1 John 2:21

Contextual Overview

²⁰But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. ²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. ²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. ²⁰But all of y'all are here because Jesus gave y'all the Holy Spirit and you all know the truth. ²⁰ And you have the Spirit from the Holy One and you all have knowledge. ²⁰ And *ye* have [the] unction from the holy [one], and ye know all things. ²⁰ You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know the truth. ²⁰ But ye have an anointing from the Holy one, and know all things. ²⁰ As for you, you have an anointing from the holy One and have perfect knowledge. ²⁰ But ye haue an vnction from the holy One, and ye know all things.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

because ye know not: Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 9:9, Romans 15:14, Romans 15:15, 2 Peter 1:12

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 17:24 - the word Psalms 119:118 - their deceit Proverbs 11:9 - through Isaiah 32:3 - General John 10:5 - General 1 John 2:12 - write 1 John 2:27 - and ye 1 John 5:13 - have I 2 John 1:1 - known Revelation 2:2 - thou hast

Cross-References

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
And whe the sunne was downe, there fell a deepe sleepe vpon Abram: and lo, an horrour of great darknesse fell vpon hym.

Genesis 15:12
The sun began to go down and Abram got very sleepy. While he was asleep, a very terrible darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
And whanne the sunne was gon doun, drede felde on Abram, and a greet hidousenesse and derk asaylide him.

Genesis 15:12
And when the Sunne was going downe, a deepe sleepe fell vpon Abram: and loe, an horrour of great darkenesse fell vpon him.

Genesis 15:12
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I have not written unto you,.... Either this epistle, or rather what particularly here regards those apostates from the truth, in order to shun them and not be deceived by them: the apostle here obviates an objection that he saw might be made upon what he last said, that they knew all things; and, if so, why then did he write the things he did, since they knew them before? to which he answers, that he did not write to them as to ignorant, but as to knowing persons:

because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it: the Father, who is the God of truth; Christ, who is truth itself; and the Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth; and the Gospel, which is the word of truth; and the Scriptures, which are the Scriptures of truth, and from whence truth is to be fetched, and by them to be confirmed and defended; and which, if they had not known, it would have been to no purpose for him to have written to them about the antichrists that were come into the world; and though they did know the truth, it was very proper to put them in remembrance of it, and to establish them in it, against these deceivers, which supposes former knowledge of it:

and that no lie is of the truth; either springs from it, or is according to it, but just the reverse. The apostle has respect to the errors and heresies of the above apostates, which were flagrant contradictions to the Gospel, and as distant from it as a lie is to truth; and of such lies, and of those liars, he speaks in the next verses. The Arabic version reads, "and that every liar is not of the truth".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth - You are not to regard my writing to you in this earnest manner as any evidence that I do not suppose you to be acquainted with religion and its duties. Some, perhaps, might have been disposed to put this construction on what he had said, but he assures them that that was not the reason why he had thus addressed them. The very fact that they did understand the subject of religion, he says, was rather the reason why he wrote to them.

But because ye know it - This was the ground of his hope that his appeal would be effectual. If they had never known what religion was, if they were ignorant of its nature and its claims, he would have had much less hope of being able to guard them against error, and of securing their steady walk in the path of piety. We may always make a strong and confident appeal to those who really understand what the nature of religion is, and what are the evidences of its truth.

And that no lie is of the truth - No form of error, however plausible it may appear, however ingeniously it may be defended and however much it may seem to be favorable to human virtue and happiness, can be founded in truth. What the apostle says here has somewhat the aspect of a truism, but it contains a real truth of vital importance, and one which should have great influence in determining our minds in regard to any proposed opinion or doctrine. Error often appears plausible. It seems to be adapted to relieve the mind of many difficulties which perplex and embarrass it on the subject of religion. It seems to be adapted to promote religion. It seems to make those who embrace it happy, and for a time they apparently enjoy religion. But John says that however plausible all this may be, however much it may seem to prove that the doctrines thus embraced are of God, it is a great and vital maxim that no error can have its foundation in truth, and, of course, that it must be worthless. The grand question is, “what is truth;” and when that is determined, we can easily settle the inquiries which come up about the various doctrines that are abroad in the world. Mere plausible appearances, or temporary good results that may grow out of a doctrine, do not prove that it is based on truth; for whatever those results may be, it is impossible that any error, however plausible, should have its origin in the truth.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. I have not written, c. — It is not because ye are ignorant of these things that I write to you, but because you know them, and can by these judge of the doctrines of those false teachers, and clearly perceive that they are liars for they contradict the truth which ye have already received, and consequently their doctrine is a lie, and no lie can be of the truth, i.e. consistent with Christianity.