1 john 2

Read 1 John 2 at Bible Gateway.

1 Joh 2:1-29 chiastic structure

1a) 1 Joh 2:1-2, That you may not sin/ our Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous/ the propitiation for our sins;

1b.1) 1 Joh 2:3-6, Knowing Christ;

1a) 1 Joh 2:3a, Now by this we know that we know Him;
1b) 1 Joh 2:3b, If we keep His commandments;
central axis) 1 Joh 2:4, He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
2b) 1 Joh 2:5a, But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him;
2a) 1 Joh 2:5b-6, By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked;

1b.2) 1 Joh 2:7-8, The old commandment: the word which you have heard from the beginning;

1c) 1 Joh 2:9-11, Love your brother;

central axis) 1 Joh 2:12-14, Three-part theme repeated twice for emphasis;

1.1) 1 Joh 2:12, I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake;
1.2) 1 Joh 2:13a, I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning;
1.3) 1 Joh 2:13b, I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one;
2.1) 1 Joh 2:13c, I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father;
2.2) 1 Joh 2:14a, I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning;
2.3) 1 Joh 2:14b, I have written to you, young men, because you are strong + the word of God abides in you + you have overcome the wicked one;

2c) 1 Joh 2:15-17, Do not love the world;

2b.1) 1 John 2:18-23, Identifying Antichrist: he who denies the Father and the Son;

2b.2) 1 Joh 2:24-28, That which you have heard from the beginning;

2a) 1 Joh 2:29, If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” 1 Joh 2:26

Throughout the chapter, John makes comparisons of those who say one thing but do another, so his audience will know what is true and what is a lie; so that those who are lying will not be able to deceive the children of God.

The one who knows Christ, will keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, is lying.

The one who is of the light, will love his brother. He who hates his brother is of the darkness.

He who loves the Father, will not love the world. They are at polar opposites.

He who acknowledges the Son, will have the Father also; but he who denies Yeshua as Messiah, is antichrist (John’s words, not mine).

He who is born of Him practices righteousness, as He is righteousness. Do not be deceived!