1 John 2:7

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.”

Context:This verse is part of the first epistle of John, which was written by the apostle John to encourage and instruct early Christian believers. In this specific verse, John addresses the recipients of his letter as “brethren,” indicating that he is writing to fellow believers in Christ.

Let’s break down the verse into its key components and explore its meaning:

“I write no new commandment unto you”:John emphasises that he is not introducing a new commandment. He is not bringing forth a novel teaching or instruction. This implies that the message he is about to convey is not something entirely unknown or unfamiliar to the recipients.

“but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning”:John clarifies that the commandment he is going to discuss is not a new one. Instead, it is an “old” commandment, something that the recipients of his letter were already acquainted with “from the beginning.”

“The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning”:Here, John states that the “old commandment” he mentioned is equivalent to the “word” the readers had heard from the beginning. This “word” refers to the message of the Gospel, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the foundational truths of the Christian faith that the readers had received and accepted from the start.

In essence, John is reminding his readers that the commandment he is about to discuss is not a new addition to their understanding of the faith. Instead, it aligns with the message they had received and embraced since the beginning of their Christian journey. This commandment is rooted in the timeless truth of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus.

While 1 John 2:7 does not explicitly state what the commandment is, the subsequent verses in this chapter shed light on the nature of this commandment. In verses 8-11, John clarifies that the commandment is to love one another. He emphasises the importance of loving fellow believers, as it is both a fundamental teaching of Jesus and a characteristic of those who truly know God.

By referring to this commandment as “old,” John is not suggesting that it is outdated or irrelevant. Rather, he is highlighting its enduring significance throughout the Christian journey. The call to love one another remains foundational and unchanging, and it is something that Christians should continue to abide by as they grow in their faith.

In summary, 1 John 2:7 serves as a reminder that the commandment John is about to discuss is not a new teaching but aligns with the message of the Gospel and the foundational truths of the Christian faith. It is an “old” commandment, emphasising the enduring importance of loving one another, which is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.