1 John 2:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie — just as it has taught you, abide in him.

NIV: As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

NASB: And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains 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 remain in Him.

CSB: As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him.

NLT: But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true — it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

KJV: But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

NKJV: But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

John again mentions the "the anointing that you received" (1 John 2:20), a reference to the Holy Spirit living within those who have believed in Jesus as Lord. According to John, this anointing "abides in you." John's focus on abiding or remaining is evident, seen already in this chapter in verses 6, 10, 14, 17, and 24, as well as again in verse 28. John acknowledges God's Spirit in believers. He also refers to the ability of the Holy Spirit to help believers understand what is right and wrong. However, this does not mean teaching from other people is unimportant. Instead, John spoke against false teaching and served as a teacher to his readers.

John then summarizes the first half of the verse. The Holy Spirit—His anointing—teaches believers about all things and is true. In the same way, believers should abide or remain in Christ. In particular, we should respond to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, choosing to follow what He teaches us.

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.