God’s Word Translation
1 John 2:8
8On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining.
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
6Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived. 7Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard. On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining. 9Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. 10Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light.
Read all of 1 John 21 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 4:21Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.
- John 13:34“I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you.
- John 15:12Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do.
- 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death.
- 1 John 4:11Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty.
- Ephesians 5:1Imitate God, since you are the children he loves.
- 1 Peter 1:21Through him you believe in God who brought Christ back to life and gave him glory. So your faith and confidence are in God.
- 1 Peter 4:1Since Christ has suffered physically, take the same attitude that he had. (A person who has suffered physically no longer sins.)
- Isaiah 9:2The people who walk in darkness will see a bright light. The light will shine on those who live in the land of death’s shadow.
- Isaiah 60:1Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
- Matthew 4:16The people who lived in darkness have seen a bright light. A light has risen for those who live in a land overshadowed by death.”
- Luke 1:79He will give light to those who live in the dark and in death’s shadow. He will guide us into the way of peace.”
- John 12:46I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark.
- Acts 17:30“God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him and change the way they think and act.
- Acts 26:18You will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan’s control to God’s. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among God’s people who are made holy by believing 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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