1 John 2:7-11
Why was this Epistle Written to the Church?
That we would know God & His will (1 John 2:12-14, 2:21, 2:25, 5:13), practice righteousness a.k.a. regenerative behavior (1 John 2:1), experience fellowship (1 John 1:3) and live lives of joy (1 John 1:4)!
Christ : The Chief Cornerstone
He is the eternal, incarnate, Word-of Life (1 John 1:1-2); our faithful, just, forgiver of sins (1 John 1:9); our righteous Advocate (1 John 2:1), and propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2)! He is the source of knowledge, the imputer of righteousness, the foundation for our fellowship, and the provider of joy!
Holiness, Fellowship and Forgiveness
Christians have potential through the power of the Holy Spirit to choose to not sin (1 Corinthians 10:13); however, we still choose on occasion to walk in darkness (1 John 1:8,10). Though Christians are justified and in a permanent state of positional forgiveness (Romans 5:1), our sins fracture our relationship with God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and with other Christians, such that forgiveness is needed for reconciliation and restoration of fellowship (1 John 1:9, Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15; 18:21-22).
1 John 2:3-6 describes the authentic Christian life, in which:
o We know Him;
o The truth is in us;
o The love of God is perfected in us;
o We are in Him; and
o We walk as Jesus walked.
The Torah’s two greatest commands, to love God and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40 / Deuteronomy 6:1-5 / Leviticus 19:18), involve more than mere intellectual assent, but application, as Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:21-23 makes clear.
In this regard, the Christian life should be described or characterized by walking in God’s light, through joyful, humble obedience to Jesus as both Savior and King, in which we love God and others in accord with His will through the power of His Spirit within us. When Christians fail to obey His commands, we are effectively walking in darkness (albeit temporarily), damaging our fellowship with God and with other Christians, as well as tarnishing our testimony and effectiveness to be a loving witness for Jesus. On the other hand, someone who characteristically has no desire, or a limited desire, to trust in Jesus as Lord and do His will, should thoroughly examine himself to determine as to whether or not he’s truly a disciple of Jesus (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Soteriology
Soteriology means the “study of salvation.” In this regard, is a person saved (i.e., does a person become a Christian) when he/she places his/her faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, or merely as Savior? I’m personally convinced that Faith involves recognition of Jesus as both Savior and Lord, as well as an intention at some level to submit to Him as such. That said, it’s recognized that this is not the only view in the universal body of Christ, including within the Hope Christian Church family and the Hope Christian Church elder team. In this regard, while discussions of different theological positions can be beneficial, different perspectives should not necessarily be a reason to disrupt the unity of the body of Christ.
Unity
Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His closest disciples, and all of His other disciples, including those living now (John 17:20-21):
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Jesus prayed for the authentic unity of Christians. The apostle Paul likewise wrote (Philippians 2:1-4):
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
At Hope Christian Church, we’re striving to “glorify God by developing a (united) community of committed disciples of Jesus Christ which has an impact for Christ locally and around the world.” As part of that effort, we desire to create a “culture” in which healthy, respectful discussions of the meaning of Scripture and its application abound, in which God is glorified, and Jesus is exalted as King. That is risky business! Why? For though all Christians are one in Christ and have the same Holy Spirit within who teaches and illuminates the meaning of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:12-16), our understanding is limited and periodically flawed (1 Corinthians 13:12), such that different views exist. And when Christians discuss different views, we periodically become offensive in the manner in which we communicate. Clearly, while the Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), it’s not acceptable for us to be offensive, antagonistic, or divisive in the manner in which we communicate the Word of God (1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 1 Peter 3:15-16). Rather, we (especially we teachers) need to share the truth in love for the edification of one another (Ephesians 4:11-16). With this in mind, let us echo and work towards the unity of the saints that our Lord prayed for the night before His death; let us strive to love one another!
1 John 2:7-11
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Brethren (1 John 2:7a)
Different Bible versions begin 1 John 2:7 differently:
NKJV: Brethren
NIV: Dear friends
NLT: Dear friends
ESV: Beloved
NASB: Beloved
ASV: Beloved
Why? The NKJV is a translation of the historical Textus Receptus (or Received Text), in which the Greek word behind “Brethren” is ἀδελφός (adelphos), which means a literal or figurative brother. The NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB and ASV are translations of much more recently discovered manuscripts known collectively as the Alexandrian Text, in which the Greek word behind “Dear Friends” or “Beloved” is ἀγαπητός (agapaytos), which means beloved and is typically used only of God and the saints.
