Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:12-14

How we live and think, and what we love show our spiritual condition. 1 John 2:12-14




I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I am writing to you, little children, because you have come to know the Father. I wrote to you, fathers, because you have come to know Him who is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:12-14, EMTV)


A1 Outline

B1 Children

C1 Sins forgiven

C2 Know the Father

B2 Fathers

C1 Know Him who is from the beginning

B3 Young men

C1 Overcome evil one

C2 Because

D1 You are strong

D2 The Word of God abides in you

D3 You have overcome the evil one

A2 Notes

B1 Children, fathers, and young men

C1 Some understand these to be spiritually understood, thus fathers are those who became Christians when the Gospel was first preached, the young men are not recent converts but those who have been Christians for a while, and children are those who have become Christians recently.

C2 Others view these as stages in the Christian life.

C3 Others view these as who they are--fathers, young men, and children.

B2 Four things

C1 Sins have been forgiven.

C2 Know God.

C3 Overcome evil one.

C4 Word of God lives in you.

A3 Questions

B1 How does a Christian overcome the evil one (satan)?

B2 Why are the young men strong?

B3 What is the importance of Bible reading and study?

B4 Why the change in tense from active present indicative (am writing) to past (wrote)?

B5 Which of the four things written about here is a new Christian to be aware of?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:11

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:11, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Actions betray the inner truth about a person. Hating brother shows that this person's

C1 Heart is in darkness

C2 Spirit is in darkness

C3 Life--does not know where he is going

B2 Actions are a result of wrong (in God's view) choices

A2 Notes

B1 Hates

C1 The Greek word for hate is μισέω miseo

C2 It means hate, detest. Had deeply this hate is depends on the text. Here it appears to be a very strong dislike. How can this be? It is because the work of the Holy Spirit is nonexistent in his life. Hate is an evidence of darkness.

C3 The solution to this is to repent (a total change of mind, attitude, and actions), confess the sin to God, believe God, and ask for His help.

C4 Cross references--Matthew 5:21-26, John 3:20, Titus 3:3, Hebrews 1:9 (sin is a good thing to hate).

B2 Darkness

C1 An evidence of not being a Christian.

C2 The Greek word is σκοτία skotia.

C3 It means darkness literally and figuratively.

C4 Cross references John 12:35, Isaiah 59:9-10, John 3:19-20

C5 There is hope for human though--I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. (John 12:46, GNB92)

B3 Walking

C1 Walk = living our daily lives. It is to be as the New Testament teaches us. To know these things we must read and study the Bible. Matthew 11:29, Philippians 2:5, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 1:15-16

C2 We need to walk as Jesus walked which is the thoughts, desires, words, and deeds how Jesus lived. Obviously, we are not God, so we cannot do miracles as He did, but we can have the same attitude towards others, honor God, obey the Scriptures, and so on. Consider 1 Kings 6:12, 2 Kings 20:3, Ephesians 2:1-2, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 5:8 (walking in darkness is having our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds in the world's way instead God's way of living Galatians 5:16-26).

B4 Does not know where he is going

C1 We do need guidance. We must learn from somewhere. We naturally choose the wrong. There are teachers who teach how to do wrong, just as there are teachers who teach how to do right. The Bible, especially the New Testament, teaches us how to live right.

C2 See Psalms 25:5, Psalms 25:9

C3 For guidance we need

D1 Humility (we need to ask/pray for it) James 1:5, 2 Chronicles 1:10, John 16:24

D2 Trust/believe that He will guide and lead Proverbs 3:5-6

D3 Know the Bible and study it.

E1 The New Testament is for Christians. The principles in the Old Testament are also taught in the New Testament

E2 We must do some things

E2 We must not do some things.

E3 Principles are taught.

E4 Examples are given of failure and success

E5 Bible verses

F1 6 Things to lay aside

G1 Wickedness (James 1:21)

G2 All malice (1 Peter 2:1)

G3 All guile (1 Peter 2:1)

G4 All hypocrisies ((1 Peter 2:1)

G5 All envies (1 Peter 2:1)

G6 All evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1).

