Koine Foundations

Walking in the Darkness vs. Walking in the Light

^2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate in the presence of the Father – the righteous Jesus Christ. ^2:2 And He is the placater of God’s wrath for our sins, and not only for our sins, but also for the whole world.

Translation by the author from the SBL Greek New Testament.

Verses 2:1-2 are in the unit that runs from 1:6 to 2:11. Click here to open a PDF document that explains and illustrates the structure of verses 1:6-2:11.

Click here for a full outline of First John.

Verse 2:1

My little children,

John changes his focus from the false claims of the disruptors and addresses his readers directly to provide encouragement.

“My little children” is an affectionate way of addressing the readers with whom John has a pastoral relationship. This phrase could also be translated as “my dear children“. John is an elderly man, perhaps around 90 years old, writing to a younger audience. The address also implies the expectation that they will obey him.

John uses this affectionate term seven times in First John: 2:1; 2:12; 2:28; 3:7, 3:18; 4:4; 5:21.

Jesus also used this term when he spoke to His disciples in the Upper Room before His crucifixion (John 13:33).

I am writing these things to you…

This probably refers back to what John has just written, especially verses 1:6 to 1:10 where he deals with the false claims of the disruptors. But he may also be referring to the entire letter.

so that you do not sin.

John does not want to give the impression that sin is inevitable for the believer. The believer must act to resist sinning and strive to live a holy life.

Greek Note: so that you do not sin

This phrase in Greek (ἵνα μὴ ἁμάρτητε / hina mē hamartēte), is a purpose clause that is constructed as normal with ἵνα (hina) plus a subjunctive mood verb (ἁμάρτητε / hamartēte). It is a purpose clause, but also probably has some degree of imperatival force (i.e., acts as a command). So rather than being translated as, “so that you may not sin”, it is better expressed as “so that you will not sin” or “so that you do not sin”.

But if anyone does sin,

John is realistic in his view. He recognizes the possibility that a believer might struggle to walk in the light and might commit sin. However, the situation is not hopeless for there is an advocate for sin.

we have an advocate…

An advocate (παράκλητος / paraklētos G3875) is someone who intercedes, mediates, or advocates for the interests of another person before a third party. In Greek usage of the Koine period, it was not a legal term, but it could be applied to legal contexts. In common terms, an advocate was someone who spoke in favor of or on behalf of another person to produce a favorable outcome. The advocate could do this because of their status.

John tells us that when we sin, Jesus Christ acts as our advocate to speak on our behalf before God. There is nothing that we can plead on our own behalf to gain forgiveness for our sins. However, Jesus can intercede because of His death to pay the penalty for our sins.

Note that the word is only used by John in the New Testament (John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; I John 2:1). In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the word to refer to the function of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word is variously translated as helper, advocate, counselor, or comforter.

…in the presence of the Father

Jesus Christ, our advocate, is in the Father’s presence. This provides assurance that He will he heard. The Apostle Paul expresses the same idea when he says that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God and interceding for us who are believers (see Romans 8:34).

Greek Note: in the present of the Father

“in the presence of the Father” could be translated simply as “with the Father“, which most English translations do. But I think it has echoes of John 1:1 where the same prepositional construction is used: “the Word was with God“, i.e., in the presence of God.

– the righteous Jesus Christ.

John clearly states that our advocate is Jesus Christ. He is righteous:

(1) He is not contaminated by sin and is thus qualified to intercede for us. [MARSHALL p. 117]

(2) He is righteous just as God is righteous. So, his intercession will not be rejected because it doesn’t measure up to God’s standard. [YARBROUGH p. 77]

Verse 2:2

And He is the placater of God’s wrath for our sins,

Not only is Jesus Christ an advocate who speaks on our behalf in the presence of the Father (verse 2:1), He is also the placater of God’s wrath that is directed toward us. God’s wrath is a response to the evil that we do – His proper reaction to our sin. Jesus Christ is able to turn away God’s wrath because of His death which was a substitutionary sacrifice that paid the penalty for our sins. His death satisfied the wrath of God.

God cannot overlook sin, but because of His love for us, He provided the solution to restore our fellowship with Him. In fact it was God the Father who gave His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. He provided the means for forgiveness and paid the cost.

Greek Note: placater of God’s wrath

The phrase “placater of God’s wrath” is my translation of the single Greek word ἱλασμός / hilasmos (G2434) in the original Greek text. English Bibles typically translate it as “propitiation”, “expiation”, or “atoning sacrifice” – words which are not familiar to most people.

Biblical scholars and theologians have debated the meaning of this word in this verse for hundreds of years. I will not try to explain the debate, but here is a very brief explanation of the two major views.

(1) ἱλασμός refers to propitiation which is the turning away of wrath by an acceptable offering. This is how the word was used in secular Greek in reference to making offerings to appease a god who had been offended. In the case of Christianity, the acceptable offering is the death of Christ which placates God’s wrath.

(2) ἱλασμός refers to expiation which means cancellation, dismissal, or removal. God is merciful and waives the penalty for our sins because of the death of Jesus Christ.

and not only for our sins,

In the context of this letter, “our sins” refers to the sins of those who are believers in Jesus Christ.

but also for the whole world.

Jesus ministry as a placater extends beyond the sins of those who are presently believers to potentially include the whole world. This phrase does not imply that all people in the world will be saved. The death of Jesus Christ is sufficient for the whole world, but it is effective only for those who believe in Him. The phrase asserts that His sacrificial death is sufficient for all, and implies that it is necessary for all.

Go back to Verses 1:8-10
Go forward to Verses 2:3-6

Your Personal Study

Read First John 2:3-6 below and answer the questions.

^2:3 Now the way we know that we know ˹God˺ is if we keep His commandments. ^2:4 The one who says, “I know Him,” while not keeping His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in this person. ^2:5 But whoever keeps ˹Christ’s˺ word, truly in this person their love of God has reached a state of maturity. This is how we know that we are in ˹God˺. ^2:6 The one who says, “I abide in ˹God˺,” should himself walk in the same way as ˹Jesus˺ walked.

1. What do you think it means to know God?

2. According to these verses, how can you be sure that you know God?

3. What are God’s commandments and where are they found?

4. Is obeying God’s commandments the means to knowing God or the evidence of knowing God?

5. How is a knowledge of God and moral conduct linked?

6. In verse 2:5 John refers to “Christ’s word”. How is that the same or different than God’s commandments?

7. How does obedience affect our love?

8. Who is the example of how to truly obey God’s commandments?

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First John Translation.

First John Translation with Outline and Notes.

Bibliography of source information used for this series of posts.

Title Slide Image Credit: First John in Codex Alexandrinus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Unless otherwise noted, English translations of Bible verses are by the author from the Greek text and are not quotations from any copyrighted Bible version or translation.

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