These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
Parallel translations
- WEB These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.
- KJV These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
- BSB I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
- NKJV These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
- NLT I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John has written these warnings concerning those trying to deceive his readers. His aim is to protect them from error.
Overview
John states his pastoral purpose: to guard the church from the deceivers who would lead them astray. The preceding warnings about antichrists and denials of Christ serve this protective end. It shows his loving concern to keep believers in the truth against seductive false teaching.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Pet 2:1–3But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
- 2 Jn 1:7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don’t confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
- 1 Jn 3:7Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
- Acts 20:29–30For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- Mark 13:22For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- Col 2:8Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
- 1 Tim 4:1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.
- Prov 12:26A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
- 2 Tim 3:13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- Col 2:18Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
- Ezek 13:10“‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'
How 1 John 2:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.