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 Pacific.
In Lesson 53, we are going to study the first part of 1 John 2:20.
Let’s read this part of the verse.
1 John 2:20 You however, have an anointing from the Holy One...
Let’s go over the definitions of the words.
You (4771. su) means, you the reader.
However (2532. kai) means even, also, or namely.
Have (2192. echó) means to hold or to possess.
An anointing (5545. chrisma) according to Strong’s Concordance, was typically performed with oil mixed with special spices. It was a common practice for consecrating priests, kings, and prophets, symbolizing being set apart for a special purpose and endowed with divine authority or blessing. In the early Christian context, an anointing came to represent the spiritual anointing by the Holy Spirit, marking believers as belonging to Christ and equipping them for service and understanding of divine truths.
From the Holy One (575. apo) (3588. ho, hé, to) (40. hagios) means from the one that is set apart or sacred. This is speaking about Jesus.
This portion of 1 John 2:20 contrasts with the previous verse we studied, 1 John 2:19, which refers to those who have departed from the body of believers.
When someone believes in Jesus and fellowships with other believers, they receive an anointing from the Holy One. This refers to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in their life, marking them as belonging to God and empowering them to live in fellowship and service according to His will.
In the Old Testament, anointing was a symbolic act used to set apart individuals or objects for a holy purpose. The sacred anointing oil used in this act was made from specific spices and was considered holy and unique.
In Exodus 30:26-30, we read about the instruction from the LORD to Moses to anoint the objects of the Tent of Meeting and to anoint Aaron and his sons to consecrate them to serve as priests.
Exodus 30:26-30 Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, 27 the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You are to consecrate them so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy. 30 Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them to serve Me as priests.
Later in the Bible we see Samuel anoint Saul as king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1), Samuel anoint David as King (1 Samuel 16:13), Zadok the priest anoint Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:39), and Elisha anoint Jehu as king of Israel and Elisha as a prophet (1 Kings 19:16).
The act of anointing was performed using oil, which symbolized the presence and work of the Spirit of God.
Anointed kings, prophets, and priests were set apart to represent God’s authority and to ensure His will was carried out among His covenant people, Israel.
This was a foreshadowing of the ultimate Anointed One—Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Jesus was anointed by God the Father to lead humanity into God’s kingdom and to accomplish the work of salvation.
In Isaiah 61:1, we read a prophecy about the coming Messiah. It speaks of the Spirit of the LORD God coming upon Jesus and anointing Him for ministry. We see the fulfillment of this prophecy in the New Testament.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
In Matthew 3:16-17, we read about the Spirit of God descending on Jesus. This marks Him as the anointed Messiah. This is in the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah 61:1.
Matthew 3:16-17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
In 2 Corinthians 1:21–22, we read that God anoints believers. God puts His seal on them and puts His Spirit in their hearts as a pledge of what is to come. The anointing is a divine act that sets believer’s apart for God’s purposes.
2 Corinthians 1:21–22 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
In conclusion, in the Old Testament, we see the practice of anointing priests, prophets, and kings with oil. This anointing sets them apart for God’s purposes. The oil symbolizes the Spirit of God.
In the Old Testament there are several prophecies that point to the anointing of Jesus. These prophecies describe the anointing of the Messiah, which is symbolic of God's empowerment and divine calling for His mission.
When Jesus began His ministry, He was anointed by God the Father through the Holy Spirit descending on Him. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove during His baptism, and God the Father speaks from heaven, affirming Jesus as His Son. This moment marks the anointing of Jesus for His earthly ministry.
When someone puts their faith in Jesus, they are anointed by the Holy One in a spiritual sense. This anointing refers to the believer receiving the Holy Spirit, who marks them as belonging to God and empowers them to live according to His will and serve His purposes. Through this spiritual anointing, they are set apart and dedicated to God, just as Jesus was consecrated for His mission.
If you are a believer in Christ, you can confidently say, "I have an anointing from Jesus." God has empowered you and given you a divine mission.
Let’s read the first part of the verse one more time.
1 John 2:20 You however, have an anointing from the Holy One...
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Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
(Berean Standard Bible. Photo by Graham Holtshausen on Unsplash.)
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