1 John 2:2 kjv
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 nkjv
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:2 niv
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 esv
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 nlt
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins ? and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
1 John 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 3:25 | "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood" | Christ as the hilasterion (mercy seat/atonement) |
| Heb 2:17 | "He had to be made like them, fully human… to make propitiation for the sins of the people" | Christ makes propitiation |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." | Substitutionary atonement |
| Isa 53:5-6 | "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities..." | Prophetic suffering for sins |
| Mk 10:45 | "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Christ's life as a ransom |
| Jn 1:29 | "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Universal taking away of sin |
| Jn 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son..." | God's love extends to the world |
| Jn 3:17 | "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." | Christ's purpose is world-salvation |
| 1 Tim 2:6 | "who gave himself as a ransom for all people." | Christ's ransom for all |
| Heb 2:9 | "But we do see Jesus... that he might taste death for everyone." | Christ tasted death for everyone |
| 2 Pet 3:9 | "The Lord is not slow... but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." | God's desire for universal repentance |
| 1 Jn 4:10 | "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." | God initiated propitiation from love |
| Rom 5:8 | "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | God's love demonstrated in Christ's death |
| Rom 8:34 | "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." | Christ as our Intercessor/Advocate |
| Heb 7:25 | "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." | Christ's constant intercession |
| Eph 5:2 | "and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Christ's life as sacrifice |
| Col 2:13-14 | "He canceled the record of debt that stood against us... nailing it to the cross." | Debts cancelled by the cross |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "You were ransomed... with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." | Redemption by Christ's blood |
| Titus 2:14 | "He gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own." | Redemption from wickedness and purification |
| Ps 130:4 | "But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you." | God's nature is to forgive |
| Heb 10:10-14 | "By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." | Single perfect sacrifice |
1 John 2 verses
1 John 2 2 Meaning
This verse declares that Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins. This means His sacrificial death on the cross fully appeased God's righteous wrath against human sin and effectively dealt with the moral debt incurred by transgression, thereby restoring a broken relationship between God and humanity. Furthermore, the verse powerfully states that this propitiation is not exclusively for the sins of believers, but is also for the sins of the entire world, highlighting the boundless reach and objective sufficiency of His atoning work for all mankind.
1 John 2 2 Context
1 John 2:2 immediately follows 1 John 2:1, where Christ is presented as "an advocate with the Father." This establishes Jesus' ongoing role in securing the believer's standing before God. The verse is part of John's address to the community, emphasizing the assurance of salvation and the conditions for fellowship with God, specifically in the light of sin. It counters potential misinterpretations that a confession of sin (1 Jn 1:9) might lead to an ongoing sense of condemnation without a solution, or that certain groups might claim exclusive access to salvation. John uses foundational truths about Christ's atonement to provide comfort and establish correct doctrine concerning sin and its remedy, likely addressing emerging Gnostic or proto-Gnostic tendencies that downplayed the reality or gravity of sin and denied Christ's true humanity and His sacrificial death. It frames the solution to the problem of sin as being objective, comprehensive, and universally sufficient.
1 John 2 2 Word analysis
- He: Refers directly to Jesus Christ, the same "Jesus Christ the righteous" identified as our Advocate in 1 Jn 2:1. This emphasizes His unique and authoritative person as both divine and human, uniquely qualified to accomplish propitiation.
- is: The verb "to be" in the present tense (estin). This indicates an ongoing, enduring reality. Jesus is perpetually and continuously the propitiation, not just someone who was it at one point. His atoning work has lasting efficacy.
- the propitiation: From the Greek word hilasmos (ἱλασμός). This is a crucial term. It describes an act or means by which divine wrath is averted, and a holy God is satisfied by an offering that covers or removes sin. It's not about making God loving (He already is), but about God Himself providing the means by which His just wrath against sin can be righteously satisfied, making reconciliation possible. In the Septuagint, hilasmos and related terms often refer to atonement, sin-offering, or expiation. It implies both appeasement of divine wrath and the cleansing or covering of sin itself. It refers to Christ being that which effectively reconciles, rather than merely making propitiation.
- for our sins: Signifies that Christ's propitiatory work is specifically in response to humanity's transgressions against God's holy law. The "our" initially refers to the believers to whom John is writing, underscoring the personal applicability of Christ's work to them. This highlights the substitutionary nature of His death, bearing the consequence that should have been ours.
- and not for ours only: This is a crucial clarification that directly confronts any exclusive or limited understanding of Christ's atonement. It explicitly denies that His work is confined to a particular group, whether the original Jewish audience of early Christianity or any self-proclaimed elite group within the church (a potential Gnostic error).
- but also for the sins of the whole world: From the Greek holou tou kosmou (ὅλου τοῦ κόσμου). "Whole world" here refers to all humanity, in contrast to a specific group. It declares the universal scope of Christ's atoning death; it is objectively sufficient to cover the sins of all people, offering salvation to everyone. While not everyone will be saved (salvation still requires faith), the provision made by Christ's death is limitless in its extent, effectively making forgiveness and reconciliation available to every individual without distinction. This challenges sectarianism and narrow conceptions of God's love and redemptive purpose.
1 John 2 2 Bonus section
The concept of "propitiation" in 1 John 2:2 (and 1 Jn 4:10) showcases a uniquely Christian understanding where God Himself initiates and provides the means of propitiation. Unlike pagan systems where humanity seeks to appease wrathful deities through their own efforts, the God of the Bible, in His perfect love and justice, sends His Son to be the hilasmos. This highlights divine initiative and grace at the core of redemption. The verse effectively connects the truth of God's holy justice, which must deal with sin, with His boundless love, which desires to save all people. The cross therefore reveals not a conflict between justice and love, but their ultimate reconciliation and manifestation.
1 John 2 2 Commentary
1 John 2:2 is a profound declaration of Christ's redemptive work. It posits Jesus Christ as the singular and complete solution to humanity's sin problem, ensuring reconciliation with a holy God. The term hilasmos is critical; it assures us that God's just condemnation of sin is fully addressed by Christ's sacrifice, so His righteous anger is satisfied, and a path for forgiveness and restored relationship is opened. This means believers are genuinely free from sin's power and condemnation. Moreover, the sweeping affirmation that Christ's propitiation is "for the sins of the whole world" underscores the magnificent, all-encompassing love of God. It declares that Christ's death is not limited to a select few but possesses universal sufficiency, meaning it is powerful enough to atone for the sins of every person ever born. This objective, infinite scope stands in contrast to any exclusive, limited view of God's redemptive plan, presenting Christ's work as a provision available for anyone who responds in faith.