1 John 2:8

1 John 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
• New International Version (NIV)Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
• English Standard Version (ESV)At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

Context of 1 John 2:8

6whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself. 7Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard [before from us]. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true and realized in Christ and in you, because the darkness [of moral blindness] is clearing away and the true Light [the revelation of God in Christ] is already shining. 9The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin].

1 John 2:8 word by word

πάλιν ἐντολὴν καινὴν γράφω ὑμῖν ὅ ἐστιν ἀληθὲς ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν, ὅτι ἡ σκοτία παράγεται καὶ τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ἤδη φαίνει.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• aἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
• newκαινόςkainos · newG2537
• I writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• which thingὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• trueἀληθήςalēthēs · trueG227
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• the darknessὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the darknessσκοτίαskotia · darknessG4653
• is pastπαράγωparagō · to passG3855
• theφῶςphōs · lightG5457
• trueἀληθινόςalēthinos · trueG228
• nowἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235
• shinethφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316

Cross-references for 1 John 2:8

• 1 John 4:21And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
• John 13:34I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.
• John 15:12“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.
• 1 John 4:11Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
• Ephesians 5:1Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father];
• 1 Peter 1:21and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
• 1 Peter 4:1Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world],
• Isaiah 9:2The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.
• Isaiah 60:1“Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you.
• Matthew 4:16The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death, Upon them a Light has dawned.”
• Luke 1:79To shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”
• John 12:46I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.
• Acts 17:30Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives],
• Acts 26:18to open their [spiritual] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.’

Commentaries on 1 John 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Which thing is true in him and in you - It is true that Christ loved the world so well as to lay down his life for it; and it was true in them, in all his faithful followers at that time, who were ready to lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus. There is a saying in Synopsis Sohar, p. 94, n. 51, that may cast some light on this passage: That way in which the just have walked, although it be Old, yet may be said to be New in the love of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Again, a new commandment I write unto you - “And yet, that which I write to you, and particularly enjoin on you, deserves in another sense to be called a new commandment, though it has been also inculcated from the beginning, for it was called new by the Saviour himself.” Or the meaning may be, “In addition to the general precepts which I have referred to, I do now call your attention to the new commandment of the Saviour, that which he himself called…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-11Verses 3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8a new commandment: Jesus gave a new basis for their love by showing love to his disciples through his actions (John 13:1–17). the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining: The light of the good news about Jesus pushes back the darkness. Darkness cannot defeat this light, especially when believers live out the love that is in Christ.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. a new commandment--It was "old," in that Christians as such had heard it from the first; but "new" (Greek, "kaine," not "nea": new and different from the old legal precept) in that it was first clearly promulgated with Christianity; though the inner spirit of the law was love even to enemies, yet it was enveloped in some bitter precepts which caused it to be temporarily almost unrecognized, till the Gospel came. Christianity first put love to brethren…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 2:8

• Darkness
• Gospel
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• New Commandment
• Acknowledge
• Advocate
• Lie
• Stumble
• Commandment, the New
• Johannine Theology
• John, the Epistles of

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