Studies in the First Epistle of John

1 John 2:1

2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (English Standard Version).

2:1 τεκνια μου ταυτα γραφω υμιν ινα μη αμαρτητε και εαν τις αμαρτη παρακλητον εχομεν προς τον πατερα ιησουν χριστον δικαιον (1881 Westcott and Hort Edition of the Greek NT).

2:1 Filioli mei, haec scribo vobis, ut non peccetis; quod si quis peccaverit, advocatum habemus apud Patrein, Jesum Christurn justum (Latin Vulgate)

A.T. Robertson on 2:1 (Word Pictures of the NT)

My little children (teknia mou). Tender tone with this diminutive of teknon (child), again in John 2:12; John 3:18, but paidia in John 2:14. John is now an old man and regards his readers as his little children. That attitude is illustrated in the story of his visit to the robber to win him to Christ. That ye may not sin (ina mh amarthte). Purpose (negative) clause with ina mh and the second aorist (ingressive, commit sin) active subjunctive of amartanw, to sin. John has no patience with professional perfectionists (John 1:8-10), but he has still less with loose-livers like some of the Gnostics who went to all sorts of excesses without shame. If any man sin (ean tiß amarth). Third-class condition with ean and second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive again, "if one commit sin." We have (ecomen). Present active indicative of ecw in the apodosis, a present reality like ecomen in 2 Corinthians 5:1. An advocate (paraklhton). See on John 14:16,26; John 15:26; John 16:7 for this word, nowhere else in the N.T. The Holy Spirit is God's Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man's Advocate with the Father (the idea, but not the word, in Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 7:25). As dikaioß (righteous) Jesus is qualified to plead our case and to enter the Father's presence (Hebrews 2:18).

Key Greek Word: advocate (paraklhton).
Original Word

Transliterated Word
para/klhtov
parakletos
Translated Words
advocate, Advocate


Definition

summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid
one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate

one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor
of Christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins

in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant
of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

John 14:16 -
AndI will pray the Father, and he shall give you another advocate, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 -
But the advocate, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoeverI have said unto you.
John 15:26 -
But when the advocate is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 16:7 -
NeverthelessI tell you the truth; It is expedient for you thatI go away: for ifI go not away, the advocate will not come unto you; but ifI depart, I will send him unto you.
John 14:16 (English Standard Version)
English Standard Version (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Footnotes:
John 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7


Calvin on 2:1
advocate. By these words he confirms what we have already said, that we are very far from being perfectly righteous, nay, that we contract new guilt daily, and that yet there is a remedy for reconciling us to God, if we flee to Christ; and this is alone that in which consciences call acquiesce, in which is included the righteousness of men, in which is founded the hope of salvation. The conditional particle, if, ought to be viewed as causal; for it cannot be but that we sin. In short, John means, that we are not only called away from sin by the gospel, because God invites us to himself, and offers to us the Spirit of regeneration, but that a provision is made for miserable sinners, that they may have God always propitious to them, and that the sins by which they are entangled, do not prevent them from becoming just, because they have a Mediator to reconcile them to God. But in order to shew how we return into favor with God, he says that Christ is our advocate; for he appears before God for this end, that he may exercise towards us the power and efficacy of his sacrifice.


Key Theological Terms and Issues:

Docetism (from the Greek δοκέω [dokeō], "to seem") is the belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion; that is, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and hence could not physically die. This belief has historically been regarded as heretical by Biblical Christian theologians.

Gnosticism –Early heretical belief system that tought that only the initiated possesed “special knowledge” (gnosis) were antinomian and believed that all matter was evil. There fore Jesus Christ only appeared to take on a body of human flesh.

Harmatology: The study of the origin, effects and implications of sin.

Sinless Perfectionism: A belief that moral or spiritual perfection can be achieved in the Christian life through sanctification and mortification.

Sanctification or in its verb form, sanctify, literally means to set apart for special use or purpose, that is to make holy or sacred (compare Latin sanctus 'holy'). Therefore sanctification refers to the state or process of being set apart, i.e. made holy.

Antinomianism (Koine Greek αντι, against, νομος, law), or lawlessness (ανομια), in theology is the idea that members of a particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality as presented by religious authorities. Antinomianism is the polar opposite of legalism, the notion that obedience to a code of religious law is necessary for salvation.