This is not an occasion to dispute! For regardless of the underlying Greek word and its translation, the intent of this text is the same. John is primarily writing these instructions to his beloved siblings in Christ.
The Commandment (1 John 2:7-10)
The commandment in these verses is singular. It’s not likely the first and second greatest commandments alluded to in 1 John 2:3-6. So then, what is it?
“Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning (1 John 2:7).”
o It’s old;
o It’s the Word; and
o They’ve had it and heard it from the beginning.
o The beginning of what? Likely of Jesus’ ministry or of their walk with Jesus.
“Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining (1 John 2:8).”
o It’s new — from the word καινός (kahee-nos’), meaning new in quality, or fresh in development, or “not found exactly like this before” [1]; and
o It’s true.
o How is this possible? It’s in Jesus AND in us! Following this commandment is only possible because of and through Jesus and the power of His Spirit within us.
As Jesus has said (John 8:12):
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Jesus brought His light into the world and initiated the current dispensation, in which the light of truth and righteousness continues to reveal, expose and overcome the darkness of sin and moral obscurity (John 1:4-5).
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him (1 John 2:9-10).”
So then, what’s the old commandment? What’s the new commandment? Most likely to love one another (1 John 2:10) as Jesus loved us (John 13:34, 15:12):
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
The word used for love in 1 John 2:10 comes from αγαπάω (ag-ap-ah’-o) and means “to love, embracing God’s will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power; or actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction) [1].”
So then, how did God love us? The Father gave Jesus for us as a propitiation (1 John 2:2; John 3:16)! Christ chose to die for us (Romans 5:8)!
How is it possible for Christians to authentically love? Because He loved us first and gave us His love (1 John 4:19, Romans 5:1-5).
How should Christians therefore love? We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16)! We should love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18)!
What’s the characteristic condition of the one who loves his brother? He’s / she’s abiding in the light!
The Antithesis (1 John 2:9,11)
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now … he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
The word used for hate in these verses comes from μισέω (mis-eh’-o), which means either “to detest, or to love or esteem less (on a comparative basis) [1].” To detest is easy to grasp. Jesus, however, periodically used this word in the alternative sense. For example, he once said (Luke 14:26):
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”
Did Jesus literally mean that we’re to detest our biological family? I don’t think so! I think that He was emphasizing that He Himself needs to be esteemed much more than anyone and everyone else. Similarly, Christians shouldn’t esteem our brethren lower than others, including ourselves. Rather (Philippians 2:3-4):
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
That said, what’s the consequence or condition of the one who hates his brother? He’s / she’s in darkness (moral obscurity)! He’s / she’s blinded – from τυφλόω (toof-lo’-o) meaning “to have clouded vision” [1].
Two Common Interpretations
1. John began this passage by addressing his beloved brethren, and is thus identifying circumstances in which Christians sin against one another by failing to sacrificially love one another, or failing to esteem one another, thereby disrupting fellowship, and causing disunity in the body. Said Christians are no longer abiding in the light and are effectively (albeit temporarily) walking in darkness (for a Christian cannot lose his salvation, see Eternal Security), with an obscured or clouded vision of reality, until they confess their sin and reconcile with the brethren whom they offended. From this perspective, the blindness is uncharacteristic of the person’s new nature in Christ, and thus temporary, not permanent, as it is removed upon confession of sin, repentance, reconciliation, and restoration of fellowship.
2. John is addressing his beloved brethren, but is using this example to help them to distinguish between authentic Christians, who sacrificially love one another, and nominal Christians, who are mingled like tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30) and don’t characteristically sacrificially love those in the body of Christ. From this perspective, the person who is walking in darkness is a non-Christian, and perhaps a nominal Christian, but not an authentic Christian.
Application (2 John 5)
Independent of the interpretation, the application for the Christian is the same:
“And now I plead with you … that we love one another!”
Reference
[1] http://interlinearbible.org/1_john/2.htm
