1 John 2:16

Contextual Overview

¹²I am writing to you, little children,since your sins have been forgivenon account of his name. ¹² I write vnto you, little children, because your sinnes are forgiuen you for his Names sake. ¹² I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. ¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. ¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. ¹² I write to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ. ¹²I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they're all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That's how we know that we're close to the end. They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong. But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies. So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well. Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life! I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught. And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. Once you're convinced that he is right and righteous, you'll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God's true children. ¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. ¹²I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name. ¹² Children, I am writing you, because your sins have been forgiven in the name of Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the lust of the flesh: Numbers 11:4, Numbers 11:34, Psalms 78:18, Psalms 78:30, Proverbs 6:25, Matthew 5:28, Romans 13:14, 1 Corinthians 10:6, Galatians 5:17, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 2:3, Titus 2:12, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 Peter 4:3, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 Peter 4:3, 2 Peter 2:10, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16 -18

and the lust: Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Joshua 7:21, Job 31:1, Psalms 119:36, Psalms 119:37, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Ecclesiastes 5:11, Matthew 4:8, Luke 4:5

and the pride: Esther 1:3-7, Psalms 73:6, Daniel 4:30, Revelation 18:11-17

is not: James 3:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:10 - and beheld Genesis 39:7 - cast Numbers 32:1 - the place Judges 14:1 - Timnath Judges 16:15 - when thine 2 Samuel 11:2 - he saw Psalms 37:27 - do good Proverbs 17:24 - the eyes Proverbs 21:10 - soul Proverbs 23:5 - thou Proverbs 23:31 - General Proverbs 27:20 - so Ecclesiastes 2:10 - whatsoever Ecclesiastes 2:11 - I looked Ecclesiastes 4:8 - is his Ecclesiastes 11:9 - in the sight Jeremiah 22:17 - thine eyes Matthew 6:19 - General Matthew 6:24 - serve Matthew 13:22 - the care Matthew 22:5 - one Mark 4:7 - General Mark 10:22 - for Luke 14:18 - I have Luke 14:33 - General Luke 16:13 - servant John 8:23 - Ye are from Acts 25:23 - with Romans 1:25 - the creature Romans 7:7 - Thou shalt Romans 8:7 - the carnal mind 1 Corinthians 6:2 - the smallest 2 Corinthians 4:18 - for Galatians 5:16 - and 2 Timothy 4:10 - having Hebrews 12:1 - let us lay James 4:4 - the friendship 2 Peter 1:4 - having 2 Peter 2:14 - eyes Revelation 18:14 - thy soul

Cross-References

Genesis 2:1
The heavens and the eretz were finished, and all the host of them.

Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Genesis 2:1
And heaven and earth and all their array were finished.

Genesis 2:1
So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them were finished.

Genesis 2:1
The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them.

Genesis 2:1
So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts (inhabitants).

Genesis 2:1
And so the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their heavenly lights.

Genesis 2:1
Thus the heauens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Genesis 2:1
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.

Genesis 2:1
So the heavens and the earth and everything else were created.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For all that [is] in the world,.... This is the sum of the evil things in the world; or these following are the objects of sin in the world, or about which wicked men are conversant; even such as are carnal or grateful to the flesh, visible to the eye, and belong to this vain life, or serve to fill with pride and vanity; or these are the main things, which men that love the world most highly value and esteem:

the lust of the flesh; by which is meant, not lust in general, or concupiscence, the corruption of nature, which is the fountain of all sin, or indwelling sin, the flesh, or that corrupt principle which lusts against the Spirit; nor the various lusts of the flesh, fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, and which are many, and are also called worldly lusts; but some particular one, "a lust of the body", as the Syriac version reads; either the lust of uncleanness, which includes all unchaste desires, thoughts, words, and actions, fornication, adultery, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; and which make up a considerable part of the all that is in the world: or else intemperance in eating and drinking, gluttony and drunkenness, excess of wine, surfeitings, rioting, and revellings, and all the sensual pleasures of life, by which the carnal mind, and the lusts of it, are gratified; whereby the soul is destroyed, the body is dishonoured, and a wound, dishonour, and reproach brought on the character, not to be removed; for which reasons the world, and the things of it, are not to be loved: the next follows,

