1 John 2:28
The James Method Verse Mapping
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1 John 2:28 (NIV, 1984 version):
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Here’s the concept map I created for this verse:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 2:28. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
1 John 2:28 (NIV 1984)
28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Translations (key differences bolded)
KJV: 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
NKJV: 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
RSV: 28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
WEB: 28 Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
DBY: 28 And now, children, abide in him, that if he be manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame from before him at his coming.
NLT: 28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
ESV: 28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
ASV: 28 And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
NET: 28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.
YLT: 28 And now, little children, remain in him, that when he may be manifested, we may have boldness, and may not be ashamed before him, in his presence;
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Continued encouragement to remain in Christ
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Children
Greek:
Definition: little child, used by teachers to address their disciples
Continue
Greek:
Definition: remain, abide, to last, endure, not to become another or different
Appears
Greek:
Definition: to make visible what has been hidden, to make known by teaching, to expose to view, to be thoroughly understood
Confident
Greek:
Definition: freedom in speaking, without ambiguity, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance
Unashamed
Greek:
Definition: not to: disfigure, dishonor, suffuse with shame
Coming
Greek:
Definition: presence, arrival, visible return from heaven of Jesus
Cross References
1 John 2:1: My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Addressed to dear children
1 John 2:6: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
We must live/remain in him.
1 John 2:12: I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Addressed to dear children
1 John 2:24: As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.
We must live/remain in him.
Mark 8:38: “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
If anyone is ashamed of Jesus at his coming, he will be ashamed of them.
Colossians 3:4: When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
When Christ appears, we will appear with him.
Titus 2:13: while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
We wait for the appearing of Jesus.
Hebrews 9:28: so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Christ will appear again to bring salvation.
1 John 4:17: This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
We can have confidence on the day of judgment.
Malachi 3:2: But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.
On the day of his coming, he will be like a refiner’s fire.
John 15:4-10: 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
We are to remain in Christ.
View of God
Jesus came the first time to pay the penalty for sin, but we have been promised he will come a second time. At this second coming, he will separate people like a refiner’s fire. Those who believe will be saved, and those who are ashamed will be judged.
View of Man/Self
As humans, we have no reason to stand before Christ with confidence when he comes back. But if we remain in him, we will be confident and unashamed—not because of what we did but because of what Christ did for us.
Reflection and Application
One day, Jesus will return, and we will all have to stand before him in judgment. How will I stand before him that day? Ashamed and fearful? Or confident and unashamed? What will it take for me to be confident and unashamed? I must remain in him all the days of my life. Remaining in him means obeying his commands and being in constant communication with him through prayer and Bible reading.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you have promised to return one day and make all things right—to judge the evil and welcome believers into eternal life. I pray that I would live in such a way that on that day, I can stand before you confident and unashamed, knowing that I have remained in you all the days of my life.