1 John 2:18

1 John 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
• New International Version (NIV)Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

Context of 1 John 2:18

16For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. 17The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever. Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us. 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One [you have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit], and all of you know [the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards us from error].

1 John 2:18 word by word

Παιδία, ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν, καὶ καθὼς ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἀντίχριστος ἔρχεται, καὶ νῦν ἀντίχριστοι πολλοὶ γεγόνασιν ὅθεν γινώσκομεν ὅτι ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Little childrenπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• theὥραhōra · hourG5610
• lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• ye have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• antichristὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• antichristἀντίχριστοςantichristos · antichristG500
• shall comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• are thereγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• wherebyὅθενhothen · whenceG3606
• we knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097

Cross-references for 1 John 2:18

• 1 John 2:1My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].
• John 21:5So Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish [to eat along with your bread]?” They answered, “No.”
• 2 Timothy 3:1But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].
• Hebrews 1:2has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum].
• 1 Peter 1:5who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
• 2 Peter 3:3First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires
• Jude 1:18They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.”
• 1 John 4:3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.
• Matthew 24:5For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many.
• Mark 13:6Many will come in My name [misusing My name or claiming to be the Messiah], saying, ‘I am He!’ and will deceive and mislead many.
• Acts 20:29I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],
• 1 Timothy 4:1But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons,
• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,
• 2 Peter 2:1But [in those days] false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.
• 1 John 2:22Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son.

Commentaries on 1 John 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Little children, it is the last time - This place is variously understood. This is the last dispensation of grace and mercy to mankind; the present age is the conclusion of the Jewish state, as the temple and holy city are shortly to be destroyed. But as there are many who suppose that this epistle was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, consequently the words cannot, on that supposition, refer to this. Others think that ̔ should be translated, a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Little children - See 1 John 2:1. It is the last time - The closing period or dispensation; that dispensation in which the affairs of the world are ultimately to be wound up. The apostle does not, however, say that the end of the world would soon occur, nor does he intimate how long this dispensation would be. That period might continue through many ages or centuries, and still be the last dispensation, or that in which the affairs of the world would be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 Every man is an antichrist, who denies the Person, or any of the offices of Christ; and in denying the Son, he denies the Father also, and has no part in his favour while he rejects his great salvation. Let this prophecy that seducers would rise in the Christian world, keep us from being seduced. The church knows not well who are its true members, and who are not, but thus true Christians were proved, and rendered more watchful and humble…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Antichrist literally means “instead of Christ.” The antichrist will claim what belongs to Christ and act as a substitute for Christ (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and Revelation 13:1–10). many antichrists have appeared: These are false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, God in the flesh (1 John 2:22–23; 4:2; 2 John 1:7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Little children--same Greek as 1Jo 2:13; children in age. After the fathers and young men were gone, "the last time" with its "many Antichrists" was about to come suddenly on the children. "In this last hour we all even still live" [Bengel]. Each successive age has had in it some of the signs of "the last time" which precedes Christ's coming, in order to keep the Church in continual waiting for the Lord. The connection with 1Jo 2:15-17 is: There are…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:18

• Antichrist
• Minister, Christian
• Prophecy

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Antichrist
• Lie
• Stumble
• Child; Children
• Day, Last
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Hebrews, Epistle to the
• Johannine Theology

Commentaries on 1 John 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings