This section of 1 John is unified by its concern for maintaining the truth which has been given to the Johannine community over against the lie of the antichrists. The antichrists are those who have seceded from the community (2:19) and who deny that the fully human Jesus is the Christ, the divine Son of God (2:22). The Elder’s aim is to reassure the remaining loyal Christians that they have the truth and to urge them to remain in it (2:24, 27).

2:18 The two key notes of this verse are the announcement of the last hour and the introduction of the antichrists. Both are concepts drawn from Jewish eschatology. The author sees his situation as eschatological; he and his community are living at the end of an era of darkness and at the beginning of a new age of light. The last hour is the turni…