1 John 2:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life.

NIV: And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

NASB: This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

CSB: And this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.

NLT: And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

KJV: And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

NKJV: And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

The focus of this verse is God's promise of eternal life. Eternal life is mentioned six times in this brief letter. Jesus is eternal life (1 John 1:2). God gives believers eternal life through Jesus (1 John 5:11). Further, we can know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). This part of John's letter focuses heavily on false teachers. It's possible that those he writes to were being taught to doubt whether or not the gospel message was true.

Eternal life is not something a believer "might" have, but is a promise of God. Whoever truly believes in Jesus can have eternal life (John 3:15–16; 3:36; 4:14, 36; 5:24). The Old Testament Scriptures "bear witness" of eternal life in Jesus (John 5:39). John 17:3 notes, "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." "Eternal life" is used 17 times in John's Gospel, marked as a consistent theme in both his Gospel and this letter.

First John 2:18–27 warns against those who oppose Christ in their teachings. These ''anti-Christs'' deny that Jesus is God. They reject Him as part of the Trinity, or claim He did not appear in the flesh. John again makes reference to truth ''abiding'' in someone, encouraging his readers to hold to the gospel that saved them.

Chapter 2 explains the fellowship Christians have with God. Christ is our advocate, even when we sin. Christians are not to love things of the world, or to love the world. Instead, we are to live, love, and act like Christ. False teachers, and those who deny Jesus are called ''liars.'' Those who demonstrate a Christ-like behavior are ''born of'' God.

Chapter 1 introduced the primary themes of John’s letter. Chapters 2 and 3 lay out a detailed description of how Christian conduct is meant to be marked by obedience to the truth. Christians are called to live like Christ. Therefore, those who do not (live that way) do not have ''the truth'' in them. Later chapters of this letter will fill in how Christian love and conduct give us confidence in our daily lives.

First John seems to assume that the reader is familiar with the gospel. Rather than re-state these facts, John is concerned with building confidence in Christian believers. At the same time, his words encourage believers to examine their own lives for signs of their relationship with Christ. This letter also challenges false teachers and their incorrect claims about Jesus. Many themes are shared with the Gospel of John.

Accessed 12/4/2024 4:07:08 AM