1 John 2:24

What does 1 John 2:24 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 John 2:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 John 2:24 means

John calls believers to perseverance: let the original message you heard “abide in you.” Do not trade the apostolic gospel for innovations. If that word remains, “ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.” Holding fast to the first truth sustains living fellowship with God. The gospel is not a ladder to discard after climbing; it is the life-giving vine to remain in. In a shifting world and amid deceivers, stability comes from staying with what was true from the start—Christ crucified and risen, as proclaimed by the apostles.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

As 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

As 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But as for you, keep in your hearts the things which were made clear to you from the first. If you keep these things in your hearts you will be kept in the Father and the Son.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Ye, then, that which ye heard from the beginning, in you let it remain; if in you may remain that which from the beginning ye did hear, ye also in the Son and in the Father shall remain,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

As for you let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you: if what ye have heard from the beginning abides in you, ye also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.

Context

After clarifying that relation to the Son determines relation to the Father (verse 23), verse 24 exhorts the readers to keep the original teaching at the center. This emphasis on abiding anticipates verse 25’s promise—eternal life—and verse 26’s reminder that John writes to protect them from those who would lead them astray. Verse 27 will then return to the theme of the anointing that teaches and keeps believers abiding in Christ.

v.23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.

v.24This passage

v.25And this is the promise which he promised us, even the life eternal.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 9:44

    Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

  • 3 John 1:3

    For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.

  • John 17:21

    that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.

  • John 8:25

    They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.

  • Philippians 4:15

    And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only;

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