1 John 2:1 kjv

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:

1 John 2:1 nkjv

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 2:1 niv

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father?Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

1 John 2:1 esv

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 2:1 nlt

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

1 John 2 verses

1 John 2 1 Meaning

1 John 2:1 addresses believers with a tender address, "My little children," to underscore the primary purpose of John's epistle: that they might not fall into sin. It sets a high standard of Christian living, aiming for a life free from willful transgression. However, immediately recognizing the human frailty and the reality of potential sin even among the regenerate, the verse swiftly provides immense comfort. It declares that in the event a believer does sin, they possess a continuous and powerful advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, who is inherently righteous. This truth serves as an assurance of God's provision for forgiveness and restoration through Christ's intercession.

1 John 2 1 Context

1 John chapter 2 follows chapter 1's profound declaration regarding walking in the light, fellowship with God, and the essential confession of sins to receive forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus. While chapter 1 emphasizes that believers still have sin (1 Jn 1:8, 10), chapter 2:1 provides the theological and practical resolution for that reality. John's epistle generally addresses a community facing internal divisions and external pressures, particularly from proto-Gnostic false teachers who often denied the full humanity of Christ, minimized the reality of sin, or separated knowledge from ethical living. John counteracts these views by asserting the true humanity and righteousness of Jesus and stressing that genuine fellowship with God inherently demands a lifestyle of righteousness and love. The verse directly serves as both a high call to ethical purity and a tender assurance of divine grace and provision when the call is not perfectly met, reinforcing that God is both holy and merciful.

1 John 2 1 Word analysis

• My little children (Greek: Teknia mou, Τεκνία μου):

  • Teknia is a diminutive of teknon (child), conveying warmth, affection, and tenderness, akin to a spiritual father speaking to his beloved offspring.
  • Significance: Highlights John's pastoral authority, deep love, and intimate relationship with his audience, setting a tone of caring instruction rather than harsh judgment. It underscores their spiritual immaturity or dependence.

• these things I write to you:

  • Refers back to the teachings of 1 John chapter 1 and possibly anticipates what follows.
  • Significance: Establishes the divine inspiration and purposeful nature of John's message, indicating its importance for the readers' conduct.

• so that you may not sin (Greek: hina mē hamartēte, ἵνα μὴ ἁμάρτητε):

  • Hina is a purpose clause marker. Mē hamartēte (aorist subjunctive) expresses the specific intent: for them not to commit sin.
  • Significance: Reveals the ideal and primary goal of Christian life: an avoidance of sin. This is God's will and the aspiration of the believer walking in the light. It's an exhortation to strive for purity, not a declaration of inherent inability to sin.

• And if anyone sins (Greek: ean tis hamartē, ἐάν τις ἁμάρτῃ):

  • Ean indicates a third-class conditional clause: "If ever it happens that someone sins." It implies a real possibility, but not a certainty that every individual will commit every type of sin, or necessarily ongoing sinfulness. It acknowledges the persistent reality of human frailty post-conversion.
  • Significance: Balances the high ideal of sinlessness with the compassionate realism of God regarding human imperfection. It does not license sin but provides a safety net for believers who genuinely falter.

• we have (Greek: echomen, ἔχομεν):

  • Present active indicative.
  • Significance: Expresses a present, continuous, and secure possession. Believers permanently possess this Advocate. It's a statement of confidence and assurance.

• an Advocate (Greek: Paraklēton, Παράκλητον):

  • Means "one called alongside," "helper," "comforter," "counselor," "intercessor," "defense attorney." In a legal sense, it denotes someone who speaks on behalf of another in court.
  • Significance: Jesus acts as our legal representative before God, presenting our case against Satan's accusations (Zech 3:1-5). Distinct from a prosecutor, He is for us, not against us.

• with the Father (Greek: pros ton Patera, πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα):

  • Pros here implies close, intimate relationship or direct standing before the Father, emphasizing Christ's unique access and position.
  • Significance: Locates Jesus' advocacy in the divine court, directly before the supreme Judge, guaranteeing the efficacy of His intercession.

• Jesus Christ:

  • Full identity of the Advocate, underscoring both His human (Jesus) and divine/messianic (Christ) nature.
  • Significance: His full person and finished work are the basis for His intercession. He is uniquely qualified because of who He is.

• the righteous (Greek: dikaion, δίκαιον):

  • Describes His inherent and absolute moral purity and sinlessness.
  • Significance: This attribute is foundational to His ability to advocate for sinners and be the propitiation for sin. He alone perfectly fulfilled God's righteous requirements, making His intercession completely valid and effective.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "these things I write to you so that you may not sin": This phrase communicates John's pastoral intent. His writing is not merely informative but transformative, aiming to guide believers away from a life of sin and toward ethical purity, which is fundamental to genuine fellowship with God (1 Jn 1:6-7).
  • "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate": This provides a crucial theological and pastoral balance. While sinlessness is the ideal goal, John realistically addresses the potential for believers to falter. The "if" clause recognizes human imperfection without excusing sin, immediately followed by the divine provision for restoration.
  • "an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous": This is a powerful declaration of Christ's role and character. It specifies the unique person of Jesus as our defender before God, whose perfect righteousness (His sinless life and atoning death) forms the sole basis for His effective advocacy and our ongoing reconciliation.

1 John 2 1 Bonus section

The double role of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as "Paraclete" in the New Testament is significant here. While Jesus is "our Advocate" (1 Jn 2:1), John's Gospel also describes the Holy Spirit as "another Helper" or "Advocate" (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). This highlights a Trinitarian cooperation: the Holy Spirit acts as our Advocate and Helper within us, enabling us to obey, guiding us into truth, and convicting us. Jesus, meanwhile, acts as our Advocate for us with the Father, defending and interceding on our behalf from His exalted position. This complementary advocacy provides believers with comprehensive divine support both internally and externally. This verse also strongly distinguishes between genuine, persistent "sinning" which is characteristic of those not truly born of God (as might be discussed later in 1 Jn 3) and an individual "if anyone sins" that is an occasional failing for which grace is abundant.

1 John 2 1 Commentary

1 John 2:1 is a theological anchor, elegantly bridging the demand for holiness with the provision of grace. John's affectionate "My little children" frames the entire verse as a fatherly instruction, gentle yet firm. The primary goal for a Christian is "that you may not sin," indicating God's design for a transformed life, aligned with His own nature of light. This aspiration isn't about mere rule-following but living in true fellowship with a holy God.

However, John is not naive to the Christian's struggle with indwelling sin. He immediately provides a profound truth: "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." This is not an endorsement of sin but a compassionate provision for when believers fall short despite their best efforts and the Holy Spirit's empowerment. The term "Advocate" (Paraclete) paints a picture of Jesus as our defense attorney in the divine courtroom, standing between our sinfulness and God's just holiness. His efficacy lies in His absolute righteousness; He is "the righteous one," whose perfect obedience and sacrificial death satisfy divine justice, enabling Him to plead our case without blemish. This verse assures believers that their standing before God is not lost by a moment of failure, but rather upheld by the continuous, gracious intercession of their perfectly righteous Savior. It encourages confession (as per 1 Jn 1:9) and reliance on Christ's finished work, reinforcing that forgiveness is readily available for the repentant believer through Him.

Practical usage:

• When struggling with guilt over sin, confess it to God and remember Jesus is your Advocate, pleading your case based on His righteousness, not your merit.
• Strive actively against sin, recognizing that walking in righteousness is the Lord's desire for His children, empowered by the Holy Spirit.