Keraia
1 John 2

1 John 2:1

Jesus Our Advocate · 1 John 2:1–6
Read 1 John 2

Translations

Modern
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Traditional
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Literal
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you might not sin. And if anyone might sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
Latin
Filioli mei, hæc scribo vobis, ut non peccetis. Sed et si quis peccaverit, advocatum habemus apud Patrem, Jesum Christum justum:

Original

Greek
English
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Notes

1 John 2:1

  • In order to "walk in the light," a person must confess sin to God and stop sinning (1:5–7; 9). John emphasizes sin in chapter 1 to encourage Christians to reject and avoid it.

  • if anyone does sin: Christians should reject sin, but they should not fear confessing sins to God.

  • advocate: The Greek word paraklētos means “one who is called to our side.” It can mean helper, comforter, or advocate (a person who speaks for us in a court). Christ is our advocate. He stands before the Father and speaks on our behalf (see Romans 8:26–34; compare John 14:16).

  • Jesus Christ, the Righteous One: We are sinful, but Christ is righteous. Because Christ obeyed the Father fully and offered himself for our sins, he can stand before God as the one who brings us forgiveness, healing, and restoration. When God raised Christ from the dead, it showed that God accepted Christ’s work and his plea for our acquittal once for all (see Romans 4:23–25). As the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther wrote, “The righteousness of Christ stands on our side; for God’s righteousness is, in Jesus Christ, ours.”

1 John 1:5–2:6

Here John focuses on the first part of living in fellowship with God. To live in the light means that Christians see that they are sinners. It also means they understand that Jesus is their Advocate, the one who speaks for them and makes them right with God (see Ephesians 5:6–13).

Theme notes and profiles

Our Advocate The Land

People

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world

Glossary

Advocate Ascension of Christ Atonement Counsel, Counselor First Letter of John Intercession of Christ Mediate, Mediator Paraclete Sin Writer

Topics

Advocate: Figurative Being Perfect Children’s Salvation Daily Christian Living Forgiveness of Past Sins God: Fatherhood of God: Righteousness of Guilt Guilt and Shame Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Advocate Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Jesus Christ Privileges of Saints: Having: Christ for Their Intercessor Repeated Sin Repetitive Sin Sin: Forgiveness of Titles and Names of Christ: Advocate Titles and Names of Saints: Little Children