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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 John 2:1 - 2:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
My little children (teknia mou). Tender tone with this diminutive of teknon (child), again in 1Jo 2:12; 1Jo 3:18, but paidia in 1Jo 2:14. John is now an old man and regards his readers as his little children. That attitude is illustrated in the story of his visit to the robber to win him to Christ.
That ye may not sin (hina mē hamartēte). Purpose (negative) clause with hina mē and the second aorist (ingressive, commit sin) active subjunctive of hamartanō, to sin. John has no patience with professional perfectionists (1Jo 1:8-10), but he has still less with loose-livers like some of the Gnostics who went to all sorts of excesses without shame.
If any man sin (ean tis hamartēi). Third-class condition with ean and second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive again, “if one commit sin.”
We have (echomen). Present active indicative of echō in the apodosis, a present reality like echomen in 2Co 5:1.
An advocate (paraklēton). See note on Joh 14:16, and Joh 14:26; and note on Joh 15:26; and Joh 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God’s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man’s Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Rom 8:31-39; Heb 7:25). As dikaios (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father’s presence (Heb 2:18).