1 John 2:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Having finished the discourse carried on above, the Apostle adds something concerning those who deceive them by the many heresies that have appeared.

Among the prophets there is also such a word: "And they shall all be taught by God" (Jn 6:45; Is 54:13). Therefore, since those who have believed in Christ and been anointed with the Holy Spirit learn all things from Him, they have no need of human instruction.

Rather, they are shown to be taught by God, according to the prophetic word. It is therefore clear that the Spirit is God. And since He is such by nature, how can He be a creature?

John calls deceivers not only the heretics who, by their perverse teaching, strive to turn us away from the faith. He also means those who compel immature minds to abandon the promise of eternal life by enticing them with worldly goods or threatening them with persecutions.

That is, I have written this to you so that you may withdraw from those who deceive you, or from false teachers. They plot to turn you from the path of the sound teaching of the faith and to cast you into the abyss of their errors, whose end is separation from God and eternal destruction.

The whole course of the preceding discourse leads to the conclusion drawn by the divine writer. In touching upon one subject or another, he had no other aim than to warn against lying teachers, who introduce heresies, corrupt morals, and appear as enemies of God and men.

How should one understand the words, "you know all things," if shortly before this it was said that only the fathers, and not the children or young men, had known the One without beginning? If all in the Church know all things equally, what is the advantage of the fathers?

If their advantage is that they have known the One without beginning, does it not follow that others do not yet possess this advantage? We must acknowledge that when the Apostle says, "you have an anointing" and "you have no need that anyone teach you," he means by "you" the whole local Church.

He does not mean each individual member separately, for among its members there were also children. The Church truly knows all things, because within her there are those who know and are able to teach others.

"These things I have written to you concerning those who deceive you." "Having finished the discourse carried on above, the Apostle adds something concerning those who deceive them by the many heresies that have appeared" (Theophylact). It is as though he says: this is what I considered necessary to write to you concerning those antichrists, or false teachers, about whom I have just written. They deceive you and will deceive you, plotting to turn you from the path of sound doctrine and cast you into the abyss of errors. I wrote so that you would withdraw from, or avoid, these and similar deceivers. This verse joins, or links, the preceding discourse with what follows, serving as their connection.

This same thing, namely the confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the hope of eternal life (1 Jn 2:25), has also been taught and is being taught to you by the inward anointing from the Holy One. Therefore, "abide in what it has taught you" (1 Jn 2:27).

As though explaining why he speaks so insistently about the unwavering confession of Jesus Christ, St. John the Apostle adds: "that when He appears, we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1 Jn 2:28).

Can various mystical sectarians rely on these words of the Apostle John? They preach that inner illumination alone is sufficient for a Christian, and that he may be guided by it in faith and works without any outward guidance of the Church and hierarchy.

Directing Christians' attention especially to heretical false teaching, the Apostle points to the most important error preached by the Ebionite Cerinthus and his followers, who denied the Godhead of Jesus Christ.

Without entering into a detailed refutation of this error, and without offering biblical or other proofs of its falsehood, the Apostle views it from his lofty theological standpoint. From there its absurdity is clearly revealed.

Having in mind the clear teaching of Jesus Christ concerning His consubstantiality with the Father (see Jn 1:1; 1 Jn 1:1-4), he says that heretics of this kind deny the Father also.