ἀντίχριστος

From the study of 1 John 2:18

Range of meaning

A compound of anti + christos ('Messiah, anointed one'). In Greek compounds anti- can mean 'against' (as in antidikos, 'legal opponent') or 'in place of, rival to' (as in antibasileus, a rival or substitute king). So the word can carry both 'opponent of the Messiah' and 'counterfeit or rival messiah', and many scholars think both are present. John defines it by what such a person does: 'the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ... denies the Father and the Son' (2:22); 'every spirit that does not confess Jesus... this is the spirit of antichrist' (4:3); 'many deceivers... who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh; this is the deceiver and the antichrist' (2 John 7).

Against the English

English 'the Antichrist' (capital A, definite article) suggests a fixed title for one known individual. John uses it with and without the article, in singular and plural, and even as 'the spirit of antichrist' (4:3). It names a type and a power as well as an expected figure.

How it drifted

From the late 2nd century, writers such as Irenaeus (Against Heresies 5.25–30) and Hippolytus (On Christ and Antichrist) combined John's word with Daniel's arrogant king (Dan 7; 11:36), Paul's 'man of lawlessness' (2 Thess 2:3–4) and Revelation's beast (Rev 13) into one end-time tyrant called 'the Antichrist'. Medieval legend, Reformation polemic (identifying him with the papacy) and modern prophecy writing developed that composite figure. None of those other passages uses the word 'antichrist'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is not found in any surviving Greek text before John's letters; it occurs only in 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3 and 2 John 7, and nowhere in Revelation. Closest earlier ideas: Daniel's blasphemous king; Belial as leader of the forces of darkness in the Dead Sea Scrolls (e.g. the War Scroll); Jesus' warning of 'false christs' (pseudochristoi) and false prophets who deceive (Mark 13:22). The earliest echo after John is Polycarp, To the Philippians 7.1 (early 2nd century): 'everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is antichrist', applying it, as John does, to false teachers.

From the study of 1 John 4:3

Range of meaning

A compound of anti ('against', or 'in place of, instead of') and christos ('anointed one, Messiah'). So it can mean an opponent of the Messiah, a rival or counterfeit Messiah, or both together. In the New Testament it appears only in John's letters: 1 John 2:18 (twice), 2:22, 4:3 and 2 John 7. There it means (a) the expected end-time opponent ('antichrist is coming'), and (b) the many people who now embody that opposition ('many antichrists have come', 2:18). John defines the term by doctrine: 'the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ' (2:22), 'those who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh' (2 John 7).

Against the English

English versions transliterate it as 'antichrist', which is accurate as far as it goes. But for many readers the English word now calls up a single future world ruler, built from Daniel, 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation 13. In this verse the word names a spirit that is already active through teachers who deny Jesus.

How it drifted

From the 2nd century on (Irenaeus, Hippolytus), Christian writers merged John's antichrist with Paul's 'man of lawlessness' (2 Thess 2:3-4), Daniel's 'little horn' and Revelation's beast into one composite figure. Medieval and modern prophecy writing, and later popular fiction, then fixed that composite as the main meaning of the word. Revelation itself never uses the word 'antichrist'.

Used elsewhere in the period

1-2 John are the earliest surviving uses of the word, though John says the readers had 'heard' of the antichrist figure, so the idea came before the letter. The background includes Daniel's arrogant king (Dan 7:25; 11:36), Jesus' warning of 'false christs and false prophets' (Mark 13:22; Matt 24:24), the 'man of lawlessness' (2 Thess 2), and Jewish expectation of an end-time Belial-figure or arch-deceiver (e.g. Ascension of Isaiah 4; the 'world-deceiver' of Didache 16:4). Polycarp, To the Philippians 7.1 (early 2nd century), echoes this verse: 'everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is antichrist.'

From the study of 2 John 1:7

Range of meaning

'Anti-Messiah.' The prefix anti- can mean 'against' (an opponent) or 'in place of' (a rival or substitute, a counterfeit). Both senses may be in play: someone who opposes the true Messiah by offering a false version of him.

Against the English

English versions simply transliterate it as 'antichrist.' The word carries centuries of later associations: a single future world dictator, the beast of Revelation, the mark of the beast, and in some traditions the papacy or particular political figures. None of these comes from this verse.

How it drifted

From the 2nd century on (Irenaeus, Hippolytus), Christian writers merged several biblical figures into one end-time Antichrist: Daniel's 'little horn,' the 'man of lawlessness' in 2 Thessalonians 2, and the beasts of Revelation 13. Later prophecy teaching sharpened this into a political ruler. The word 'antichrist' itself occurs only in 1 and 2 John, and there it is applied to present, plural, human teachers.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is first attested in the Johannine letters (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7) and nowhere else in the NT. Revelation does not use it. The idea behind it was older: Jewish expectation of a final deceiver or tyrant, modelled on Antiochus IV in Daniel 7–11. Jesus warned of 'false christs' (pseudochristoi) who would 'lead astray' (Mark 13:22). Didache 16:4 speaks of a 'world-deceiver' who appears as a son of God. Polycarp (Philippians 7.1, early 2nd century) echoes John directly: 'everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is antichrist.'