Beware of Antichrists
John tells believers that the rise of many antichrists shows that it is the last hour. Their departure from the church revealed that they did not truly belong, since genuine belonging would have resulted in remaining. John contrasts them with the readers, who possess an anointing from the Holy One and know the truth. The central lie of the deceivers is their denial that Jesus is the Christ. In denying the Son they also deny the Father, while confession of the Son brings possession of the Father as well. The paragraph teaches that perseverance in apostolic confession is essential to true fellowship with God.
C18hildren, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Verse 18The appearance of many antichrists shows that it is the last hour.
This verse opens the section by interpreting present deception eschatologically.
Verse 19The deceivers' departure proved that they never truly belonged to the fellowship.
This verse explains schism as evidence of false belonging.
Verse 20Believers have an anointing from the Holy One and know the truth.
This verse reassures the church that they are not helpless before deception.
Verse 21John writes because the believers know the truth and know that no lie comes from it.
This verse clarifies that his warning is meant to strengthen, not replace, their knowledge.
Verse 22The liar and antichrist is the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ and so denies Father and Son.
This verse states the central doctrinal mark of antichrist.
Verse 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
This verse closes the section by linking fellowship with the Father to confession of the Son.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 18-23
John tells believers that the rise of many antichrists shows that it is the last hour. Their departure from the church revealed that they did not truly belong, since genuine belonging would have resulted in remaining. John contrasts them with the readers, who possess an anointing from the Holy One and know the truth. The central lie of the deceivers is their denial that Jesus is the Christ. In denying the Son they also deny the Father, while confession of the Son brings possession of the Father as well. The paragraph teaches that perseverance in apostolic confession is essential to true fellowship with God.
This paragraph warns the church about deceptive departures and defines antichrist by denial of the Son.