Title PageThe Crisis Facing BelieversThe Nature of the Current Crisis (v. 19)The Reality of the Current Crisis (v. 18)The Resources of the BelieversThe Knowledge of the Truth (vv. 20b-21)The Anointing From the Holy One (v. 20a)The Confrontation with the AntichristsMark of False and True Belivers (vv. 22-23)Appeal to the True Believers (vv. 24-25)Resources of Believers Motivation from the Hope of Christ's Return (v. 28)Equipment Through the Anointing (v. 27)Danger from the Deceivers (26)EndBibliotheca Sacra 146 (1989) 76-93. Copyright © 1989 by Dallas Theological Seminary. Cited with permission. An Expositional Study of 1 John Part 4 (of 10 parts): An Exposition of 1 John 2:18-28 D. Edmond Hiebert Professor Emeritus of New Testament Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, California In the preceding portion of the epistle (1:5-2:17) John presented grounds for assurance through the test of fellowship. He wrote of the contrasts between light and darkness, truth and error, obedience and disobedience, things temporal and things eternal. In the long section beginning with 2:18 John turned to offer his readers assurance through the conflicts of faith (2:18-4:6). Assurance concerning one's Christian faith can be drawn from the nature of the enemies he en- counters. John insisted that these enemies must be exposed for what they are and believers encouraged to understand the dangers they present and to defeat them with the spiritual equipment God has provided. These conflicts are portrayed under four aspects: (1) the conflict between truth and falsehood (2:18-28); (2) the conflict be- tween the children of God and the children of the devil (2:29-3:12); (3) the conflict between love and hatred (3:13-24); and (4) the con- flict between the Spirit of God and the spirit of error (4:1-6). Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what 76An Exposition of 1 John 2:18-28 77 you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that if He should appear, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His com- ing (1 John 2:18-28). The conflict between truth and falsehood is brought into sharp focus by the presence of the anti-Christian false teachers. John called attention to the crisis facing believers (vv. 18-19), indicated the resources of believers to deal with these opponents (vv. 20-21), underlined the test to distinguish true from false believers (vv. 22- 25), and instructed his readers in the face of the dangers (vv. 26-28). The Crisis Facing Believers In launching into his discussion on the conflicts of faith, John first declared the reality of the crisis hour (v. 18) and then delin- eated the nature of the crisis (v. 19). THE REALITY OF THE CURRENT CRISIS (v. 18) John marked a new beginning by again addressing his readers as "children" (Paidi<a; cf. 2:14). In support of the view that the term includes all his readers, Plummer remarks, "It is difficult to see any- thing in this section specially suitable to children: indeed the very reverse is rather the case."1 The term suggests John's fatherly con- cern for his beloved readers as needing his guidance in facing the current crisis. The assertion (v. 18a). "It is the last hour" (e]sxa<th w!ra e]sti<n) marks the crucial, situation. The term "last hour" obviously was not intended as a literal chronological assertion. Since the original does not have the definite article, two renderings, "the last hour," or "a last hour," are possible. In support of the former rendering, com- monly used in English versions, it is held that the expression is sufficiently definite without the article, "for there can be only one last hour." Or it may be viewed as a technical term that does not need the definite article.2 But some like Westcott3 insist on render- 1 A Plummer, The Epistles of S. John, The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (1883; reprint, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1938), p. 105. 2 H E. Dana and Julius R. Mantey, A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament (reprint, New York: Macmillan Co., 1967), p. 149. 3 Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistles of St. John: The Greek Text with Notes and Es- says (reprint, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1950), p. 68.78 Bibliotheca Sacra I January—March 1989 ing the phrase "a last hour." Since this exact expression occurs only here in the New Testament, Lenski feels that it cannot be treated as a well-known concept that needed no article, and so he asserts, "The term is plainly qualitative."4 The rendering "the last hour" is commonly understood to denote the period immediately preceding the return of Christ. Thus The Living Bible Paraphrased renders the phrase by the words "this world's last hour has come."5 But this view is open to the charge that "John was wrong."6 While accepting the eschatological refer- ence, Marshall notes that "John does not commit himself to any time- scale. Like the New Testament authors generally he does not de- limit precisely the