Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 31, we are going to study 1 John 2:8.
Let’s read our verse.
1 John 2:8 Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
Let’s start by focusing on the first part of the verse: Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment…
“Then again” (3825. palin) means once more, further, or on the other hand.
“I am also writing” (1125. graphó) means to engrave, scrape, or scratch.
“New” (2537. kainos) means fresh, new in quality, unused, or not found exactly like this before.
“Commandment” (1785. entolé) means an ordinance, injunction, command, or law.
In the previous verse, 1 John 2:7, John was writing about an old commandment that they had from the beginning.
The old commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. This commandment is first seen in Leviticus 19:18 (See Lesson 30) at the beginning of the Bible. Jesus also taught this from the beginning of His ministry.
In 1 John 2:8, John writes, on the other hand, I am also writing to you something new and fresh about the old commandment that is not found exactly like this before.
Jesus provides us with a deeper understanding of the original commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.
In Matthew 5:17, we read that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the prophets, but to bring the law to its intended fulfillment.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Let's look at some verses where Jesus is teaching the underlying principles and true intention behind the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.
In Matthew 5:43-48, we read that we are to love our enemies.
Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In John 13:34-35, we read that we are to love one another as Jesus has loved us. Jesus models what it truly means to love someone. He does this by dying on the cross for us. He sacrificed His life for us.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
In John 15:12-13, we read that we must love others by being willing to lay down our life for our friends. Jesus says that there is no greater love than this.
John 15:12-13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
In 1 John 2:10 we are called to love our brother's and sisters in Christ by living in the light. (See Lesson 16.)
1 John 2:10 (NIV) Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
Now, let’s focus on the next part of the verse: which is true in Him and also in you.
“True” (227. aléthés) means evident, worthy of credit, verified, what can't be hidden.
“In Him” (846. autos) is speaking about Jesus.
“and also in you.” (4771. su) is speaking about you, the reader.
This fresh perspective of the commandment to love your neighbor is evident, verified, and can't be hidden in Jesus and you in.
Jesus demonstrated the truth of His love for others by dying on the cross for our sins.
In Ephesians 5:2, we read that Jesus loved us and gave Himself up for us.
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
This is true in you, because when you believe in Jesus, He lives in you through the Holy Spirit.
In John 14:23, we read that when you love Jesus and obey Him, God will make His home in you.
John 14:23 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Now, let’s focus on the next part of the verse: For the darkness is fading…
“For” (3754. hoti) means because or since.
“Darkness” (4653. skotia) means spiritual obscurity or that which blocks the light of God when faith is lacking. (HELPS Word-Studies)
“Is fading” (3855. paragó) means to pass by, pass away, or to depart.
Before Jesus came to this earth, people were living in the darkness or in spiritual obscurity.
They did not have a faith in God. They were blind to the light of God.
When Jesus, who is the light of the world, came to this earth, people could see the light and believe in God.
Their eyes were opened.
The darkness started to pass away or to depart.
The more people that believe in Jesus the more the darkness fades.
Think about your own life. Before you knew Jesus, you lived in the darkness. When you put your faith in Him, you began to see clearly and the darkness faded.
As you draw near to Him, your life be more and more filled with light.
In Matthew 4:16, we read that people were sitting in darkness and then a light shined. The light is Jesus.
Matthew 4:16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.
In John 8:12, we read that when people follow Jesus, they will never walk in darkness.
John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
In John 12:46, we read that when you believe in Jesus, you will not remain in darkness.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, we read that people couldn't see the light of the gospel, but then God let light shine out of darkness, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Now let’s focus on the final part of the verse: and the true light is already shining.
“True” (228. aléthinos) means real, genuine, or the connection between what is true and its source or origin. (HELPS Word-Studies)
“Light” (5457. phós) means radiance, the manifestation of God's self-existent life, or "divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ." (HELPS Word-Studies).
“Is already” (2235. édé) means now after all this waiting or "a point of time preceding another point of time and implying completion."
“Shining” (5316. phainó) means to bring to light, to cause to appear, or become clear.
Let’s read this again, “and the true light is already shining.”
In John 1:9, we read that Jesus is the true light. He came to give light.
John 1:9 (NLT) The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
Jesus is the true light. He is making clear and bringing to light God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.
In John 1:4-5, we read that Jesus is shining the light into the darkness.
John 1:4-5 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In conclusion, Jesus is the fulfillment of the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. He illuminates the underlying principles and intention behind the commandment.
He took an old commandment and made it fresh and new.
He teaches us to love others as He loved us, to love others by being willing to lay down our lives for others, and to love our brothers and sisters in Christ by walking in the light.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:8 Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
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Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Antonio Ristallo on Unsplash. Lago di Carezza, Nova Levante, BZ, Italia. Berean Study Bible Translation.)
Lesson 31 - 1 John 2:8 Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.