SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 John 2000 – Page 7

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:19

Paragraph 4:19–21

Read 4:19–21 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: This is the summary of John’s appeal that we should love other Christians because God has loved us so much.

4:19a

We love: (Lexical Problem) No object for this verb is expressed in the Greek. However John is talking about our love for God and for other people, so this may be made explicit if the verb “love” has to have an expressed object in your language. See Display.

The King James Version and Living Bible use the pronoun “him” in this verse part, but that is based on an inferior Greek text.

4:19b

because: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different views on what ideas this implies and connects:

(1) It probably means that God’s love for us gives us the power to love.

(2) Some think it means that we have a duty to love because God loves us.

(3) Others think it means we are able to love because God’s love gives us the example to follow.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

He: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to God. See Good News Translation.

first: (Multiple Senses) This is used here in the sense of “before/previously.” John means that God loved us before we loved him or others.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:4

2:4a

If anyone: (Meaning) This phrase just means “anyone who,” or “if anyone.” It also applies to anyone among John’s readers, so it could be translated “if you.”

2:4c

he is a liar: (Meaning) This means “he is lying when he says that.” It does not mean “he is a habitual liar.”

the truth is not in him: (Collocation) Here John means that such a person has clearly not accepted the truth which God has revealed. See the note on 1:8c.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:16

2:16 (Sentence Breaks)

This is a long sentence containing a list of items which may each have to be translated by a whole clause. You may need to make this into two or more sentences in your translation.

2:16a

For all that is in the world: (Logical Relationship) This verse gives the reason for John’s statement in the second part of 2:15 that someone who loves the world cannot at the same time be loving God. It is not giving a reason for the appeal not to love the world.

all that is in the world: (Figure of Speech) This is hyperbole, or exaggeration. John means “all the evil ways/deeds of people in this world, such as….” Then in 2:16b–d he gives three specific examples of these evil ways.

2:16b

the desires of the flesh: (Meaning) John is here referring to the way our human nature makes us want to do things just for our own pleasure.

the flesh: (Multiple Senses) The word flesh here refers to the human body, so used in the phrase “desires of the flesh” the entire phrase refers to sinful physical desires.

2:16c

the desires of the eyes: (Meaning) This refers to the way people want to get things they see or hear about, not caring whether God wants them to have those things or not.

2:16d

the pride of life: (Meaning) This implies the type of pride which is wrong, because the thing you are boasting about is not really yours, or because it is not actually a good thing.

life: (Multiple Senses) The Greek word translated here is used in the sense of possessions, wealth, the means of living.

2:16e

is not from: (Metaphor) If it is not natural in your language to speak of attitudes such as desire and pride “coming from” someone or something then you may need to translate the meaning directly. The basic meaning here is that these attitudes are not ones God wants us to have, but rather they are caused by our following the evil ways of the world.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:15

Paragraph 2:15–17

Read 2:15–17 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: Here John is appealing to his readers not to love the evil things of this world.

2:15 (Discourse Feature)

In the Greek and English versions there is nothing explicit that connects 2:15–17 and the previous verses. However this paragraph is John’s main appeal, or exhortation, to his readers and it is based on the reassurance he has given them in 2:12–14. In order to make the translation sound natural in your language, you may need to make the connection explicit here by using some joining word or phrase such as “Therefore,” or “So I tell you.”

2:15a

Do not: (Pronoun Reference) Be sure that you translate this so that it clearly refers to all the readers, not just to the last people mentioned, the “young men” (2:14).

love: (Multiple Senses) This is used here in the sense of desiring to get something, or making something the center of all your interests (New English Bible “do not set your hearts on…”).

the world: (Multiple Senses) This does not mean “the people in the world,” which is its meaning in John 3:16. Here it is used in the sense of the evil of this world, which is contrary to God’s will.

anything: (Meaning) John is not referring here to material objects in the world. He is telling his readers to avoid all attitudes and thoughts which belong to this world rather than to God’s will. He gives examples of what he means in the next verse.

