:4 22:12, al.; so frequently present ptcp. (LS, see word, A, I, 6; Bl., 74, 2), Mrk.11:13, Jhn.18:10, Rev.9:17, al.; (with) of a woman, ἐν γαστρὶ ἔ, to be with child: Mrk.13:17, Rom.9:10; …

fromἀπ᾽ap᾽G0575
away from

ἀπό (apo) ἀπό (on the frequently neglect of elision bef. vowels, see Tdf., Pr., 94, WH, App., 146), prep. with genitive (WM, 462ff.; on its relation to ἐκ, παρά, ὑπό, ib. 456f.), [in LXX for לְ ,בְּ ,מִן ;] from (i.e. from the exterior). 1. Of separation and cessation; (1) of motion from a place: Mat.5:29, 30 7:23, Luk.5:2 22:41, al.; (2) in partitive sense (M, Pr., 72, 102, 245; MM, see word; Bl., §40, 2), Mat.9:16 27:21, Jhn.21:10, Act.5:2, al.; also after verbs of eating, etc.; …

[the] beginning;ἀρχῆς·archēsG0746
beginning

ἀρχή (archē) ἀρχή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX for קֶדֶם, רֹאשׁ, רֹאשׁ, etc. ;] 1. beginning, origin; (a) absol., of the beginning of all things: of God as the Eternal, the First Cause, Rev.21:6 (cf. 18); similarly, of Christ, Rev.22:13; of Christ as the uncreated principle, the active cause of creation, Rev.3:14; in his relation to the Church, Col.1:18; ἐν ἀ., Jhn.1:1-2; ἀπ᾽ ἀ. (and ἀπ᾽ ἀ. κτισεως), Mat.19:4, 8 24:21, Mrk.10:6 13:19, Jhn.8:44, 2Th.2:13, 2Pe.3:4, 1Jn.1:1 Jn 2:13-14 Jn 2:24; κατ ἀρχἀς, Heb.1:10; …

commandmentἐντολὴentolēG1785
commandment

ἐντολή (entolē) ἐντολή, -ῆς, ἡ (ἐντέλλω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for מִצְוָה; in pl. frequently in Pss for פִּקּוּד ;] 1. generally, a charge, injunction, order, command: Luk.15:29, Jhn.10:18 11:57 12:49-50 14:31, Act.17:15, Col.4:10; ἐ. σαρκίνη, Heb.7:16, 18 2. Esp. of religious precepts and commandments; …

oldπαλαιάpalaiaG3820
old

παλαιός (palaios) παλαιός, -ά, -όν (πάλαι), [in LXX: Lev.25:22 26:10, Sng.7:13 (14) (יָשֵׁן), יָשֵׁן), Jos.9:4-5, Jer.38:11 (בָּלֶה), etc. ;] old, ancient; opposite to νέος, καινός: οἶνος, Luk.5:3; διαθήκη, 2Co.3:14; ἐντολή, 1Jn.2:7; ζύμη, 1Co.5:7-8; ὁ π. ἄςθρωπος (for similar phrases, see Westc., Eph., 68), Rom.6:6, Eph.4:22, Col.3:9; neut. pl., καινὰ καὶ π., Mat.13:52; of things not merely old, but worn by use (as Jo, l.with, LXX), Mat.9:16-17, Mrk.2:21-22, Luk.5:36-37.† SYN.: see: ἀρχαῖος (AS)

isἐστινestinG1510
you are

εἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

wordλόγοςlogosG3056
word

λόγος (logos) λόγος, -ου, ὁ (λέγω) [in LXX chiefly for דָּבָר, also for מִלָּה ,אֵמֶר, etc. ;] I. Of that by which the inward thought is expressed, Lat. oratio, sermo, vox, verbum. 1. a word, not in the grammatical sense of a mere name (ἔπος, ὄνομα, ῥῆμα), but a word as embodying a conception or idea: Mat.8:8, Luk.7:7, 1Co.14:9, 19 Heb.12:19, al. …

thatὃνhonG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

you have heardἠκούσατεēkousateG0191
to hear

ἀκούω (akouō) ἀκούω, [in LXX chiefly for שׁמע ] to hear, listen, attend, perceive by hearing, comprehend by hearing. 1. Intrans.: Mrk.4:3 7:37, Jas.2:5, Rev.2:7, al.; τ. ὠσίν, Mat.13:15 (LXX); with cogn. dative, ακοῇ ἀ. (see: ἀκοή), Mat.13:14, Act.28:26" (LXX) ; ὁ ἔχων ὦτα (οὖς) ἀκούειν, ἀκουσάτω, Mat.11:15, Mrk.4:23, Rev.2:7, al. …

fromἀπ᾽ap᾽G0575
away from

ἀπό (apo) ἀπό (on the frequently neglect of elision bef. vowels, see Tdf., Pr., 94, WH, App., 146), prep. with genitive (WM, 462ff.; on its relation to ἐκ, παρά, ὑπό, ib. 456f.), [in LXX for לְ ,בְּ ,מִן ;] from (i.e. from the exterior). 1. Of separation and cessation; (1) of motion from a place: Mat.5:29, 30 7:23, Luk.5:2 22:41, al.; (2) in partitive sense (M, Pr., 72, 102, 245; MM, see word; Bl., §40, 2), Mat.9:16 27:21, Jhn.21:10, Act.5:2, al.; also after verbs of eating, etc.; …

beginning.ἀρχῆς.archēsG0746
beginning

ἀρχή (archē) ἀρχή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX for קֶדֶם, רֹאשׁ, רֹאשׁ, etc. ;] 1. beginning, origin; (a) absol., of the beginning of all things: of God as the Eternal, the First Cause, Rev.21:6 (cf. 18); similarly, of Christ, Rev.22:13; of Christ as the uncreated principle, the active cause of creation, Rev.3:14; in his relation to the Church, Col.1:18; ἐν ἀ., Jhn.1:1-2; ἀπ᾽ ἀ. (and ἀπ᾽ ἀ. κτισεως), Mat.19:4, 8 24:21, Mrk.10:6 13:19, Jhn.8:44, 2Th.2:13, 2Pe.3:4, 1Jn.1:1 Jn 2:13-14 Jn 2:24; κατ ἀρχἀς, Heb.1:10; …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.