F2 Follow things of peace (Romans 14:19)

F3 Follow things that edify (Romans 14:19)

F4 Please neighbor for good (Romans 15:2-3

F5 Matthew 16:1 is an example of doing wrong when plenty of signs had already been seen.

A3 Questions

B1 What effect does hate have on people whether friends, enemies, family, or strangers?

B2 Why does showing hate so strongly condemned?

B3 Why is it important to read and study the Bible?

B4 Why do people need guidance?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:10

He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. (1 John 2:10, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Statement

B2 Action

B3 Predicament

A2 Notes

B1 Love is the Greek word agape. It is the love of choice. I Corinthians 13. We have studied this previously.

B2 Abide in the light is living in the light. John 12:46

C1 The light of the Gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

C2 The light of truth. Psalm 119:105

C3 The light of God's way/style of living. Romans 13:12, Ephesians 5:8

B3 Stumbling

C1 We do not stumble, nor do we cause stumbling if we think and live God's way.

C2 Stumble is to err in doctrine, life style, etc.

C3 Cross references Proverbs 3:21-23, Proverbs 4:19, Jeremiah 18:15 (false teachers encouraging the worship of idols which caused the people to stumble from the truth), Romans 14:21,

A3 Questions

B1 How do we love our fellow Christian?

B2 Are we to love the non-Christian differently than the Christian?

B3 Do times change? Are God's standards different today than 1900 years ago? Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17

B4 If God is to find us "living in the light," what must we do?

B5 What we some ways to love our fellow Christian?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:9

He who says that he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. (1 John 2:9 EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Statement

B2 Action

B3 Predicament

A2 Notes

B1 Light has been studied before. It points to God, His character, and truth.

B2 What we say is important, but what we do is revealing of our true character. As the old, tired cliché, states "walk the talk" or "practice what you preach." There is something wrong when a person says they believe something but don't live it.

C1 Hypocrites

D1 Types

E1 Words and actions are different, not consistent. Mark 7:6

E2 Take bribes (or receive something for changing their position). Proverbs 21:14

E3 Outward appearance and actions are different then their inward thoughts. Matthew 23:27

D2 Problem with hypocrisy is that there is a lack of truth. God requires us to be consistent and true. This is His character and a law of His kingdom.

C2 Liars

D1 Types

E1 What one says.

E2 What one does.

E3 Body language inconsistencies.

E4 What they write.

E5 Giving false facts (say a false amount of money earned on an income tax form).

E6 False witness as in court or even in gossip

E7 Moving property line markers

E8 False credentials

E9 And many other ways

D2 Problem--

E1 If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:10, EMTV)

E2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time itself, (Titus 1:2, EMTV)

B3 Hates

C1 The Greek word for hate is μισέω miseo

C2 It means hate, detest. Had deeply this hate is depends on the text. Here it appears to be a very strong dislike. How can this be? It is because the work of the Holy Spirit is nonexistent in his life. Hate is an evidence of darkness.

C3 The solution to this is to repent (a total change of mind, attitude, and actions), confess the sin to God, believe God, and ask for His help.

C4 Cross references--Matthew 5:21-26, John 3:20, Titus 3:3, Hebrews 1:9 (sin is a good thing to hate).

B4 Darkness

C1 An evidence of not being a Christian.

C2 The Greek word is σκοτία skotia.

C3 It means darkness literally and figuratively.

C4 Cross references John 12:35, Isaiah 59:9-10, John 3:19-20

C5 There is hope for human though--I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. (John 12:46, GNB92)

A3 Questions

B1 Why is lying so serious?

B2 How do people hate each other?

B3 How do church members show hate to each other?

B4 What does this tell about ourselves?

B5 Do others watch us?

