Episode Details

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?