the lust of the eyes: after unlawful objects, and may design unchaste and lascivious looks, eyes full of adultery, and whereby adultery is committed; see Matthew 5:28; but then this falls in with the other, unless that be confined to intemperance; rather then this may intend a sinful curiosity of seeing vain sights, and shows, with which the eye of man is never satisfied, Ecclesiastes 1:8; and against which the psalmist prays, Psalms 119:37, or rather the sin of covetousness is here designed, the objects of which are visible things, as gold, silver, houses, lands, and possessions, with which riches the eyes of men are never satisfied, and which sin is drawn forth and cherished by the eyes; and indeed a covetous man has little more satisfaction than the beholding his substance with his eyes, and in which he takes much sinful pleasure; see Ecclesiastes 4:8; and what a poor vain empty thing is this! therefore, love not the world, since this is a principal thing in it: as is also

the pride of life; by which seems to be meant, ambition of honour, of chief places and high titles, as in the Scribes and Pharisees, Matthew 23:6, or of grand living, for the word signifies not so much life as living; living in a sumptuous, gay, luxurious, and pompous manner, in rich diet, costly apparel, having fine seats, palaces, and stately buildings, and numerous attendance; all which is but vanity and vexation of spirit; see Ecclesiastes 2:1. The Syriac and Arabic versions read, "the pride of the age"; and every age has some peculiar things in which the pride of it appears. Now neither of these

is of the Father; of God the Father, as the Ethiopic version reads; the things which are desired and lusted after are of God, but not the lust itself; God is not the author of sin, nor is it agreeable to his will:

but is of the world; of the men of it, and agreeable to their carnal minds; and is a reason why things of the world are not to be loved by the saints, who are not of it, but chosen and called out of it; and besides, all these things are mean, base, vile, and contemptible, and unworthy of their love and affection.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For all that is in the world - That is, all that really constitutes the world, or that enters into the aims and purposes of those who live for this life. All that that community lives for may be comprised under the following things.

The lust of the flesh - The word “lust” is used here in the general sense of desire, or that which is the object of desire - not in the narrow sense in which it is now commonly used to denote libidinous passion. See the notes at James 1:14. The phrase, “the lust of the flesh,” here denotes that which pampers the appetites, or all that is connected with the indulgence of the mere animal propensities. A large part of the world lives for little more than this. This is the lowest form of worldly indulgence; those which are immediately specified being of a higher order, though still merely worldly.

And the lust of the eyes - That which is designed merely to gratify the sight. This would include, of course, costly clothes, jewels, gorgeous furniture, splendid palaces, pleasure-grounds, etc. The object is to refer to the frivolous vanities of this world, the thing on which the eye delights to rest where there is no higher object of life. It does not, of course, mean that the eye is never to be gratified, or that we can find as much pleasure in an ugly as in a handsome object, or that it is sinful to find pleasure in beholding objects of real beauty - for the world, as formed by its Creator, is full of such things, and he could not but have intended that pleasure should enter the soul through the eye, or that the beauties which he has shed so lavishly over his works should contribute to the happiness of his creatures; but the apostle refers to this when it is the great and leading object of life - when it is sought without any connection with religion or reference to the world to come.

And the pride of life - The word here used means, properly, ostentation or boasting, and then arrogance or pride. - Robinson. It refers to whatever there is that tends to promote pride, or that is an index of pride, such as the ostentatious display of dress, equipage, furniture, etc.

Is not of the Father - Does not proceed from God, or meet with his approbation. It is not of the nature of true religion to seek these things, nor can their pursuit be reconciled with the existence of real piety in the heart. The sincere Christian has nobler ends; and he who has not any higher ends, and whose conduct and feelings can all be accounted for by a desire for these things, cannot be a true Christian.

But is of the world - Is originated solely by the objects and purposes of this life, where religion and the life to come are excluded.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. For all that is in the world — All that it can boast of, all that it can promise, is only sensual, transient gratification, and even this promise it cannot fulfil; so that its warmest votaries can complain loudest of their disappointment.

The lust of the flesh — Sensual and impure desires which seek their gratification in women, strong drink, delicious viands, and the like.

Lust of the eyes — Inordinate desires after finery of every kind, gaudy dress, splendid houses, superb furniture, expensive equipage, trappings, and decorations of all sorts.

Pride of life — Hunting after honours, titles, and pedigrees; boasting of ancestry, family connections, great offices, honourable acquaintance, and the like.

Is not of the Father — Nothing of these inordinate attachments either comes from or leads to God. They are of this world; here they begin, flourish, and end. They deprave the mind, divert it from Divine pursuits, and render it utterly incapable of spiritual enjoyments.