The Orthodox Study Bible: Non-exhaustive on I John 2: 18-19-Part Two
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
Preface
My review of Orthodoxy continues, even as I am Reformed.
Part one provided textual information.
I John 2: 18-19 (or 1 John)
I John 2: 18-19 (NKJV)
The text uses the New King James Version (NKJV) based within the Greek, majority text tradition.
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the[d] Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
d. I John 2:18 NU omits the
The Orthodox texts also acknowledges that 'NU omits the' (572).
The Orthodoxy bible states: 'The last hour is the era of the New Covenant...' (572). There are deceptions in view, as opposed to a specific prediction of the end of the world. (572). 'Many antichrists are the heretics, through whom the Antichrist of the end time (see 2 Thessalonians 2) is doing his spadework.' (572).
Note, this Orthodoxy text assumes that there is a futurist aspect of Antichrist and not simply a preterist take that would take place entirely in the New Testament era. Second Thessalonians 2, indeed in my opinion supports a futurist approach.
2 Thessalonians 2: 7-12
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His [f]coming; 9 that is, the one whose [g]coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and [h]signs and false wonders, 10 and with [i]all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God [j]will send upon them [k]a deluding influence so that they will believe [l]what is false, 12 in order that they all may be [m]judged who did not believe the truth, but [n]took pleasure in wickedness.
f 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Or presence
g 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Or presence
h 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Or attesting miracles
i 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Or every deception
j 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit is sending
k 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Lit an activity of error
l 2 Thessalonians 2:11 Or the lie
m 2 Thessalonians 2:12 Or condemned
n 2 Thessalonians 2:12
Or approved
I take it this event, the second coming of Jesus Christ, should be interpreted with a significant level of literalness. However, I admit that the Lord slaying the lawless one with the breath of His mouth is quite possibly significantly figurative language. But the second coming of Christ is a literal, biblical and theological event of the future.
In my mind, the potentially figurative nature of Christ's breath and the slaying of the opposition does not cancel out the literalness of the second advent. Actual (non-fiction, non-mythological) historical events can be described with degrees of literal and figurative language. Jesus Christ literally destroys the lawless one at this point, in some context to do with breath from his mouth. Possibly, it may also be quite literal language, as Jesus Christ as the God-man would be quite capable of destroying an opponent that way. Regardless, it does not appear this event occurred in the New Testament era.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
First Thessalonians is important on this subject as well:
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [a]in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [b]and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [c]shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [d]and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Footnotes
a 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Lit through
b 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Lit who
c 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Or cry of command
d 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Lit who
The second coming of Jesus Christ, also known as the second advent and the resurrection of the dead in Jesus Christ and the transformation to resurrection of those alive, is futuristic and requires a futurist interpretations of sorts. These things are mentioned with the New Testament and will take place in the future. (see also 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 20-22).
Further on I John 2: 18-19
anticristoV
Pastor Courson opines that in verse 18, these antichrists are 'against Christ', or are 'in the place of Christ'. (1620). In verse 19, these antichrists state 'Forget the church'. (1621). 'I can experience Christ on my own'. (1620). These types are accountable to no one. (1621). These types deny the faith. (1621).
I basically agree with Pastor Courson, but I would add that some antichrists would not state to 'forget the church' but instead would seek to transform the church, theologically in order to suit some agenda.
R.W. Orr explains that I John documents that the spirit of antichrist was already in the world. (1577). Courson also notes that the spirit of antichrist was in existence, and he cites I John 4: 3 where the spirit of antichrist is already in the world. (1621). These false teachers have the spirit of antichrist. (1577). Their teachings and doctrines are demonic as opposed to being guided by the Holy Spirit and scripture, in context.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
ORR, R.W. (1986) I John, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
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