LSJ
In the usage:
Context ("denies that Jesus is the Christ") supports the against, in opposition to reading. This passage of 1 John appears to be almost definitional in intent ("This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son"). It provides the most reasonable starting point for interpreting the other references in 1 John.
But the references to "you have heard that antichrist is coming" and "which you heard was coming" are curious. A plausible reading is that the sense of against, in opposition to is controlling here also. So what was heard was the idea that some "antichrist" was coming, which would work in opposition to Christ in order to get people to deny him. This is in addition to the sense in which many could be antichrist.
Another text, 2 John, also offers a definitional approach that allows that many can be antichrist.
The idea in 1 John about hearing of a singular antichrist could be based on other ideas that don't reference the exact term but do essentially match a definition of being antichrist and which involve putative prophecies of a singular such person. For example, similar ideas are present in the beast of Revelation or the man of lawlessness of 2 Thessalonians.
C. IN COMPOS. it signifies,
1. over against, opposite, as ἀντιβαίνω, ἀντίπορος.
2. against, in opposition to, as ἀντιλέγω, ἀντίβιος.
3. one against another, mutually, as ἀντιδεξιόομαι.
4. in return, as ἀντιβοηθέω.
5. instead of, as ἀντιβασιλεύς, ἀνθύπατος.
6. equal to, like, as ἀντίθεος, ἀντίπαις, ἀντίδουλος.
7. corresponding, counter, as ἀντίφορτος, ἀντίτυπος.
1. over against, opposite, as ἀντιβαίνω, ἀντίπορος.
2. against, in opposition to, as ἀντιλέγω, ἀντίβιος.
3. one against another, mutually, as ἀντιδεξιόομαι.
4. in return, as ἀντιβοηθέω.
5. instead of, as ἀντιβασιλεύς, ἀνθύπατος.
6. equal to, like, as ἀντίθεος, ἀντίπαις, ἀντίδουλος.
7. corresponding, counter, as ἀντίφορτος, ἀντίτυπος.
In the usage:
1 John 2:22. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
Context ("denies that Jesus is the Christ") supports the against, in opposition to reading. This passage of 1 John appears to be almost definitional in intent ("This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son"). It provides the most reasonable starting point for interpreting the other references in 1 John.
1 John 2:18. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 4:3. and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
But the references to "you have heard that antichrist is coming" and "which you heard was coming" are curious. A plausible reading is that the sense of against, in opposition to is controlling here also. So what was heard was the idea that some "antichrist" was coming, which would work in opposition to Christ in order to get people to deny him. This is in addition to the sense in which many could be antichrist.
Another text, 2 John, also offers a definitional approach that allows that many can be antichrist.
2 John 1:7. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
The idea in 1 John about hearing of a singular antichrist could be based on other ideas that don't reference the exact term but do essentially match a definition of being antichrist and which involve putative prophecies of a singular such person. For example, similar ideas are present in the beast of Revelation or the man of lawlessness of 2 Thessalonians.
Statistics: Posted by Peter Kirby — Sun Nov 03, 2024 11:33 pm