Week 25: \u00a0Mar 25, 2012<\/p>\n
Having defined who cannot be trusted, i.e. those who deny the person and work of Jesus, John now contrast them with those who confess.<\/p>\n
Study<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Those who confess have the son and the father.<\/p>\n
23b \u2013 The person who acknowledges the Son also has the Father. <\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is said in contrast with the previous part of the verse. \u00a0Where they were \u201cThe Denying\u201d (\u1f00\u03c1\u03bd\u03bf\u03cd\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2)\u00a0 Here is he refers to those who acknowledge or \u201cthe confessing\u201d\u00a0 (\u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u1ff6\u03bd). The true Christians are those who acknowledge the person, nature and work of the Son.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 24 \u2013 What you have heard from the beginning must abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you will also abide in the Son and in the Father. <\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John now switches to a focus on his reader. \u00a0This is shown by the emphasis on the word \u201cyou\u201d by fronting (moving it to the front of the sentence) and repetition. Literally this verse starts with \u201cYou what [you] have heard<\/strong><\/em>,\u201d (\u1f51\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f41 \u1f20\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5) .\u00a0 The word you \u00a0(\u1f51\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2) is not strictly needed because it is already indicated by the ending (-\u03c4\u03b5) of \u00a0\u201chave heard\u201d (\u1f20\u03ba\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5).\u00a0 \u00a0With the \u201cyou\u201d at the end of the sentence that makes 3 occurances \u2013 Two explicit and 1 as part of \u00a0the \u201cyou have heard\u201d This repetition is used to empathizes that John dealing with abstract concepts, but is now talking directly to is readers.<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since the focus in on them, the \u201cWhat you have heard from the beginning<\/strong><\/em>\u201d is almost certainly the teachings they have heard since becoming a Christian and which was stressed at the opening of the letters,\u00a0 i.e., the New Testament.\u00a0 This teaching must define our Christian walk, and this is what we must abide in. It is not coincidental that a large part of the New Testament is setting forth and defending doctrine.\u00a0 Later writers traced the origins of Gnosticism back to Simon Magnus in Acts 8:9-24 which records events that occurred in mid 30s.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 abides in you\u2026 abide in the Son and in the Father.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John emphasizes the importance of abiding in this teaching by equating this with being in the Son and Father.\u00a0 Again the purpose is not just to follow the rules, but to be in fellowship with God.\u00a0 Note the reversal of the normal order of father and son.\u00a0 The Son is being emphasized.\u00a0 \u00a0This also is to identify the \u201che\u201d in the next verse.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You have the promise\u00a0 of eternal life<\/p>\n 25 \u2013 The message that the Son [1] himself declared to us is eternal life. <\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Many translations have promise for the word message (\u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u03b5\u03bb\u03af\u03b1). \u00a0\u00a0John only uses this word here. \u00a0Elsewhere it is used to refer to OT prophecies that have already been fulfilled, or are certain to be fulfilled.\u00a0 So there is a sense that this is more than just a promise \u2013 it is a done deal. \u00a0The message is eternal live. \u00a0There is a sequence over the last 3 verses:<\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Confession \u2013 Having \u2013 Remaining \u2013 Eternal Life<\/p>\n 26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2013 I have written[2] to you about those who are trying to deceive you.<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This marks the end of an inclusio that started in verse 21.\u00a0 An inclusion is a literary device used to mark off sections, sort of like bookends. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0While verse 21 focused on his readers and how they knew the truth, this part contrasts the truth that they know with the falsehoods of those spreading false teachings.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 27* \u2013 The anointing you received from Him[3] abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.[4] Instead, because His[5] anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not a lie, abide in him, as he taught you to do.[6]<\/strong><\/p>\n –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Just as the previous verse was an inclusio with verse 21, this verse is also an inclusio with verse 20.\u00a0\u00a0 Thus we have:<\/p>\n 20\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 21\u00a0\u00a0 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 26 \u00a0\u00a0I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 27 \u00a0 The anointing you received from Him abides in you<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Thus as John marks of the ending of this section he is again telling his readers that his criticisms of his opponents \u00a0does not apply to them.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and you do not need anyone to teach you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n At first blush there is a bit of a paradox here: John is teaching them that they need no teachers. However the context helps us understand this.\u00a0\u00a0 The context is of false teachers spreading what appears to be a proto-Gnosticism.\u00a0\u00a0 Gnosticism was based on secret teachings revealed by a teacher and John is simply pointing out that he is teaching nothing new (or secret). This is what the Holy Spirit teaches everyone. \u00a0So there is really no paradox, John is simply saying that there is no reason to look to false teachers.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Instead\u2026 abide in him<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Instead of seeking after false teacher \u00a0stay in the truth.\u00a0 John now backs this up with three reasons:<\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His anointing teaches you about everything <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0The anointing (Holy Spirit + word of God) will teach us.\u00a0 Not literally everything, but everything we need to walk in the truth.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and is true and not a lie<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n What the Holy Spirit teaches is the truth, the deceiver teaches lies.<\/p>\n c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 as he taught you to do.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This is what Jesus wants.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If you have question or comments about the class, feel free to send me an email at\u00a0elgin@hushbeck.com<\/a>\u00a0and be sure to put \u201cEpistles of John\u201d in the header.<\/p>\n See here for references and more background on the class<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You remain in him (2:24-25)<\/h5>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ii.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Summary (2:26-27)<\/h5>\n