1 John 2:19 kjv

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

1 John 2:19 nkjv

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 John 2:19 niv

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

1 John 2:19 esv

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

1 John 2:19 nlt

These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

1 John 2 verses

1 John 2 19 Meaning

This verse addresses individuals who departed from the fellowship of believers, clarifying that their secession demonstrated they were never truly part of the genuine spiritual body of Christ. Their departure served as a divine revelation of their superficial, rather than saving, faith. True believers remain steadfast; the inability to persevere reveals an inherent lack of authentic belonging from the start.

1 John 2 19 Context

1 John chapter 2 focuses on living out true Christianity, combating both sin within believers and false doctrine from without. Prior to verse 19, John emphasizes that obedience to God's commandments is proof of knowing Him (vv. 3-6) and that love for fellow believers is a sign of light, while hatred signifies darkness (vv. 9-11). He addresses various spiritual stages (fathers, young men, little children), reassuring them of their anointing and spiritual knowledge (vv. 12-14). He then warns against loving the world (vv. 15-17). Immediately preceding verse 19, John alerts his readers to the rise of "antichrist" (v. 18), which, in this context, refers to false teachers who deny Jesus' messiahship or His divine-human nature. Verse 19 specifically addresses these false teachers who, though outwardly associated with the community, reveal their true, unsaved nature by their departure and doctrinal apostasy. Historically, these individuals likely adhered to proto-Gnostic or Docetic beliefs, denying the true humanity of Christ or other fundamental aspects of His person, leading them to separate from orthodox Christian fellowship. Their departure was a spiritual necessity for the sake of the genuine community.

1 John 2 19 Word analysis

• They went out from us (ἐξῆλθον ἐξ ἡμῶν - exēlthon ex hēmōn):

  • Went out (ἐξῆλθον - exēlthon): Aorist active indicative of exerchomai, meaning to go forth, to depart. It denotes a definite act of secession or withdrawal from the believing community. This physical or organizational departure signifies a deeper spiritual separation.
  • From us (ἐξ ἡμῶν - ex hēmōn): Implies from the true fellowship, the community of authentic believers who abide in the apostolic teaching.
  • Significance: This is a decisive break, revealing a lack of genuine attachment and conformity to the faith. It signals a move into a sphere of spiritual alienation.

• but they were not of us (ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἦσαν ἐξ ἡμῶν - all' ouk ēsan ex hēmōn):

  • Were not (οὐκ ἦσαν - ouk ēsan): Imperfect active indicative of eimi (to be). The imperfect tense suggests a continuous state in the past: "they were never of us," "they did not continually belong to us." It points to their nature or identity from the outset.
  • Not of us (οὐκ ἐξ ἡμῶν - ouk ex hēmōn): Indicates a lack of true origin, essence, or belonging to the spiritual family of God. They might have been physically present or externally aligned, but never inwardly united.
  • Significance: This is the core declaration. Their departure proved a prior, intrinsic lack of true spiritual connection. It underscores that superficial association does not equate to genuine salvation or belonging to the Body of Christ.

• for if they had been of us (εἰ γὰρ ἦσαν ἐξ ἡμῶν - ei gar ēsan ex hēmōn):

  • Had been (ἦσαν - ēsan): Imperfect, again emphasizing a continuous state or true nature. This forms a hypothetical clause.
  • Significance: Reinforces the previous statement. Had they possessed true spiritual kinship with the community, their actions would have been different.

• they would no doubt have continued with us (μεμενήκεισαν ἂν μεθʼ ἡμῶν - memenēkei-san an meth’ hēmōn):

  • Had continued (μεμενήκεισαν - memenēkei-san): Pluperfect active indicative of menō (to abide, remain, endure). This tense implies a prior state of continuous dwelling, meaning they would have permanently stayed if their spiritual foundation were genuine.
  • With us (μεθʼ ἡμῶν - meth’ hēmōn): Denotes being in fellowship and spiritual communion.
  • Significance: Perseverance and remaining steadfast are hallmarks of true faith. Those genuinely connected to Christ and His body endure. Their failure to abide confirms their non-belonging.

