By Pastor Dave Farmer

Exegesis in support of Expanded Translation

Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to Strong's numbering system whereby Greek words are assigned a number for easy lookup. Those who study the Scripture from the original languages are familiar with this type of lexicon.

The Third False Claim: The Amazing Cure

1 John 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. Nevertheless, if anyone sins, [then] we keep on having a Defense Attorney in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One;

2:1a] Τεκνία μου, ταῦτα γράφω ὑμῖν ἵνα μὴ ἁμάρτητε “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

We start this verse with a vocative phrase, "My Little Children." The noun is TEKNION [Τεκνία - #5024] translated LITTLE CHILD. Also, we have the possessive genitive singular of the first-person personal pronoun EGO [μου - #3450] used as a possessive pronoun, MY, "MY LITTLE CHILDREN." Kittel says:

This is a nursery term for a "small child." In the NT it occurs only in affectionate address (Jn. 13:33; 1 Jn. 2:12, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21). ¹

The generally held view is that this is an expression of John’s affection for them. We agree that it is not a reference to the physical age of those who are addressed but is used figuratively, implying a spiritual relationship exists. However, in the writings of John, the secondary sense of this expression is preferred. This term has to do with the spiritual growth of those who are being addressed. A compilation of the passages where this vocative phrase occurs paints a picture of immature believers (1 John 3:18), unstable (1 John 2:8), struggling with sin ( 1 John 2:1,12) in particular, pride (1 John 3:18) idolatry (1 John 5:21) easily deceived by false teachers (1 John 3:7) although some have overcome them (1 John 4:4).

Another illustration:

1 John 2:13

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

The underlined terms are frequently seen as different age groups. However, it is the secondary and figurative sense that is being employed. What this means is that the vocative plural of FATHERS is not a reference to a man that has begotten a child but who is spiritually mature. They have reached the high ground of spiritual maturity. Again, the vocative plural of YOUNG MEN does not refer to their physical age, but these are believers who are positive toward the Word of God and are progressing in their walk of faith, winning spiritual battles. Lastly, CHILDREN (PAIDION, not TEKNION, as in verse 1) are believers who are just getting started in the Christian Way of life. One of the difficulties we have as pastor in the teaching of the Word of God is that in our congregation, we have believers who are at different stages of growth. This must be taken into account as we teach.

Next, the sentence continues with the direct object "these things," which is placed first for emphasis. However, we will follow the English word order, starting with the present active indicative of GRAPHO [γράφω - #1125] meaning TO WRITE, as in 1 John 1:4. The progressive present indicates the action is continuing in the present. John is writing Scripture. He has joined others in the process of completing the Canon of Scripture. The active voice indicates that John is producing the action of the verb. He is writing 1 John. The indicative mood is declarative for a statement of fact.

With this, we have the dative indirect object, the second person pronoun SY [ὑμῖν #5213] meaning TO YOU. This is a dative of advantage. There is a blessing for all who study its message. Finally, the direct object is the accusative neuter plural from the demonstrative pronoun HOUTOS [ταῦτα # 5023] translated THESE THINGS. This is a reference to the written Word of God. Many books, many writers, One Author.

The next phrase is a purpose clause introduced by the conjunction HINA [ἵνα - #2443], FOR THE PURPOSE OF, IN ORDER THAT, or SO THAT. Then we have the Aorist active subjunctive of HAMARTANO [ἁμάρτητε - #264] plus the negative adverb ME [μὴ - #3361], SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN. The aorist is a constative gathering up all the times when you are tempted to sin and don't. The active voice indicates that you have a choice. You can say, "no." The subjunctive mood emphasizes potentiality. Sometimes you yield to temptation and sin.

2:1b] καὶ ἐάν τις ἁμάρτῃ, παράκλητον ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν δίκαιον. “nevertheless if anyone sins [then] we keep on having a Defense Attorney in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.”

KAI EAN [καὶ ἐάν - #1437] The first two words of this sentence must be handled together and not given their usual gloss which is "AND IF." When combined, we ought to translate them, NEVERTHELESS IF.

