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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 John 2:18 - 2:18
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It is the last hour (eschatē hōra estin). This phrase only here in N.T., though John often uses hōra for a crisis (Joh 2:4; Joh 4:21, Joh 4:23; Joh 5:25, Joh 5:28, etc.). It is anarthrous here and marks the character of the “hour.” John has seven times “the last day” in the Gospel. Certainly in 1Jo 2:28 John makes it plain that the parousia might come in the life of those then living, but it is not clear that here he definitely asserts it as a fact. It was his hope beyond a doubt. We are left in doubt about this “last hour” whether it covers a period, a series, or the final climax of all just at hand.
As ye heard (kathōs ēkousate). First aorist active indicative of akouō.
Antichrist cometh (antichristos erchetai). “Is coming.” Present futuristic or prophetic middle indicative retained in indirect assertion. So Jesus taught (Mar 13:6, Mar 13:22; Mat 24:5, Mat 24:15, Mat 24:24) and so Paul taught (Act 20:30; 2Th 2:3). These false Christs (Mat 24:24; Mar 13:22) are necessarily antichrists, for there can be only one. Anti can mean substitution or opposition, but both ideas are identical in the word antichristos (in N.T. only here, 1Jo 2:22; 1Jo 4:3; 2Jo 1:7). Westcott rightly observes that John’s use of the word is determined by the Christian conception, not by the Jewish apocalypses.
Have there arisen (gegonasin). Second perfect active indicative of ginomai.
Many antichrists (antichristoi polloi). Not just one, but the exponents of the Gnostic teaching are really antichrists, just as some modern deceivers deserve this title.
Whereby (hothen). By the fact that these many antichrists have come.