1. II. Light and Darkness (1:5-2:24)
    1. D. Test of Truth (2:18-2:24)
      1. ii. Safety of truth and Holy Spirit (2:20-2:24)
Thematic Relation: Through God's loving gift of the Holy Spirit, we are fitted to recognize the truth, and avoid the falsehood.

Some Key Words

Anointing (chrisma[5545]):
a communication and reception of the Holy Spirit. The Holy oil; The special endowment of the Holy Spirit.
Know (eido[1492]):
to perceive with the outward senses, to experience.
Truth (aletheia[225]):
the reality at the basis of and agreeing with the appearance, the essence of the matter; the truth as taught in faith, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ.
Denies (arneomai[720]):
not to know or recognize a person, to reject, including the idea of falsehood or contradiction; to prove false to oneself, to reject, refuse something offered
Confesses(homologeo[3670]):
thoughtful word, to accept or consent, to speak the same with or consent to the desire of another, to confess, celebrate with public praises; to say the same thing as another, to declare openly, to speak out freely; acknowledge
Has(echo[2192]):
to hold count, consider, regard; to lay hold of a thing, to adhere, or cling to, to be closely joined to a person or thing
 

Paraphrase

20 We are anointed by the Holy Spirit to know the truth. 21 Knowing the truth, we know that no lie can be part of the truth. 22 One of these lies is the denial of Jesus as Messiah, which denial denies not just Jesus, but the Father also.23 The Son is necessary to accepting the Father. 24 Abiding in sound teachings will lead to abiding in God.

Key Verse

2:23 - Here's the test answer: to deny Jesus is to deny God; to confess Jesus is to confess God.

Thematic Relevance:

 We've been given the tools to recognize good teaching from bad. Part of the toolset is remaining in sound teaching. Another part is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Doctrinal Relevance:

 Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the Son. The Father and Son are inseparable.

Moral Relevance:

 We must watch what teachings we're accepting; testing everything against God's Word. The Holy Spirit has been given to help us in this work, but we must abide in what we've already learned that He may abide with us, and act as our guide.

Questions Raised:

 What was it that was heard from the beginning? Is this another reference to the paramount commandments of love to God and neighbor? It seems likely.

Some Parallel Verses

2:20
2Co 1:21- the one who anoints is God. Mk 1:24 - even the demons recognized Jesus as the Holy One. Ac 10:38 - God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit (there's a trinity for ya). Pr 28:5 - those who seek the Lord understand all things! Mt 13:11 - it has been granted to us to know the mysteries of heaven (good proof against the falsehoods of hell). Jn 14:26 - the Holy Spirit will be our teacher. 1Co 2:15 - those who operate in the Spirit test (anakrino [350]: scrutinize) all things.
2:21
Js 1:19 - we know to be quick hearers, and slow speakers, and hard to anger. 2Pe 1:5-7, 12 - a whole list of things we know we ought to be established in: faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. Jd 5 - we know that God destroys unbelievers. Jn 8:44 - Satan and his kin have no truth, but only lies. Jn 18:37 - Jesus was a witness for the Truth.
2:22
2Jn 7 - the liars deny Jesus as having a physical reality on earth. Mt 24:5 - many claim to be Christ, and thus mislead.
2:23
Jn 8:19 - to know Jesus is to know the Father. Jn 16:2-3 - many evils will be done to Christians by those that don't know Jesus (and thus don't know the Father). Jn 17:3 - knowing God through Jesus Christ is eternal life. 2Jn 9 - those who exceed the bounds of sound doctrine do not have God.
2:24
Jn 14:23 - those who love Jesus will keep His word, and thus the Father will love and abide with them.

New Thoughts

Wow! There's just so much to look at here! On the positive side, those of us who will seek God with our whole heart, mind and soul (as we were taught from the beginning) have been granted to know all things - even things in heaven! This is just too awesome - that God would share so much with His imperfect children. But the warnings are strong and strident: we must test, test, test! Take no teacher or teaching for granted - know the true fundamental knowledge of God's revealed Word, and test everything that comes against it - especially those things that want to claim to be new revelations! There's nothing new under the sun. God has not changed, nor will He. If this new thing is to be accepted, it will reveal itself as old, and the Holy Spirit will confirm it to us through the Word, not through feel-good tingly sensations, but through the Word. Dangerous times in dangerous waters require a secure ability to swim strong and true for the rock of our salvation!