1 John Chapter 2 Pt. 7 Heed The Apostolic Warning & Share The Truth In Love

Help from the indwelling Spirit and the scriptures. 

1 John 2:20-21  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21)  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 

Let's pick up where we left off in our last post. John has told us about the "unction" of the Spirit of God, and how His indwelling presence ministers to us. 

Specifically He is our Teacher in the Word, and He brings texts of scripture back into our minds when we need to recall them. He helps us discern between truth and error. 

The Spirit of God is the Holy Author of the Bible and John teaches us that the Spirit's ministry with us is connected with the Word of God. 

We have a book of truth from God and the scripture is the filter that separates truth from falsehood.

The antichrist will deny that Jesus is the Christ. 

1 John 2:22-23  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23)  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 

John is very blunt. Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ is a liar. Whoever denies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and one with His Father, is a liar.

"Christ" is a direct reference to the Messiah spoken of by the prophets. Jesus Christ is that Messiah, and He will one day rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Many ancient heresies believed in "dualism." They viewed the physical world as inherently corrupt or evil. They taught that only the spiritual realm was pure.

Gnosticism was a major heresy. Gnostics refused to identify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the God of the Old Testament, because they specifically viewed Him as an evil being.

Gnostics actually rejected moral commands from the Old Testament because the "evil god" of the Old Testament used those commands to keep mankind in ignorance and away from knowledge. 

Thus, each corrupt physical body imprisoned a pure spirit. A spirit could only be set free by receiving true knowledge.  

Thus, the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Genesis narrative of man’s fall, into sin takes on a whole new light in the Gnostic view. 

Some Gnostics claimed that since the physical body is corrupt and separate from the imprisoned spirit in them, it really did not matter whether a person sinned or not.

Concerning Jesus Christ, Gnostics believed that Jesus was only a good man and that he was temporarily inhabited by the Christ or divine spirit. 

The divine spirit left the body of the man Jesus and thus, God did not die on the cross. The man named Jesus died, but no part of God was with Him or in him, at His death.

Gnostics reject key fundamentals of the Christian faith. 

Gnostics reject the vicarious suffering and death of Christ. 

Gnostics reject redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Gnostics reject the physical resurrection of the body.  

Gnostics reject the literal, bodily second coming of Christ. 

Gnostics reject a literal kingdom of heaven on this earth. This is how a dualistic view shaped their doctrines. 

Arianism was another major heresy. 

Arius taught that God was unbegotten, or without beginning. Since Jesus is the only “begotten” Son of God, He cannot be God, in the same sense that the Father is. 

Yet, Jesus said "I and my Father are one" (See John 10:30). He told Philip that when you see me, you see the Father (See John 14:9). 

Thus, Arius believed that Jesus was not Jehovah, the self existent God of eternity, and that He was created like the rest of creation. 

Old errors creep into some modern translations. 

The King James Bible was translated from a widely used, universally accepted Greek New Testament text. 

The Greek edition follows (Textus Receptus), conforms to the vast majority of surviving Greek New Testament manuscripts. 

Most modern translations follow a Greek New Testament text that was never used in any churches prior to 1881. 

The modern Greek text (Westcott-Hort, UBS, Nestle/Aland) is about 8% shorter than the one used for translating the King James Bible. 

The modern Greek text used for translating modern Bibles, typically represents less than 10% of all surviving New Testament manuscripts. 

The modern Greek text is shorter, because certain groups in the first few centuries of church history, promoted false teaching. 

False teachers like Marcion, Arius, Philo, Valentinus, Clement and Origen, edited their Greek manuscripts to make them conform to their particular beliefs.

Now we come to the warning John gave. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is of the antichrist. 

I want you to see how ancient heresy crept into modern Bibles. There are 36 verses where the King James contains Jesus and Christ in the same verse. 

Many modern translations remove either Jesus or Christ from those same verses. 

Denying that Jesus is Christ twice in one verse. 

(King James) 1 Corinthians 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 5:4  When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

(NASB) 1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

(NIV) 1 Corinthians 5:4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,

(NRSV) in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus,

I listed the King James Bible first, followed by the English Standard Version, The New International Version, The New American standard Version and the New Revised Standard Version.

