King James Version

What Does 1 John 2:22 Mean?

1 John 2:22 in the King James Version says “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” — study this verse from 1 John chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

1 John 2:22 · KJV

Context

20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Read 1 John 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. John identifies the ultimate lie and liar. "Who is a liar" (tis estin ho pseustēs) asks rhetorically—the supreme example of lying follows. "But he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ" (ei mē ho arnoumenos hoti Iēsous ouk estin ho Christos)—the present participle "denieth" (arnoumenos) indicates ongoing, habitual denial. The specific denial is "that Jesus is the Christ"—rejecting that the historical man Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by God.

This denial took various forms in John's context. Gnostic teachers separated the human Jesus from the divine Christ, claiming the Christ-spirit descended on Jesus at baptism and departed before crucifixion. Others denied Jesus' true humanity, claiming He only seemed to have a body (Docetism). All such denials of Jesus' identity as the incarnate Christ constitute the fundamental lie. "He is antichrist" (houtos estin ho antichristos)—houtos (this one) is emphatic. The liar who denies Jesus is THE antichrist, embodying antichrist spirit regardless of whether he is the final Antichrist figure.

"That denieth the Father and the Son" (ho arnoumenos ton patera kai ton huion) reveals the theological consequence. Denying the Son necessarily means denying the Father, because the Father and Son are inseparably united. Jesus taught: "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9). Denying Jesus' identity as the divine Son means denying the Father who sent Him. There is no knowledge of God apart from the incarnate Son (Matthew 11:27, John 1:18).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The confession "Jesus is the Christ" was foundational to apostolic Christianity. Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi—"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16)—became the church's cornerstone confession. The Gospel of John was written "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20:31). Early Christian baptism included confession that "Jesus Christ is Lord" (Romans 10:9, Philippians 2:11).

Gnostic denial of Jesus as the Christ took sophisticated forms, often claiming to honor Christ while rejecting Jesus' full humanity or denying His identity as Messiah. John's test cuts through sophistication: whatever teaching denies Jesus is the incarnate Christ embodies antichrist spirit. This test proved crucial for the early church facing various Christological heresies: Arianism (denying Christ's full deity), Nestorianism (dividing Christ's natures), Apollinarianism (denying full humanity). All failed John's test.

Throughout church history, this confession has distinguished orthodoxy from heresy. The ecumenical creeds (Nicene, Chalcedonian) carefully defined Jesus' identity as both fully divine and fully human—the incarnate Christ. Liberal theology's later reduction of Jesus to mere moral teacher or religious genius fell under John's condemnation: denying Jesus is THE Christ (the divine Son incarnate) is the antichrist spirit.

Reflection Questions

  1. What specific contemporary teachings deny that Jesus is the Christ by separating His humanity from His deity or vice versa?
  2. How does confessing 'Jesus is the Christ' serve as a test distinguishing genuine Christian faith from false teaching?
  3. Why is denying the Son inseparable from denying the Father, and what does this reveal about the Trinity's unity?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 25 words
Τίς1 of 25

“Who”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

ἐστιν2 of 25

“is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

ὁ3 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ψεύστης4 of 25

“a liar”

G5583

a falsifier

εἰ5 of 25
G1487

if, whether, that, etc

μὴ6 of 25
G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

ὁ7 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀρνούμενος8 of 25

“he that denieth”

G720

to contradict, i.e., disavow, reject, abnegate

ὅτι9 of 25

“that”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

Ἰησοῦς10 of 25

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

οὐκ11 of 25
G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἐστιν12 of 25

“is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

ὁ13 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Χριστός14 of 25

“the Christ”

G5547

anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus

οὗτός15 of 25

“He”

G3778

the he (she or it), i.e., this or that (often with article repeated)

ἐστιν16 of 25

“is”

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

ὁ17 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀντίχριστος18 of 25

“antichrist”

G500

an opponent of the messiah

ὁ19 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀρνούμενος20 of 25

“he that denieth”

G720

to contradict, i.e., disavow, reject, abnegate

τὸν21 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πατέρα22 of 25

“the Father”

G3962

a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)

καὶ23 of 25

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τὸν24 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

υἱόν25 of 25

“the Son”

G5207

a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 John. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 John 2:22 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 John 2:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 John 1:71 John 4:31 John 2:18Jude 1:41 John 2:231 John 4:20

Test Your Knowledge

1 John 2 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter1 John Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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