B6 What is the cure for this kind of darkness?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:8

Again, a new commandment I am writing to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. (1 John 2:8, EMTV)




The importance of God's light


A1 Outline

B1 Writing

C1 New commandment

C2 True

B2 Because

C1 Darkness is passing away

C2 True light already shines

A2 Notes

B1 Old/new commandment (comparing 1 John 2:7-8).

C1 This commandment has been around for a long time, and yet it is new and refreshing every day.

C2 The Greek word for new is not new in the sense of a new phone or new computer, it is a word used to describe something revolutionary new. An example would be the first TV or the first satellite in space.

C3 Love in this sense would be

D1 The Jews had a command to love (Exodus 23:4-5, Proverbs 25:21-22) but did not John 4:9.

D2 The Christians are also given a command to love; will we? Luke 6:27, Matthew 5:24

B2 True in Him--Jesus practices this perfectly, and He wants us to do so too.

B3 True in you--this is one of the results of the new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:10

B4 Darkness is passing away

C1 Wilbur Pickering's note in his New Testament translation on this verse writes--

I take 'the darkness' to be a reference to Satan's kingdom, while "the true Light is already shining" would refer to the outworking of Christ's victory, which in a certain sense turned all old commandments into new ones—the indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to do what we couldn't, before. Darkness is merely the absence of light; to introduce light in any situation reduces the darkness, which is why the world hates us.

C2 Some take darkness to refer to paganism, Judaism, evil, ignorance, spiritual deadness, or other things.

C3 Cross references--2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Ephesians 5:8-11, Acts 26:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:5

B5 True light already shines--this refers to Jesus and His truth.

C1 Salvation as in 1 Peter 2:9

C2 Jesus as in John 8:12 and 2 Corinthians 4:6

C3 Life that Jesus gives. This would refer to the rebirth of John 3. See John 1:5-9

C4 Truth as in John 3:19-21. This would be the light that exposes our sins. No one can hide from that light.

A3 Questions

B1 Why does John have to write about this commandment?

B2 How did this commandment, which is true in Jesus, become true in Christians?

B3 What or who causes the darkness to be passing away?

B4 Is there darkness in our lives?

B5 What can we do to increase the light in our lives?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:7

Brothers, 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 word which you heard from the beginning. (1 John 2:7, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Commandment written

B2 Commandment heard

A2 Notes

B1 The commandment is to love

B2 Love is not necessarily a physical thing.

B3 Love is a choice, not a feeling.

B4 The principles of love (from 1 Corinthians 13).

C1 Love is not just words. 1 Corinthians 13:1

C2 Love is superior to prophecy, full, complete knowledge of mysteries, completely knowing everything, and faith so strong one can move mountains. 1 Corinthians 13:2

C3 Love is superior to giving away all your possessions. 1 Corinthians 13:3

C4 Love is patient. The old word is longsuffering. It is a particular type of patience that keeps your cool hoping and praying that all will turn to the better. It is to patiently endure.

C5 Love is kind. Love is not weakness but strength. One of these strengths is to be kind. To be kind to a likeable person is one thing but to show kindness to an unlikeable person shows the trait even more clearly.

C6 Love has no envy. Envy is wanting what someone else has. True love is glad that another person has what they do and doesn't want it.

C7 Love doesn't boost. True love is more interested in truth than bragging about ourselves.

C8 Love isn't arrogant. A person who has the attitude of "I'm better than anyone else. My opinion is better, my _____ is better" is not pleasing to humans or God.

C9 Love does not have behavioral issues. (The Greek word suggests violent talk and actions). True love is appropriate in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

C10 Love is not self-seeking. Love doesn't look out for and seek what I want; love looks to the needs of others. I may want to see, but my friend needs to talk, so if I love, I will take some of my sleep time and listen to my friend.

C11 Love is not easily provoked. Love will listen until the other person is finished. Love doesn't start responding angrily without listening and trying to understand.