What leaps out is that some modern translations have denied that Jesus is the Christ, not once, but twice in this text of scripture.

Why was this change made? Because Gnostic teachers edited their Greek manuscript copies to conform to their heretical views. Modern translations

The evidence supporting the reading as it stands in the King James Bible, is simply overwhelming.

The vast majority of manuscripts that contain this verse, contain the Greek word "christos" twice in this verse. "Christos" is translated "Christ."

This is one example out of 36 places. This is where Christians must allow the unction of the Spirit of God to help us discern truth from error.

There have always been men who twist the truth of God into a lie by false teaching (See Romans 1:25).

There have always been men who wrestle the scriptures to make them say something that God did not say (See 2 Peter 3:16).

The Devil relentlessly attacks the veracity of the scriptures (See Genesis 3:1).

The Devil relentlessly attacks the deity of Jesus Christ.

The Devil relentlessly seeks to sow discord among the brethren, in the Church.

These fundamental truths are at the heart of why modern translations have been altered, when compared to the translation we use in this blog.

What is our response to this situation? Share the truth in love!

Ephesians 4:11-15  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

I share this truth with you carefully, and with Christian love. I do not wish to be the cause of any division among believers in Christ.

Paul tells us why God gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

Apostles and prophets passed away long ago, but the other gifts from Jesus remain.

Pastors, teachers and evangelists are to help equip believers for the work of the ministry, and to lead us to a completeness in Christ, in terms of our faith.

They help us become grounded in sound doctrine so that we do not follow false teaching that may arise.

They teach us to speak the truth in love, so that other Christians can grow spiritually. So that their faith in Christ can mature and bear fruit.

Many of our Readers live in other nations around the world, and are able to translate this blog into their language, at the click of a button.

I always post Bible verses from the King James translation, because it is a conservative and accurate translation. It has the broadest, widest manuscript support for its readings.

Therefore, it is possible that when we converse with other Christians, we may encounter places where a modern Bible is being used.

It is my responsibility to you, our Readers, to share this truth in love. Especially so, when we have an apostolic warning about denying that Jesus is the Christ.

I have a duty before God, to point out why modern Bibles have different readings than the King James Version.

We must exercise care so that we do not condemn someone for using a different translation of the Bible.

We must always share the truth in love in these situations.

As Christians, we must be aware of how subtly a change can creep into the text of scripture.

As Christians, we must defend the truth and share the gospel of Christ with others.

Denying the connection of Jesus and His Father. 

1 John 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

This is the second part of John's warning about the antichrist spirit that he observed in his time, and that is still in the world today.

The spirit of antichrist will deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and His union with the heavenly Father.

(King James) John 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

(ESV) John 5:30  “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

(NASB) “I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.

(NRSV) “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John warned us that those who deny the Son, do not have the Father in them. In this verse, modern Bibles have removed the name "Father" and changed it to "him."

This change is based upon about 7 manuscripts that false teachers edited to conform to their beliefs. 

The vast majority of manuscripts that contain this text, contain the Greek word translated "Father."

Changing "my" Father into "the" Father.

(King James) John 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

(ESV) John 6:65  And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

There are 11 places in John's gospel where Jesus speaks of "my Father."

You can see in the example above, that the King James translates the Greek word "mou" properly, with the word "my."

The English Standard Version changes "my" to "the" even though the Greek word for the article (ho) is not used in the manuscripts.

The NRSV, NIV and NASB follow the ESV in adopting this change of "my" to "the", even though the Greek word normally translated "my", is present.

Thoughts to Ponder...

We begin to see why the Spirit of God guided John to incorporate warnings like these when writing to the churches. Fifty or more years had passed since the day of Pentecost, and the birth of the Church.

John outlived all the other apostles. He saw heresies spring up, and observed how some Christians were led astray by false teachers.

Thus, he gave us wise words, to guide us and help us. His warnings are especially helpful since we have an issue of different Bibles translating the same verse differently.

May the Spirit of God be our guide and teacher in these truths.

May we be strengthened to uphold the truth and to share it in love with those who do not know Christ.

May we rejoice that God saw fit to give us apostolic warnings so that we may guard against error.

Bob