1 John 2:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

NIV: Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

NASB: The one who loves his brother and sister remains in the Light, and there is nothing in him to cause stumbling.

CSB: The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

NLT: Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

KJV: He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

NKJV: He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

John continues his discussion from previous verses. Love for one another is evidence of a close relationship to Christ. The believer who loves his brother abides or remains in the light, which is Christ. Those who do not, in contrast, are in darkness—they are at minimum failing to obey Christ's commands.

The person who loves his brother has "no cause for stumbling." This phrase closely resembles the concept of "love your neighbor as yourself." The person who loves others has fulfilled the law and is living as they have been called to by Christ. The New Testament often refers to stumbling, falling or tripping as representative of a spiritual struggle or failure in someone's life (Romans 9:32, 33; 11:9; 14:13; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 8:9; 1 Peter 2:8; Jude 1:24). Job 4:4 also offers an ancient perspective on this concept, noting, "Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees."

First John 2:7–11 reminds the reader that these are not new commandments. From the very beginning of one’s faith, a Christian is taught that how they behave demonstrates their relationship with Christ. A powerful indicator of this relationship is how one thinks about, acts towards, and treats other professing believers. As with other tests mentioned in 1 John, these are markers of one’s intimacy with and knowledge of Christ.

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 5/2/2024 6:14:28 AM