1Jn 2:1-17, For What World did Christ make Propitiation?

Moving to 1 John the issue is still “limited or unlimited atonement” and revolves around 1 Jn. 2:2: And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.  At least one explanation is that John, an apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:9), is distinguishing between Jewish believers (our sins) and Gentile believers (the whole world).  As with Jn. 3:16, this interpretation would not be the first explanation to come to mind.  Again, it seems to arise from a need to defend “limited atonement” rather than from a natural reading of the text.

Also, John’s Epistles do not depend on knowing he was an apostle to the Jews.  John does not mention this in his introduction (1:1-4) as do James and 1 Peter.  Further, the passage seems to emphasize the “whole world,” not a part of the world. 

·       1Jo 2:15-17: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (Chief passage on the “world system.”)

·       1Jo 3:1: … the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (This cannot refer to the world of “Gentile Christians” but to the world of 2:15-17).

·       1Jo 3:13: Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.  (I believe John is building on things Jesus told the Twelve in the Upper Room, even as Peter did the same in his two letters: the precious promises.)

·       1Jo 3:17: But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

·       1Jo 4:1: test the spirits … bec. many false prophets have gone out into the world.

·       1Jo 4:3-5: … the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. … He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are of the world. … they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

·       1Jo 4:9: In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (On the previous question about God’s love for the world, this is important: He sent His Son into the world that we, the elect/believers, might live.  That world had to include unbelievers who would reject Christ and crucify Him.)

·       1Jo 4:14: … the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

·       1Jo 4:17: … as He is, so are we in this world.

·       1Jo 5:4-5: Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Our faith has overcome the world.  5 He who believes Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world.

·       1Jo 5:19: … we are of God, & the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.