1 John 2:20 - Exposition

The thought of many antichrists suggests that of many Christs; i.e., many who have been anointed χριστοί by the Christ himself. "The false teachers have the spirit of antichrist; ye have a chrism from the Christ." The Johannine καί places the two antithetical groups side by side, while the emphatic ὑμεῖς accentuates the contrast. And ye have an anointing from the Holy One. The unction or chrism is the Holy Spirit ( John 1:33 ; 1 John 3:24 ; 1 John 2:27 ). As Christ was anointed with the Spirit in all fullness, so each Christian is anointed with him in his measure ( 2 Corinthians 1:21 , 2 Corinthians 1:22 ). The twenty-first 'Catechetical Lecture' of St. Cyril, "On the Holy Chrism," should be read in illustration of this verse. "In apostolic language, each Christian is in due measure himself a Christ, empowered by the gift of the Holy Spirit to announce the truth which he has learnt, to apply the atonement which he has received, to establish the kingdom which he believes to be universal" (Westcott). The ἀπό depends on ἔχετε , not on χρίσμα . The Holy One is Jesus Christ ( John 6:69 ; Acts 3:14 ; Revelation 3:7 ; comp. John 14:26 ; John 16:7 , John 16:13 ). It is hard to decide between three readings: