Book of 1 John Chapter 2 Vs. 27

Warning Concerning Antichrists

1 John 2:27 "But 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."

Eph. 4:11-16 indicates that the Spirit often uses human instruments to fulfill His role of enabling believers to distinguish between truth and error. In any case it is the Word of God that furnishes the believer with knowledge, and which the Spirit then makes relevant and applicable in the believer’s life. See Rom. 10:17.

But the anointing... Greek: chrisma (see, 1Jhn. 2:20). anything smeared on; a scented unguent or ointment of thicker consistency than muron, sweet oil or perfume. Translated unction (1Jhn. 2:20) and anointing (1Jhn. 2:27). Compare the verb chrio (Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9). The ointment here refers to the Holy Spirit from whom flows all the gifts and graces of the church. He is typified in Exo. 29:7; 30:23-25 (cp. Psm. 45:7). John is not denying the importance of gifted teachers in the church (1Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11) but indicates that neither those teachers nor those believers are dependent on human wisdom or the opinions of men for the truth.

Holy Spirit guards and guides the true believer into the truth, verses 20-21. If God is true (2Cor. 15:3; Jer. 10:10; John 17:3; 1Thes. 1:9) and Christ is the truth (John 14:6), so is the Holy Spirit 5:6; John 15:26; 16:13).

As for you (ὑμεῖς)

Emphatic, as in 1Jhn. 2:24. This is the rendering of the Rev. The force of the emphatic you at the beginning of the sentence is utterly lost in the A.V., which takes the pronoun simply as nominative to ye have heard. You is emphatic by way of contrast with the false teachers (1Jhn. 2:22).

Of Him (ἀπ' αὐτοῦ)

Whatsoever we ask we receive from ἀπό Him, the ultimate source of our gifts. So, Mat. 17:25: Of ἀπό whom do the kings of the earth take custom - of ἀπό their own children or of ἀπό strangers? See on 1Jhn. 1:5.

ye need not... No need of any new doctrine or any instruction from the seducers of 1Jhn. 2:26. John does not teach that saints have no further need of gospel ministers, for God has sent them in the churches to teach (Eph. 4:11; Heb. 13:7, Heb. 13:17).

the same anointing (τὸ αὐτὸ χρίσμα)

The best texts read αὐτοῦ, His anointing.

Is truth, and is no lie?

The characteristic combination of positive and negative statement. See on 1Jhn. 1:5.

abide in Him... In response to such deceivers, the task of the genuine believer is to walk in truth, i.e., persevere in faithfulness and sound doctrine (see verses 20-21, 2John 4; 3John 4).

ye shall abide (μενεῖτε)

Wrong. The best tests read μένετε, which may be taken either as imperative, abide ye, or as indicative, ye abide. The indicative is preferable, as answering to μένει abideth.

in Him

Christ.

Again the anointing here, is speaking of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us which teaches us all Truth. It brings to remembrance the wonderful teachings we have had.

John 14:26 "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

It is the Holy Ghost that reveals to us all Truth.

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."





The readers did not need teaching from the antichrists or, for that matter, from anyone. Their anointing… received from God, remains in them and was a sufficient Teacher. This, along with 1Jhn. 2:12-14 may imply that John’s readers were relatively spiritually mature, since the immature need human teachers (cf. Heb. 5:12). This is appropriate if John were addressing church leaders, but it would also suit a congregation that had long been in the faith. Unlike the antichrists, who may have claimed some form of inspiration, the readers’ anointing was real, not counterfeit. They needed to remain menete, abide in Him (the pronoun can refer to the anointing) and rely fully on His continuing instruction.