2:15b

If anyone…: (Logical Relationship) This sentence gives one reason for John’s appeal not to love the world. The second reason is given in 2:17. To make the connection clear you may need to translate this as “Because/For if anyone…”

the love of the Father: (“of” Construction) Since this is being contrasted with loving the world, it clearly means “he does not love God.” It does not mean “God does not love him.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:14

2:14 (Verse Number)

Note that Good News Translation, The Jerusalem Bible and some other versions have the verse number in a different place from King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Berean Standard Bible and others. In translation it may be best to follow the numbering system that is used in the major version in your area.

2:14e

strong: (Metaphor) This refers here to spiritual strength, perseverance in faith, ability to defend and proclaim the gospel.

2:14f

the word of God abides in you: (Metaphor) This metaphor is showing that the word of God is constantly present in the lives of the readers, so that they are always paying attention to it.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:13

2:13a

fathers: (Alternative Interpretations) John is addressing a group among his readers who are in some respect older than the others. Note that they are not “fathers” to John himself, since he is a very old man at the time of writing this letter and this group is included in those he called “my children” in 2:1. However there are two interpretations of how those in this group are older than the other Christians:

(1) John probably means those who have been Christians for a longer time.

(2) Some think it means those who are older in age.

2:13b

you know: (Multiple Senses) See the note “to know Him” on 2:3a.

2:13b–c

Him who is from the beginning: (Meaning) This is referring to Jesus Christ, who existed even before the world was created. So it may be necessary to make the name explicit in translation. See also the note on 1:1 “from the beginning.”

2:13d

young men: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of this phrase:

(1) It probably means those who have been Christians for a short time.

(2) Some think it means men between 20 and 40 years old.

2:13e

the evil one: (Meaning) This is a common way of referring to Satan in the New Testament. The name “Satan” may need to be made explicit here in order to make it clear that the phrase the evil one does not refer to just any evil person.

2:13f

I have written: (Alternative Interpretations) In 2:13f and 2:14 the Greek has the past tense, literally, “I wrote,” instead of the present tense, “I am writing,” which it has in 2:12a–13e. There are different views as to whether this change of tense indicates a different meaning or not:

(1) It is probably just a matter of style with no difference of meaning. John is continuing to refer to what he is writing in this present letter. (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Living Bible)

(2) Some think that the past tense indicates that John is referring only to the first part of this letter or to something else which he had written. (The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

children: (Alternative Interpretations): See the note on 2:12a.

2:13g

the Father: (Expression) In some languages it may be necessary to say “our^(incl) Father.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:12

Paragraph 2:12–14

Read 2:12–14 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Discourse Features: In these verses John breaks off from the main theme of his letter in order to assure his readers that he does not doubt that they are true Christians. To do this he uses a very different style of writing, with much repetition and use of the second person “you.” He also emphasizes his confidence in his readers by repeating in 2:14 much of what he had said in 2:12–13 with some differences. In translation it may be necessary to adjust the style of these verses so that they are clearly understood as an interruption to the main theme and as a reassurance to the readers.

2:12a

little children: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different interpretations of who this refers to:

(1) As in 2:1, little children is probably an affectionate term by which John, an old man, addresses his readers. See the note on 2:1.

(2) Some think the phrase little children refers to children or very recent converts among John’s readers.

2:12b

because: (Logical Relationship) John is not writing to inform his readers that their sins are forgiven. It is because he and they know their sins are forgiven that he is writing to teach them more about being Christians. This applies to each use of “because” in 2:12–14.

have been forgiven: (Passive Construction) If it is necessary to turn this into an active verb, the actor should be stated as “God.” For example, “God has forgiven your sins.”

2:12c

through His name: (Meaning) This is a common biblical phrase meaning “because of his authority and what he has done.”

His name: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to Christ.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:11

2:11b

walks in the darkness: (Metaphor) See the note on 2:6. However, John extends the metaphor in this verse by comparing this person with someone who walks about in a dark place and cannot see where he is going.

2:11c

where he is going: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two ways of understanding this:

(1) As stated in the previous note, it is probably just part of the picture of someone who cannot see where he is going in the dark.

(2) Some commentators say it means that the person who hates his brother “does not know he is going to Hell.” But this is unlikely, since John is not concerned with Hell in this letter.

2:11d

has blinded his eyes: (Metaphor) Here John extends the metaphor further by comparing this person with someone who has become blind. The meaning is that ignorance or rejection of God’s truth prevents one from knowing what one is really doing.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:19

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:16

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:15

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:14

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:13

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:12

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:11

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