This is a conditional sentence where we have EAN, plus the verb that follows in the subjunctive mood. But before we develop that, we have an additional word. This is the indefinite pronoun TIS [τις -# 5100]. The indefinite pronoun is used when you don't want to identify anyone by name. It is used as a general reference rather than intruding on the privacy of an individual. It is used to state a principle without specifying the person to whom it applies. By using an indefinite pronoun, you don't make it personal, and you're not pointing at another person. You're saying anyone of us. At some time or another, all of us will sin. As we approach maturity, sin may be infrequent, but all of us will face temptation. At times we will fail by sinning.

The prodosis continues with the aorist active subjunctive of the verb HAMARTANO [ἁμάρτῃ - #264] translated TO SIN, “NEVERTHELESS IF ANYONE SINS.” The aorist is a gnomic aorist. How do we translate this? It's not rendered by a past tense as the normal aorist. If it were a culminative aorist, it would be translated like an English perfect. The gnomic aorist is different; it is translated by a present tense. It is used for a generally accepted fact that is so fixed in its certainty that it is described as presently occurring. The gnomic construction says, not that we can sin, but that we will sin. The active voice means any believer can sin at any time. The subjunctive mood is future reference, and the idea of contingency indicates that your volition is involved.

The Apodosis – [then] we keep on having a Defense Attorney

The second half of the conditional sentence is the apodosis, and we mark that by inserting the word then. Next is the verb ECHO [ἔχομεν - #2192], meaning WE KEEP ON HAVING. This is a perfective present. It refers to a fact which is come to be in the past but emphasizes a present reality. In the past, we trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, and this resulted in this grace blessing. It denotes the continuation of existing results. In the active voice, every believer produces the action by faith alone in Christ alone. We all have a defense attorney in heaven protecting us. The indicative mood is declarative for a dogmatic statement of doctrine. There are no exceptions. No matter how you fail as a believer, you will always have an advocate in heaven.

The direct object is the accusative singular from the noun PARAKLETOS [παράκλητον - #3875], A HELPER, AN ADVOCATE. What is an advocate? This is the translation of the word PARAKLETOS [3875], one who is called to someone’s aid. It appears five times in the Greek New Testament; four times regarding the Holy Spirit, John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7, and once for the Lord Jesus in our passage 1 John 2:1. Vine states: “It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, an advocate; then, generally, one who pleads another cause, an intercessor, advocate, as in 1 John 2:1, of the Lord Jesus.” ² It is consistently translated advocate in the NASB, ESV, NIV84, NKJV, NRSV.

Interestingly, the word advocate is translated from the Greek into Latin and then from the Latin into the English. Jerome's Latin Vulgate translates this word advocatus from which we get our English translation advocate. An advocatus was a professional legal advisor, a public defender of an accused person, a lawyer, a person who pleads a case before a judge. We would be well to translate this WE KEEP ON HAVING A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

One more look at this noun indicates an anarthrous construction, absence of the article. This is not an indefinite concept, but rather the qualitative aspect of the word being emphasized. The quality of this defense attorney is coming up; He is Jesus Christ, the righteous One.

The Place of This Ministry – in the presence of the Father.

Next is the prepositional phrase, which gives us the location this ministry takes place. PROS means FACE TO FACE OR IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE [πρὸς - #4314]. This preposition is not only used of direction and ultimate destination but also contact with persons-face to face.” ³ Also, the object of the preposition is the accusative masculine singular from the noun PATER [ τὸν πατέρα - #3962], IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER [the First Person of the Trinity]. We need a defense attorney for Satan has a ministry in heaven of accusing believers of sin.

The Person Performing This Ministry - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

This is an appositional clause in apposition to Advocate. Who is He? He is none other than [Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν δίκαιον] JESUS CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUS ONE.

An appositional phrase is made up of an appositive and its modifiers. An appositive is a noun or pronoun that follows another noun or pronoun to identify or explain it. It may have adjectives to help provide further description. In our clause, righteous is a predicate adjective in the second predicate position. In this type of construction, the adjective makes an assertion about the subject, so we translate it "the righteous one," as in Acts 3:14; 22:14. DIKIOS [δίκαιον -#1342] refers to the Person of Christ. Righteousness is an attribute of deity and is one of many proofs of the divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. Righteousness is the quality of perfection. This is absolutely essential for His work of salvation in the next verse.

ENDNOTES

¹ Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 760). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans

² Vine, W. E., & Bruce, F. F. (1981). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament words (Vol. 2, p. 208). Old Tappan NJ: Revell.

³ Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 1 p. 19). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.