Bible Strands
1 John 2:26
I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses believers in the immediate context of warning them about individuals attempting to mislead them within the community. This instruction follows a declaration of God's promise of eternal life and precedes an exhortation to rely on the internal anointing rather than external teachers.
The words — The Greek term πλανώντων (planōntōn) literally means "leading astray" and describes the active deception of the group being warned against. ἔγραψα (egrapsa) translates to "I have written," establishing the epistolary authority behind the warning.
The thread — The warning against deceivers aligns with 2 Peter 2:1 on false teachers, 2 John 1:7 on those refusing to confess Christ in the flesh, and Acts 20:29 on savage wolves entering the flock. These passages collectively track the New Testament pattern of identifying and resisting doctrinal corruption.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to recognize the reality of internal deception and to anchor their faith in the written instruction and the abiding anointing rather than human authority. It demands vigilance against false teaching while affirming the sufficiency of the message already received.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
Cross-references
- 2 Peter 2:1 Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
- 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
- Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
- Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- Proverbs 12:26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
- Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.