Bullet Point Bible

Christ Our Advocate and Atonement

John addresses his readers affectionately as "My little children," indicating pastoral care.
The primary goal of John's writing is ethical: to prevent believers from sinning (1 John 2:1).
Acknowledging the reality of sin, John immediately offers the solution: Jesus Christ as our advocate (Greek: *parakletos* - helper, intercessor, counselor) with the Father.
Jesus' qualification as advocate is his perfect righteousness ("the Righteous One").
Jesus is also the "atoning sacrifice" (Greek: *hilasmos* - propitiation, the means by which God's wrath is appeased and sin is covered).
This sacrifice is effective not just for the immediate readers ("our sins") but potentially for "the whole world," indicating the universal scope and sufficiency of Christ's atonement.
This section balances the call to holiness (don't sin) with the provision for failure (advocacy and atonement).
The concept of *parakletos* is also used for the Holy Spirit in John's Gospel (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).

Knowing God Through Obedience

³ Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.⁴ The one who says "I have come to know God" and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.⁵ But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.⁶ The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

John establishes a key test for genuine knowledge of God: obedience to His commandments.
"Knowing God" here implies a deep, relational, experiential knowledge, not just intellectual assent.
Strong language ("liar") is used to condemn the claim of knowing God without corresponding obedience, highlighting the inseparable link between faith and practice.
Obedience to God's "word" (a broader term encompassing His revealed will) is where the "love of God" reaches its intended maturity or goal ("perfected"). This could mean God's love for us finding its response, or our love for God being fully expressed.
"Being in him" (v. 5) and "residing in God" (v. 6) are synonymous with knowing God and having fellowship with Him.
The ultimate standard for the believer's conduct ("walk") is the life of Jesus himself. Imitating Christ is the practical outworking of residing in God.
This section counters any Gnostic or antinomian tendency that separates spiritual knowledge from ethical behavior.

The Commandment of Love

⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.⁸ On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.⁹ The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.¹⁰ The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.¹¹ But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

John clarifies the nature of the commandment he emphasizes, likely the command to love one another (cf. John 13:34-35).
It is "old" because it was part of the original message the believers received ("from the beginning" of their Christian experience, rooted in OT teaching - Lev 19:18).
It is also "new" because it finds its ultimate expression and meaning in Christ ("true in him") and is empowered by the Spirit within believers ("in you").
The newness is linked to the arrival of the Messianic age: "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining" (referring to Christ and his kingdom).
John applies the light/darkness metaphor introduced in chapter 1 to the commandment of love. Claiming to be "in the light" while hating a fellow believer is a contradiction.
Love for fellow Christians is presented as evidence of residing in the light (1 John 2:10).
Hatred leads to spiritual blindness and disorientation ("walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going").
"Fellow Christian" (translating Greek *adelphos* - brother) emphasizes the family relationship within the church.
Lack of love can be a "cause for stumbling" (*skandalon*), either causing the unloving person to sin or causing others to stumble.

Reassurance for Believers

¹² I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.¹⁴ I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

John shifts tone to offer reassurance, addressing believers at different stages of spiritual maturity.
"Little children" (v. 12, *teknia*) likely refers to all believers, emphasizing their relationship to God and John's pastoral affection. Their foundational status is forgiveness "because of his name" (Christ's authority and work).
"Fathers" represent mature believers, characterized by a deep, established knowledge of God ("him who has been from the beginning" - likely referring to the eternal Christ).
"Young people" (or young men) represent those actively engaged in spiritual warfare, characterized by strength, the indwelling Word, and victory over Satan ("the evil one").
John repeats the address to each group (v. 14), slightly varying the descriptions, possibly for emphasis or rhetorical effect (using *paidia* for "children" in v. 14, perhaps emphasizing their status as learners).
The repetition underscores the core truths relevant to each group: forgiveness, knowing God, and spiritual strength/victory.
This section affirms the believers' standing in Christ before issuing the strong warning that follows.

Do Not Love the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,¹⁶ because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.¹⁷ And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.

John issues a direct command: "Do not love the world." "World" (Greek: *kosmos*) here refers to the system of values and priorities opposed to God.
Love for the world and love for the Father are presented as mutually exclusive.
John categorizes the "things in the world" into three areas:
These worldly desires originate from the fallen world system, not from God the Father.
A key motivation for rejecting worldliness is its temporary nature: "the world is passing away."
In contrast, obedience to God's will leads to eternal permanence: "remains forever." This echoes the theme of abiding.
This passage provides a framework for understanding worldliness beyond just specific actions, focusing on underlying desires and attitudes.

Warning Against Antichrists and Denial

¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.¹⁹ They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.²⁰ Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.²¹ I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth.²² Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.²³ Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.

John introduces an eschatological perspective: "it is the last hour," referring to the period between Christ's first and second comings.
The presence of "many antichrists" (those opposing Christ and his teaching) is evidence that this final era is underway. This counters the idea of a single, future Antichrist figure exclusively.
These "antichrists" were secessionists who emerged from within the community ("They went out from us"). Their departure proved they were never truly part of the faithful ("did not really belong to us").
John contrasts the false teachers with the true believers who possess an "anointing from the Holy One" (likely the Holy Spirit) which grants them knowledge of the truth (v. 20). Some manuscripts read "you know all things" necessary for salvation and discernment.
John affirms his readers' grasp of the truth (v. 21).
The core error of the antichrists is christological: denying that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the anointed Son of God). This likely involved denying the incarnation or the union of divinity and humanity in Jesus.
This denial is identified as the fundamental lie and the defining characteristic of "the antichrist" spirit.
Denying the Son is tantamount to denying the Father, as their relationship is inseparable. Conversely, confessing the Son ensures a relationship with the Father.

Abide in the Truth and the Anointing

²⁴ As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.²⁵ Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.²⁶ These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.²⁷ Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.

The antidote to deception is to hold fast to the original apostolic teaching ("what you have heard from the beginning").
Abiding in the truth ensures abiding in relationship with the Son and the Father.
John reminds them of God's ultimate promise connected to this relationship: "eternal life." The "he" likely refers to God the Father or Jesus.
John explicitly states his purpose: to warn against the deceivers (v. 26).
He reiterates the resource believers possess: the "anointing" (the Holy Spirit) which resides within them.
This inner anointing provides spiritual illumination and discernment ("teaches you about all things" pertaining to essential truth), reducing dependency on human teachers, especially false ones. This doesn't negate the role of faithful teachers but emphasizes the Spirit's primary role.
The Spirit's teaching is inherently true ("is not a lie").
Believers are urged to live in accordance with the Spirit's teaching ("Just as it has taught you, you reside in him").

Abide in Christ for His Return

²⁸ And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

John concludes the chapter with another exhortation to "remain [abide] in him" (Christ).
The motivation shifts to the future: Christ's second coming ("when he appears," "when he comes back").
Abiding in Christ results in "confidence" (boldness) rather than shame at his return.
John connects abiding with ethical living, linking back to the theme of righteousness.
Knowing Christ's inherent righteousness ("he is righteous") leads to the understanding that genuine believers ("everyone who practices righteousness") share His nature because they have been "fathered by him" (born of God).
Practicing righteousness is presented as evidence of being born of God, setting the stage for the discussion in chapter 3.
This final section ties together abiding, eschatological hope, and righteous living as marks of true faith.

The Bullet Point Bible

1 John 2