NOTES for Jo1 2:18-29

The words of the apostle John in today's passage from his First Catholic Epistle largely continue the manner of thought and expression of God through the Old Testament prophets. Many of them said that ignorance of God was the principal cause of sin and lawlessness in people—not the absence of information about the requirements of the law, but the absence of knowledge of God. And now, after all the events of Christ's earthly life, death, and resurrection, the apostle says that the truth about God has been revealed to us. This truth is such that it enables us to abide in the Father and the Son. What does this mean? How should we understand these words about abiding in God?

The apostle himself explains this in the famous words: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called and be children of God.” Returning once more to one of the Epistle's principal themes, he speaks of the distinguishing marks of God's children: practicing righteousness and loving one's brothers.

Although in this passage the apostle speaks only about the Father and the Son, his revelation nevertheless has a Trinitarian character. For the tone of astonishing purity, tenderness, and light clearly bears witness that he writes under the inspiration of the Spirit.