What does "old commandment" in 1 John 2:7 refer to? Reading the Verse in Context “Beloved, I am not writing you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.” (1 John 2:7) What “Old Commandment” Means • John points back to a charge his readers already know well—love. • It is “old” because: – They “have had [it] from the beginning” of their Christian walk (cf. 1 John 3:11). – It reaches even further, grounding itself in God’s revelation from the start of Scripture. Roots in the Old Testament • Leviticus 19:18 — “Love your neighbor as yourself.” • Deuteronomy 6:5 — “Love the LORD your God with all your heart….” These verses framed Israel’s covenant life, so John can rightly call the love commandment “old.” Reaffirmed by Jesus • John 13:34 — “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” • John 15:12 — “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Though Jesus labeled it “new,” He deepened—not invented—the command by attaching His own self-sacrificing example. Why John Still Calls It “Old” • By the time John writes, Jesus’ teaching has circulated for decades; believers have heard it “from the beginning” of their faith. • Calling it “old” disarms any claim that brotherly love is an optional, secondary add-on; it is foundational. Yet It Is Ever “New” Verse 8 (right after v. 7) says, “Yet I am writing you a new commandment….” The command’s freshness lies in: 1. Christ’s perfect model—love carried to the cross. 2. The Spirit’s indwelling, enabling believers to live out that love in real time. Practical Implications for Today • Love is not a passing trend; it is embedded in God’s unchanging Word. • Every Christian generation receives the same marching orders: – Love God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:5). – Love fellow believers sacrificially (1 John 3:16-18). – Love neighbors and even enemies (Matthew 5:43-45). Key Takeaways • The “old commandment” = the enduring, Scripture-wide call to love. • It is “old” because God revealed it long ago and believers heard it at conversion. • It remains “new” because Jesus exemplified it perfectly and the Spirit keeps it vibrant in us. |
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