1 John 2:23
What does 1 John 2:23 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 John 2:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 John 2:23 means
John states the consequence plainly: to deny the Son is to forfeit the Father; to confess the Son is to possess the Father also. The relationship with God is mediated through His Son, Jesus Christ. There is no alternative path to the Father that bypasses or contradicts the truth about the Son. This both warns and comforts: warns those drawn to false teaching, and comforts those who openly confess Jesus. Their confession is not a small thing; it is the mark of genuine communion with the living God, whose purpose centers on His Son.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who has no belief in the Son has not the Father: he who makes clear his belief in the Son has the Father.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862every one who is denying the Son, neither hath he the Father, <FI>he who is confessing the Son hath the Father also.<Fi>
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Whoever denies the Son has not the Father either; he who confesses the Son has the Father also.
Context
Flowing from verse 22’s identification of the antichrist denial, verse 23 frames the issue relationally: one’s stance toward the Son determines one’s relation to the Father. John will now, in verse 24, urge his readers to let the message heard from the beginning remain in them, promising that abiding in that gospel means abiding in both the Son and the Father. This underlines perseverance in the apostolic teaching as the path of life.
v.22Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.
v.23This passage
v.24As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 2:22
Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.
- 1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
- Matthew 11:27
All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.
- John 8:19
They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.
- John 15:23
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
- 1 John 4:15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
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