The Johannine Letters

[John Reece]

1 John 5:15

Text (NA27):

καὶ ἐὰν οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀκούει ἡμῶν ὃ ἐὰν αἰτώμεθα, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἔχομεν τὰ αἰτήματα ἃ ᾐτήκαμεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐάν : instead of εἰ with indicative.
ἀκούει ἡμῶν : he listens to us.
ὃ εάν : (= ἄn) whatever.
αἰτήμα : request.
ᾐτήκαμεν : perfect of αἰτέω : with cognate accusative αιτεω αἴτημα ἀπό τινος make a request to one.

[John Reece]

1 John 5:16

Text (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

Ean tis idȩ̄ ton adelphon autou hamartanonta hamartian mē pros thanaton, aitēsei kai dōsei autō̧ zōēn, tois hamartanousin mē pros thanaton. estin hamartia pros thanaton; ou peri ekeinēs legō hina erōtēsȩ̄.

Translation (NRSV):

If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἴδῃ : aorist subjunctive of ὁράω see.
ἁμαρτάνοντα : participle of ἁμαρτάνω sin : with cognate accusative committing sin.
πρὸς θάνατον : fatal, mortal.
αἰτήσει : future imperatival of αἰτέω ask, sc. as object "God".
δώσει : future of δίδωμι give.
τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν (participle dative plural) μὴ πρὸς θάνατον : (sc. that is) to sinners not (guilty) of mortal sin.
ἔστιν : (not enclitic) that is, i.e. "for mortal sin exists and about that I do not say that one should pray."
ἐρωτήσῃ : aorist subjunctive of ἐρωτάω ask.

[John Reece]

1 John 5:17

Text (NA27):

πᾶσα ἀδικία ἁμαρτία ἐστίν, καὶ ἔστιν ἁμαρτία οὐ πρὸς θάνατον.

Transliteration (Accordance):

pasa adikia hamartia estin, kai estin hamartia ou pros thanaton.

Translation (NRSV):

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἀδικία : wrongdoing.
καί : but.
ἔστιν : (not enclitic) there is.

[John Reece]

1 John 5:18

Text (NA27):

Οἴδαμεν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, ἀλλ᾿ ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τηρεῖ αὐτόν καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ.

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

γεγεννημένος : perfect passive participle of γεννάω bear.
γεννηθεὶς : aorist passive participle of γεννάω, here of the Son begotten of God, perhaps in contrast to ὁ γεγεννημένος the believer.
ὁ πονηρός : the Evil One, the devil.
ἅπτομαί τινος : touch one, here (as sometimes in English) with evil intent.

[John Reece]

1 John 5:19

Text (NA27):

οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν καὶ ὁ κόσμος ὅλος ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ κεῖται.

Transliteration (Accordance):

oidamen hoti ek tou theou esmen kai ho kosmos holos en tō̧ ponērō̧ keitai.

Translation (NRSV):
Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν : we belong to God.
κεῖται : used as perfect passive of τίθημι: κεῖμαι ἔν (τινι) lie in the power of (one).

[John Reece]

1 John 5:20

Text (NA27):

οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἥκει καὶ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν διάνοιαν ἵνα γινώσκωμεν τὸν ἀληθινόν, καὶ ἐσμὲν ἐν τῷ ἀληθινῷ, ἐν τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ. οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀληθινὸς θεὸς καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος.

Transliteration (Accordance):

oidamen de hoti ho huios tou theou hēkei kai dedōken hēmin dianoian hina ginōskōmen ton alēthinon, kai esmen en tō̧ alēthinō̧, en tō̧ huiō̧ autou Iēsou Christō̧. houtos estin ho alēthinos theos kai zōē aiōnios.

Translation (NRSV):

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἥκω : to have come.
δέδωκεν : perfect of δίδωμι give.
διάνοια : mind, understanding.
γινώσκωμεν : subjunctive of γινώσκω know.
ἀληθινός : true, genuine, real, τὸν ἀληθινόν him who is reality, better, the true (God).
οὗτός : as a climax to verses 18-20 the reference is almost certainly to God the real, the true, in opposition to paganism (verse 21).

[John Reece]

1 John 5:21

Text (NA27):

Τεκνία, φυλάξατε ἑαυτὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Τεκνία, φυλάξατε ἑαυτὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων.

Translation (NRSV):

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

φυλάξατε : aorist imperative of φυλάσσω guard, keep.
ἑαυτά : neuter with reference to τεκνία.
εἰδώλων : (< εἶδος outward form) image, idol.

[John Reece]

2 John 1

Text (NA27):

Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτῆς, οὓς ἐγὼ ἀγαπῶ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνος ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐγνωκότες τὴν ἀλήθειαν

Transliteration (Accordance):

O presbyteros eklektȩ̄ kyria̧ kai tois teknois autēs, hous egō agapō en alētheia̧, kai ouk egō monos alla kai pantes hoi egnōkotes tēn alētheian

Translation (NRSV):

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐκλεκτός : elect, chosen.
κυρία : lady, metonymy referring to some local church which John is warning to beware of certain heretics.
τέκνον : child, i.e. member.
ἐν ἀληθείᾳ : in truth, i.e. sincerely.
ἐγνωκότες : perfect participle of γινώσκω, who have embraced the truth, practically and not only intellectually 1 Jn 2:3.

