The central part of verse 18 is included between two references to the last hour. This figure of inclusion occurs also elsewhere; for example, in 3.5-8 and 23.

For children see comments on verse 13c.

It is the last hour: the phrase the last hour (in the Greek without the article) occurs only here in the New Testament. Yet it must have been a well-known expression or technical term which the Greek could use without the article. The noun may refer to a period of time or to a moment in time. The latter is the meaning here. The phrase designates the final and decisive moment in the history of mankind. Comparable expressions are found in the Gospel of John; for example, “the hour” (5.25, 28, in the Greek also without article), and “the last day” (6.39-40, 44, 54).

In some Gospel passages (such as 3.18; 4.23; 5.25) John views the final decision as being a fact already, in others as becoming a fact in the immediate future. It is the latter view that prevails here; hence, for example, “we are getting near the end of things” (Phillips).

An equivalent technical term may exist in the receptor language; for example, one Philippine language, which uses ‘consummation’ (derived from a verb meaning ‘to complete/fulfill’). But in most cases the rendering must be expanded so as to convey the implications which the term the last hour had for the original receptors; compare such expressions as ‘time of the ending of days,’ ‘the moment just before the end (or before the new time/age).’ Further shifts may be necessary, as in the following rendering of the clause, ‘this present period of life is coming to an end (literally, has been a long time).’

The connectives as…, so … usually indicate comparison, but here they serve to bring out that the contents of the so-clause agree with what is said in the as-clause. This is brought out in a rendering like “you have heard that Antichrist is coming, and many Antichrists have indeed appeared” (Goodspeed [Goodspeed]).

As you have heard: see comments on 2.7. The appearance of the antichrist shortly before the end of time must have formed a regular topic in Christian teaching.

Antichrist is coming: preferably “will come,” “is to come” (compare Good News Translation, New English Bible), since the present tense of the verb has future force here. The implication is, of course, that the antichrist will come in or about the time referred to as the last hour. It is preferable to indicate that implication, for example, as ‘… the end of time in which the antichrist will come, as you have heard.’

† The term antichrist occurs in the New Testament only here and in 2.22; 4.3; 2 John 7, but the concept is found also in other New Testament passages; see especially 2 Thes 2.1-12, on “the final Rebellion … and the Wicked One…, who is destined to hell” (Good News Translation). The Greek prefix anti- can mean “against” as well as “instead of.” Accordingly antichrist may be taken as describing one who, assuming the appearance of Christ, opposes Christ.

Many versions, among them Good News Translation, render the term as ‘enemy (or opponent, or hater) of Christ,’ ‘one who is against (or acts contrary to, or rejects) Christ.’ Some have chosen the other interpretation; for example, ‘imposter of Christ,’ or have combined the two, as in ‘deceiver-Christ (or not-Christ) who is an enemy of Christ.’ The first interpretation seems, on the whole, the more satisfactory one.

Transliteration of the Greek term is traditionally the most common procedure in western languages. Although it is not advisable in most other receptor languages, it has often been adopted there because it had become current usage with the function of a proper name. This may seem a safe procedure, but sometimes is far from being so. In one language, for example, the pronunciations of anti- and auntie (a borrowing from English) are alike, and therefore the form had to be handled carefully, lest it be taken to mean “auntie Christ.” In another language the word ‘antichrist’ is well known, but only as the designation of the illegal child of a priest.

Many antichrists have come: in the preceding clause antichrist (in the singular) referred to a figure that will come at the end of time, and as such, a person not to be a part of ordinary life. In the present clause the same term is used in the plural with reference to the false teachers, persons whom John and his readers were encountering every day. By thus characterizing his opponents as embodiments of the antichrist, John equates the vision of the future and the present-day situation.

It is preferable to render antichrist by the same receptor language expression in both occurrences. Any variation that may be necessary because of the difference in number or class should be kept to the minimum.

Have come (in the Greek a perfect tense form of “to come-to-be,” “to become”) can also be rendered ‘have appeared/arisen,’ ‘have come to the fore,’ or ‘are present,’ ‘are at work.’

Therefore we know that it is the last hour draws the conclusion from the preceding sentence. The argument runs thus: the antichrist will come in the last hour—antichrists exist now—consequently the last hour is now. Hence such renderings as ‘which proves to us that it is the last hour.’

We know, or ‘we can be sure,’ or ‘we can conclude.’ The pronoun (here and in verses 19, 25, 28) is “the preacher’s ‘we’ ” again; compare 1.6.

Quoted with permission from Haas, C., de Jonge, M. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on The First Letter of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .