1 John 2

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the…” Naming Christ and Father keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” The line’s distinctive content terms include sins, propitiation, whole. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” The line’s distinctive content terms include know, commandments, keep. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandments, keepeth, know. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abideth, walk, walked. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old…” Naming Brethren keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and…” Naming Again keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brother, darkness, hateth. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abideth, brother, light. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include darkness, blinded, brother. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.” The line’s distinctive content terms include children, forgiven, little. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not…” Naming Father and Love keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include continued, doubt, manifest. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“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.” The line’s distinctive content terms include know, truth, written. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” Naming Father and Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include concerning, seduce, written. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.