What is the meaning of 1 John 2:20? You, however • John has just warned about “many antichrists” who “went out from us” (1 John 2:18-19). The words “You, however” draw a bright line between deceptive teachers and genuine believers. • He is speaking to a real, identifiable family of faith—people who have confessed Christ (1 John 2:23) and walk in His light (1 John 1:7). • The contrast reassures readers that error does not define them; belonging to Christ does. See also John 10:4-5, where Jesus’ sheep recognize His voice and not the stranger’s. have an anointing • “Anointing” is John’s way of describing the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence (1 John 2:27). • Just as priests and kings were anointed with oil as a visible sign of divine appointment (Exodus 30:30; 1 Samuel 16:13), every believer is spiritually anointed by God Himself. • This is a present-tense reality: “you have,” not “you might receive.” It grounds assurance of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14). from the Holy One • The source of the anointing is “the Holy One,” a title John’s Gospel uses for Jesus (John 6:69) and that Scripture applies to the Father (Isaiah 43:15). • Whether John has the Father or the Son specifically in view, the point is clear: the anointing comes straight from God, not from human authority or secret knowledge (James 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22). • Because its origin is divine, the anointing is unchanging and fully reliable (Malachi 3:6). and all of you know the truth • The Spirit’s ministry includes guiding believers “into all truth” (John 16:13). • “All of you” underscores that this knowledge is not for an elite few; every child of God has access to it (Jeremiah 31:34; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13). • Knowing the truth isn’t merely intellectual. It involves: – Discernment that exposes lies (1 John 4:1-3). – Confidence that Jesus is “the Way and the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). – Obedience that proves knowledge is genuine (John 8:31-32). summary Believers are set apart from false teachers because God Himself has anointed them with His Spirit. That anointing, given by the Holy One, guarantees that every Christian can recognize, possess, and live out the truth. |
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