The Meaning of 1 John 2:26 Explained

1 John 2:26

KJV: These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

YLT: These things I did write to you concerning those leading you astray;

Darby: These things have I written to you concerning those who lead you astray:

ASV: These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

These  [things] have I written  unto you  concerning  them that seduce  you. 

What does 1 John 2:26 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The "these things" in view probably refer to what John had just written ( 1 John 2:18-25).
"The author concludes his attack on the false teachers with a warning and a word of encouragement for his followers." [1]

Context Summary

1 John 2:18-29 - Loyalty To Truth
The Holy One is surely the risen Savior, who has passed into the heavens, whence He bestows the Holy Spirit as a sacred chrism on meek and trustful souls. We can say with the psalmist, "Thou anointest my head with oil." Let us seek fresh anointing. "I shall be anointed with fresh oil," Psalms 92:10. Whenever we attempt to do God's work, we should be able to say, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and He hath anointed me." The anointed soul understands things hidden from the wise and prudent, 1 John 2:27.
We must hold the Word of Christ by perpetual reiteration and meditation; only so shall we be able to abide in Him. This abiding life involves not merely that we shall work for God, but that God will work through us. The abiding branch bears much fruit, because the energy of the vine is set free to work its will through its yielded channels. A life of abiding communion with Christ will never be ashamed in this or in any other world. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 John 2

1  He comforts them against the sins of infirmity
3  Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments;
9  to love our brothers;
15  and not to love the world
18  We must beware of antichrists;
20  from whose deceits the godly are safe, preserved by perseverance in faith, and holiness of life

Greek Commentary for 1 John 2:26

Concerning them that would lead you astray [περι των πλανωντων υμας]
“Concerning those that are trying to lead you astray” (conative use of the present active articular participle of πλαναω — planaō). See 1 John 1:8 for this verb. John is doing his part to rescue the sheep from the wolves, as Paul did (Acts 20:29). [source]
Seduce [πλανώντων]
See on 1 John 1:8. Rev., lead astray. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 2:26

1 John 3:7 Let no man lead you astray [μηδεις πλανατω υμας]
Present active imperative of πλαναω — planaō “let no one keep on leading you astray.” See 1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:26. Break the spell of any Gnostic charmer. [source]
1 John 5:13 I have written [εγραπσα]
Not epistolary aorist, but refers to 1 John 5:1-12 of this Epistle as in 1 John 2:26 to the preceding verses. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 John 2:26 mean?

These things I have written to you concerning those leading astray you
Ταῦτα ἔγραψα ὑμῖν περὶ τῶν πλανώντων ὑμᾶς

Ταῦτα  These  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔγραψα  I  have  written 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
περὶ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
τῶν  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πλανώντων  leading  astray 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πλανάω  
Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.