[John Reece]

2 John 2

Text (NA27):

διὰ τὴν ἀλήθειαν τὴν μένουσαν ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

μένουσαν : participle of μένω abide, truth understood as a force dwelling and active in man.
ἔσται : future of εἰμί be: μένουσαν...καὶ...ἔσται participial construction interrupted by καί coordinate.
εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα : for ever.

[John Reece]

2 John 3

Text (NA27):

ἔσται μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη παρὰ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ παρὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἀγάπῃ.

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):
Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἔσται : there will be : an assurance in place of the usual wish.
ἔλεος : mercy.

[John Reece]

2 John 4

Text (NA27):

Εχάρην λίαν ὅτι εὕρηκα ἐκ τῶν τέκνων σου περιπατοῦντας ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καθὼς ἐντολὴν ἐλάβομεν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Echarēn lian hoti heurēka ek tōn teknōn sou peripatountas en alētheia̧, kathōs entolēn elabomen para tou patros.

Translation (NRSV):

I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐχάρην : aorist deponent of χαίρω rejoice.
λίαν : much, greatly.
εὕρηκα : perfect of εὑρίσκω find.
ἐκ τῶν : some of, Semitism for τις with partitive genitive.
περιπατοῦντας : participle of περιπατέω walk.
ἐντολή : commandment.
ἐλάβομεν : aorist of λαμβάνω receive.

[John Reece]

2 John 5

Text (NA27):

καὶ νῦν ἐρωτῶ σε, κυρία, οὐχ ὡς ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφων σοι ἀλλὰ ἣν εἴχομεν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους.

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

ἐρωτάω : ask.
κυρία : here vocative lady.
καινός : fresh, new.
ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς : from the beginning.
εἴχομεν : imperfect of ἔχω have.
ἀγαπῶμεν : subjunctive of ἀγαπάω love.

[John Reece]

2 John 6

Text (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):
Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

αὕτη ... ἵνα : this ... that, for epexegetical infinitive.
περιπατῶμεν : subjunctive of περιπατέω walk.
ἠκούσατε : aorist of ἀκούω hear.

[John Reece]

1 John 2:18

Text (NA27):

Παιδία, ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν, καὶ καθὼς ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἀντίχριστος ἔρχεται, καὶ νῦν ἀντίχριστοι πολλοὶ γεγόνασιν, ὅθεν γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν.

Transliteration (Accordance):

Paidia, eschatē hōra estin, kai kathōs ēkousate hoti antichristos erchetai, kai nyn antichristoi polloi gegonasin, hothen ginōskomen hoti eschatē hōra estin.

Translation (ESV):

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

παιδίον : diminutive of παῖς child.
ἠκούσατε : aorist of ἀκούω hear.
ἀντίχριστος : either enemy of (against) Christ or one who sets himself up as (in the place of) Christ.
ἔρχεται : translate was coming (Greek uses tense of direct speech).
γεγόνασιν : have come, perfect of γίνομαι.
ὅθεν : hence, from which fact.

Comment from The Johannine Letters (Hermeneia: Augsburg-Fortress, 1996), by Georg Strecker:

18.

Comment from The Johannine Epistles (Hermeneia: translated from the German 1967 edition; English translation 1973), by Rudolph Bultmann:

18. Whereas the false teachers are designated as πλανώντες ὑμᾶς ("those deceiving you") in verse 26, in verse 18 they are designated as ἀντίχριστοι ("antichrists"). With this designation the author takes up a term of Jewish apocalyptic, while reinterpreting it in typically Johannine fashion. He refers to the traditional apocalyptic expectation (καθὼς ἠκούσατε, "as you have heard") that the antichrist will appear at the end of time. When the author then says καὶ νῦν ἀντίχριστοι πολλοὶ γεγόνασιν ("and now many antichrists have come"), he historicizes the mythical figure; the antichrists are the false teachers, and everyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ (verse 22), who does not "confess" him (4:3), who does not acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh (2 Jn 7), is an antichrist. The fact that these antichrists have arisen is the sign ὅτι ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν ("that it is the last hour"). For it is indeed presupposed that Jesus' coming is the last hour for the κόσμος ("world"). It is just that to which the deniers of Christ indirectly testify. To this extent this assertion has the same meaning as verse 8: "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining." But this is exactly what can and should be confirmed for the readers by the appearance of the false teachers.

[John Reece]

2 John 7

Text (NA27):
Transliteration (Accordance):

hOti polloi planoi exēlthon eis ton kosmon, hoi mē homologountes Iēsoun Christon erchomenon en sarki; houtos estin ho planos kai ho antichristos.

Translation (NRSV):

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!

Grammatical Analysis (Zerwick/BDAG, meanings in this context):

πλάνος : misleading ; as noun, deceiver.
ἐξῆλθον εἰς... : meaning "have emerged and are abroad in".
ὁμολογοῦντες : participle of ὁμολογέω acknowledge.
ἐρχόμενον : particle of ἔρχομαι, participle referring to the Incarnation.
ὁ πλάνος : predicate with article, "the" known and expected.
ἀντίχριστος : 1 John 2:18.

From Hermeneia: The Johannine Epistles (Augsburg Fortress, 1973 English translation of 1967/second edition of Die drei Johannesbriefe, by Rudolph Bultmann:

The usual motif of 1 Jn 2:18; 4:3, where the appearance of the heretics is interpreted in a historicizing manner as the coming of the antichrist, is now utilized very awkwardly in the reverence in the singular: οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ πλάνος καὶ ὁ ἀντίχριστος ("This is the deceiver and the antichrist"). Οὗτός ("This one") can only refer to οἱ μὴ ὁμολογων ("who does not acknowledge").