• but they went out, that they might be made manifest (ἀλλʼ ἵνα φανερωθῶσιν ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν πάντες ἐξ ἡμῶν - all' hina phanerōthōsin hoti ouk eisin pantes ex hēmōn):

  • Went out (ἐξῆλθον - exēlthon): Repetition of the first phrase, emphasizing the action.
  • That they might be made manifest (ἵνα φανερωθῶσιν - hina phanerōthōsin): Purpose clause. The passive voice ("be made manifest") implies divine agency – God permits or uses their departure to reveal their true spiritual condition.
  • Made manifest (φανερωθῶσιν - phanerōthōsin): Aorist passive subjunctive of phaneroō, to make visible, known, or evident.
  • Significance: God uses their departure to clarify their identity. It's a divine purpose behind their falling away – to reveal that outward association does not always mean inward regeneration. This serves to protect the true flock and solidify their faith by distinguishing true from false.

• that they were not all of us (ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν πάντες ἐξ ἡμῶν - hoti ouk eisin pantes ex hēmōn):

  • Were not all of us (οὐκ εἰσὶν πάντες ἐξ ἡμῶν - ouk eisin pantes ex hēmōn): John clarifies that not everyone within the outward church group is truly "of us" (meaning truly saved or part of the elect). "Pantes" means "all," suggesting that their departure proved that they, the departing ones, were not all genuinely part of the whole believing body. It confirms the reality of hypocrites within the visible church.
  • Significance: The visible church contains both genuine and nominal believers. Their separation provides clear evidence to the faithful that the individuals who departed were not true believers, reassuring the steadfast in their own faith and discerning the community. It protects the genuine believers from deception by unmasking the pretenders.

1 John 2 19 Bonus section

The doctrine illuminated by this verse highlights the internal (spiritual) nature of salvation as distinct from external (organizational) association. Many people can be outwardly connected to the church community without ever having experienced genuine conversion. John's emphasis on "they were not of us" (οὐκ ἦσαν ἐξ ἡμῶν), using the imperfect tense, points to a lack of true spiritual essence or origin. This stands in contrast to "going out from us" (ἐξῆλθον ἐξ ἡμῶν), an external act. The former condition dictates the latter act. The departure, while appearing as a rupture, is essentially a manifestation (φανερωθῶσιν) of an already existing spiritual truth. This also reinforces the New Testament emphasis on perseverance as an evidence, not a condition, of true saving faith, where "he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt 10:22). It serves as a strong pastoral word of discernment, allowing true believers to recognize that those who abandon foundational truths or community fellowship likely reveal an unregenerate heart.

1 John 2 19 Commentary

1 John 2:19 is a foundational verse addressing apostasy and the distinction between genuine and nominal Christianity. John clearly states that those who depart from the faith community demonstrate they were never truly part of it. This isn't a statement about genuine believers losing their salvation, but about the revealing of those who never truly possessed it. Their outward affiliation was temporary and superficial, lacking the inner regeneration that marks true belonging to Christ.

The act of "going out" refers to a decisive secession, driven by the adoption of heretical doctrines, particularly those denying the incarnation of Christ, as described earlier in the letter concerning the "antichrists." John explains that had these individuals been authentically "of us" – born again into God's family – they would have persevered in the faith. Abiding in Christ and in fellowship with believers is a hallmark of true spiritual life. The failure to endure, therefore, serves as proof that the individual's professed faith was not authentic from the start.

This separation, while painful, serves a divine purpose: "that they might be made manifest." God orchestrates or permits such divisions so that the true nature of these individuals, and the true nature of genuine faith, becomes clear. It acts as a purifying force within the church, allowing those with genuine faith to be strengthened in their understanding and assured in their election, while false teachers and hypocrites are exposed. This verse offers both comfort to those who remain steadfast and a sobering warning about the deceptive nature of outward appearances in the visible church.