An Unction from the Holy One (1 John 2:20)

2023-02-05

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20)

Unlike the “antichrists” of the previous verses, the recipients of the letter have this “unction” and they “know all things.” These Christians had something the others did not.

What is an “unction”? It is translated “anointing” twice in another verse in the same chapter: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:27). The previous verse speaks of seducers, like 1 John 2:18-19 speaks of antichrists. This suggests that this unction or anointing counters the antichrist seducers that are in the world that departed from the apostles’ teaching.

This unction teaches us all things, is pure truth and counters error. It makes sense that this unction is none other than the Holy Spirit. These verse also could suggest that it could be the new birth nature, as suggested here: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18).

In short, the true Christian is born again with a new nature, having the Spirit. As a result, he or she will not continue in a sinful lifestyle as a general practice or follow after grievous heretical error.