C12 Love thinks no evil. Love does not plan evil to hurt and trouble others. Love doesn't keep track of every hurt and look for some way to get even (revenge).

C13 Love doesn't rejoice at unrighteousness. True love isn't happy when bad things happen to others. True love isn't glad when someone causes evil.

C14 Love rejoices with the truth. True love speaks truth, lives truth, seeks truth. Love doesn't like lies. Love rejoices in true doctrine, true actions, true words, and true deeds.

C15 Love bears all things. This is endurance. Love lasts. Love does stick around when things go bad.

C16 Love believes all things. Love is not gullible, but if someone tells the truth, believes them.

C17 Love never fails.

C18 Prophecies may not happen anymore, Speaking in tongues will not happen anymore. Special knowledge may pass away, but love will always exist.

A3 Questions

B1 What is the difference between liking someone and loving someone?

B2 What is the God approved action to someone who teases us (or worse) for being a Christian?

B3 How do we love our enemies?

B4 What is the loving thing to do after an argument?

B5 Why is this kind of love so important?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:7-11

Another test to know if we are a true Christian--a life of love.




Brothers, 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 word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I am writing to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. He who says that he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:7-11, EMTV)


A1 Outline

B1 A commandment

C1 Written

C2 Heard

C3 True

B2 A test

C1 Spoken

D1 Love

D2 Hate

C2 Action

D1 Love

D2 Hate

A2 Notes

B1 Beginning

C1 Usually refers to Genesis 1--the creation

C2 Here it refers to the commandment of love

D1 Old Testament

E1 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18KJ2000)

E2 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD. (Zechariah 8:17KJ2000)

D2 New Testament

E1 Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 19:19KJ2000)

E2 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34KJ2000)

E3 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:10KJ2000)

E4 See also Galatians 3:14 and James 2:8

C3 Those reading the letter would have heard this commandment in the preaching of the Gospel.

B2 I am not writing (1 John 2:7). I am writing (1 John 2:8). Contradiction? No, because these verse are back to back. It would seem unreasonable that these verses would be a contradiction. It would be better as to understand it as it love never gets old. We must continue. To understand what love is read 1 Corinthians 13. Love is a choice and is understood and felt in action.

B3 Darkness

C1 Darkness in the soul. The absence of light in the soul. John 3:19, John 12:46, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

C2 Darkness is understood as sin, absence of good, unhappiness, etc. All these are not good.

C3 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7KJ2000)

B4 Light

C1 Light is understood as Jesus, the Gospel, life, understanding, wisdom. All these are good.

C2 For you will light my lamp: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. (Psalms 18:28KJ2000)

C3 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; (Proverbs 2:13KJ2000). Note the contrast between uprightness and dark. Uprightness is understood as light, and darkness is understood as unrighteousness.

C4 That was the true Light, that lights every man that comes into the world. (John 1:9KJ2000)

B5 True in Him and in you.

C1 Him is God

C2 You in Greek is plural. You is referring to Christians. Christians know in their soul that this is what we want and must do.

C3 Truth is incredibly important to God.

B6 Darkness passing is most likely referring to satan's kingdom. The kingdom where Jesus is King is the Kingdom of Light.

B7 A person who hates in living by the rules of satan's kingdom. satan opposes God and chooses to do what God forbids. A person who loves, as God defines love, is doing what God wants. We must pray for God's help to always live this kind of love.

B8 Stumbling is to offend. God wants us to live that way. Even though Jesus lived that way perfectly, those who had rejected Him, hated Him, and choose not obey, so they lived to hate God. This is why Jesus called them the children of the evil one. They are satan's disciples. See 1 John 3:10, John 8:44-47, Acts 13:10.

B9 If we live contrary to God's laws, we become blind. In this case if we hate, then we lose our sight and walk in darkness.

A3 Questions

B1 Why does God want us to obey Him?

B2 Why is love (1 Corinthians 13 type of love) so important?

B3 Why should we avoid darkness?