Whoever denies the SonThis phrase emphasizes the importance of acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In the context of early Christianity, denying the Son often referred to rejecting Jesus' divinity or His role as the Messiah. This was a significant issue in the early church, as various heresies, such as Gnosticism, challenged the orthodox understanding of Christ. The denial of the Son is seen as a denial of the core tenets of the Christian faith, which is echoed in other scriptures like
John 3:18 and 1John 4:3.
does not have the Father
In Jewish tradition, having a relationship with God the Father was central to religious life. This phrase asserts that a true relationship with God cannot exist without accepting Jesus as His Son. This is consistent with Jesus' own words inJohn 14:6, where He states that no one comes to the Father except through Him. Theologically, this underscores the unity of the Father and the Son, a key doctrine in Christian belief.
but whoever confesses the Son
Confession here implies more than just verbal acknowledgment; it involves a deep, personal faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. This confession is a public declaration of faith, as seen inRomans 10:9-10, where confessing with the mouth and believing in the heart are linked to salvation. Historically, early Christians often faced persecution for such confessions, making this a profound act of faith.
has the Father as well
This phrase assures believers that by accepting and confessing Jesus as the Son, they are granted a relationship with God the Father. It highlights the inseparable connection between the Father and the Son, reinforcing the doctrine of the Trinity. This assurance is a source of comfort and hope for believers, as it promises a complete and fulfilling relationship with God, as seen in passages likeJohn 17:21-23, where Jesus prays for unity among His followers and with the Father.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
John the ApostleThe author of 1 John, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, known for his close relationship with Jesus and his emphasis on love and truth.
2.
The Early ChurchThe audience of John's letter, facing challenges from false teachings and needing reassurance of their faith.
3.
False Teachers (Antichrists)Individuals who were spreading heretical teachings, denying the true nature of Jesus Christ, and causing division within the church.
Teaching Points
The Importance of ChristologyUnderstanding and confessing the true nature of Jesus Christ is essential for a relationship with God. Denying Jesus as the Son of God severs one's connection with the Father.
Confession and RelationshipConfessing Jesus as the Son is not merely a verbal acknowledgment but involves a deep, personal relationship with Him, which in turn connects us to the Father.
Guarding Against False TeachingsBelievers must be vigilant against teachings that deny the divinity and sonship of Jesus, as these lead away from the truth and disrupt fellowship with God.
Unity of the Father and the SonRecognizing the inseparable relationship between the Father and the Son is crucial for understanding the Christian faith and maintaining doctrinal purity.
Living Out Our ConfessionOur confession of Jesus as the Son should be evident in our daily lives, influencing our actions, decisions, and interactions with others.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 John 2:23?
2.How does 1 John 2:23 define the relationship between the Father and Son?
3.Why is acknowledging the Son crucial for fellowship with the Father?
4.How can we apply 1 John 2:23 in daily conversations about faith?
5.What other scriptures emphasize the importance of acknowledging Jesus as the Son?
6.How does denying the Son affect one's spiritual life according to 1 John 2:23?
7.What does 1 John 2:23 reveal about the relationship between the Father and the Son?
8.How does 1 John 2:23 challenge the belief in other religious figures as divine?
9.Why is acknowledging the Son crucial according to 1 John 2:23?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 John 2?
11.What defines the Spirit of the Antichrist?
12.What are the main Trinitarian heresies?
13.Is Christ eternally the Son of God?
14.What defines Christless Christianity?What Does 1 John 2:23 Mean
Whoever denies the Son- The verse begins with a sober warning: “Whoever denies the Son.” This is not a casual disagreement but an outright rejection of Jesus’ divine identity and saving work.
- John has already identified such denial as the spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:22; 4:3), showing that any teaching or worldview that refuses to honor Jesus as the Christ stands in direct opposition to God’s revealed truth.
- Jesus Himself declared, “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him” (Mark 8:38). Denial is personal and relational—it is turning away from the only Savior the Father has provided (Acts 4:12).
does not have the Father- Scripture presents the Father and Son as inseparably united. To reject the Son is to cut oneself off from the Father’s presence and favor. Jesus said, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23).
- John’s wording—“does not have”—is decisive. There is no partial possession of God apart from Christ. As Paul writes, “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
- Denial of Jesus leaves a person without the fellowship, adoption, and eternal life the Father freely offers (John 3:36; 2John 9).
but whoever confesses the Son- “Confesses” means openly acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Messiah. It is more than intellectual assent; it is a heart–mouth alignment that places one’s hope in Him (Romans 10:9-10).
- Jesus promised, “Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Confession therefore brings the believer into a public, unashamed relationship with Christ.
- John later affirms, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). The ongoing, present-tense reality of confessing safeguards believers from deception and anchors them in truth.
has the Father as well- The blessing attached to confession is immediate and complete—one “has the Father.” Through faith in the Son, the believer enters the intimate family life of God (Galatians 4:6-7).
- Jesus explains the pathway clearly: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Far from excluding, the Father has made access simple and direct: receive His Son.
- This union is covenantal and everlasting. As Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The believer gains not merely benefits but God Himself.
summary1 John 2:23 draws a sharp line: to deny Jesus is to forfeit fellowship with the Father; to confess Jesus is to enjoy the Father’s presence. Scripture treats this connection as absolute, leaving no neutral ground. Embrace the Son, and you possess the Father; reject the Son, and you stand outside the family of God.
Verse 23. -
Every one who denieth the Son not only does that, but
οὐδέ doth not possess the Father. To deny that Jesus is the Christ is to deny the Son of God, for the Christ is the incarnate Son; and to deny the Son of God is to deny the Father also, for the incarnate Son is the Revelation of the Father; and not only so, but to deny the Son is to cut one's self off from the Father, for "no one knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." To emphasize this great truth St. John uses his favourite motive of stating it both negatively and positively. To deny the Son is not to have the Father; to confess the Son is to have the Father (comp.
1 John 1:5, 8;
1 John 2:4, 27;
1 John 3:6;
1 John 4:2, 3, 6, 7, 8;
1 John 5:12). Note the solemn asyndeta. There is not a single connecting particle in verses 22-24; the sentences fall on the ear like minute-guns. "Every one that denieth." There is no exception. Even an apostle, if he denies that Jesus is the Christ. thereby also loses all possession of the Father. The history of philosophy verifies the statement. Deism has ever a tendency to end in pantheism or atheism.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Whoeverπᾶς(pas)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.deniesἀρνούμενος(arnoumenos)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 720:Perhaps from a and the middle voice of rheo; to contradict, i.e. Disavow, reject, abnegate.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.SonΥἱὸν(Huion)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.does not haveἔχει(echei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Father;Πατέρα(Patera)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962:Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.whoeverὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.confessesὁμολογῶν(homologōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3670:From a compound of the base of homou and logos; to assent, i.e. Covenant, acknowledge.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.SonΥἱὸν(Huion)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.hasἔχει(echei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.FatherΠατέρα(Patera)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962:Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.as well.καὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.
Links
1 John 2:23 NIV1 John 2:23 NLT1 John 2:23 ESV1 John 2:23 NASB1 John 2:23 KJV
1 John 2:23 BibleApps.com1 John 2:23 Biblia Paralela1 John 2:23 Chinese Bible1 John 2:23 French Bible1 John 2:23 Catholic Bible
NT Letters: 1 John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son the same doesn't (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)