The Nugget:
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (KJV)
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, remain in him, that when he may be manifested, we may have boldness, and may not be ashamed before him, in his presence; (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, you must abide in Him, so that when He may be manifested, we may have confidence and may not be made ashamed on account of Him at His arrival. (Lavenders’ New Testament)
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He is revealed we may have confidence, and not be shamed from Him in His coming. (LITV, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)
1Jn 2:28 And now, dear children, I repeat, you must continue to live in union with Him, so that if He is unveiled, we may have unshaken confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame when He comes. (Williams NT)
1Jn 2:28 And now, my children, remain ye in him; that so, when he shall be manifested, we may not be ashamed before him, but may have an open countenance at his coming. (Murdock NT)
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. (NET Bible)
1Jn 2:28 Yes, my children, remain in union with him, so that when he appears we may be full of courage and need not hide in shame from him on the Day he comes. (GNB, Good News Bible)
1Jn 2:28 Now, dear children, live in Christ. Then, when he appears we will have confidence, and when he comes we won’t turn from him in shame. (GW, God’s Word translation)
1Jn 2:28 And now, children, abide in him, that if he be manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame from before him at his coming. (Darby)
1Jn 2:28 And now, my children, keep your hearts in him; so that at his revelation, we may have no fear or shame before him at his coming. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)
1Jn 2:28 Yes, my dear children, live in him. If we do this, we can be without fear on the day when Christ comes again. We will not need to hide and be ashamed when he comes. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)
1Jn 2:28 Children, stay one in your hearts with Christ. Then when he returns, we will have confidence and won’t have to hide in shame. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)
My Comment:
The Apostle John gives instruction about how we are to be prepared for the coming of Christ. We are to abide or remain or reside in union with our Lord Jesus Christ. When He appears, we may have confidence, that is, boldness and freedom of speech. We should be prepared by living a life of obedience and holiness. We do not wish to hide in shame in guilty surprise when He comes. To be prepared for Christ’s coming is one of the purposes for studying the Bible, and Bible prophecy in particular.
To dig deeper into these most important themes, read and study the cross references and additional notes expanded from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for 1 John 2:28 shared below:
1 John 2:28
And now. Jhn 17:5; %+Jhn 18:36, Act 3:17; Act 4:29; Act 7:34; Act 10:5; Act 13:11; Act 20:25; Act 22:16, 2Th 2:6, 2Jn 1:5.
little children. or, little sons, believers of every stage and age (JFB). See on +1Jn 2:1; 1Jn 2:12; 1Jn 2:18, 1Jn 3:2; 1Jn 3:7; 1Jn 3:10; 1Jn 3:18; 1Jn 5:21. Joh 1:13, Gal 4:19.
abide in him. 1Jn 1:3; 1Jn 1:9 1Jn 2:5, 6; 1Jn 2:27, 1Jn 3:6, Jos 2:19, Joh 6:56; +Jhn 14:20; Joh 15:9, Act 11:23; Act 13:43, Rom 8:1.
when. or, whenever (Jhn 8:16; Jhn 12:32; Jhn 14:3). The critical texts read “if” (CB). Gr. ean. FS184C, Mat 4:9. The subjunctive mood has reference to the future timing of His appearance, without suggesting any doubtfulness. *1Jn 3:2, Mrk 8:38, Jhn 21:22, 1Co 15:54, *Col 3:4, *1Ti 6:14, +*2Ti 4:8, +*Tit 2:13, +*Heb 9:28 note. *1Pe 1:7; 1Pe 1:13; *1Pe 5:4, +*Rev 1:7.
he shall appear. Gr. phaneroō (S# G5319, 2Co 2:14). 1Jn 2:19, 1Jn 3:2; 1Jn 3:5; 1Jn 3:8, +*Mat 24:30, +*Col 3:4, 1Pe 5:4.
we may. FS39, +Act 17:27.
have confidence. Gr. parrhēsia (S# G3954, Mrk 8:32), properly, freedom of speech, confidence, boldness (EGT). 1Jn 3:19; 1Jn 3:21; *1Jn 4:17; 1Jn 5:14, Job 14:15, *Psa 62:8, *Isa 25:9; *Isa 45:17, Mat 17:20 note. Luk 1:17; Luk 6:48, Jhn 16:22, +Act 4:13; +Act 4:29; +Act 4:31; Act 26:26; Act 28:31, *Rom 5:5; *Rom 9:33, 2Co 3:12, Eph 3:12, Php 1:20, 1Th 2:2, 1Ti 3:13, Heb 3:6; Heb 4:16; Heb 7:28 note. Heb 10:19; Heb 10:35.
not be ashamed. Gr. aischunō (S# G153, 2Co 10:8). Gen 2:25; *Gen 3:8, 9, 10, Job 11:15, +*Psa 119:6; Psa 119:31; Psa 119:46; **Psa 119:80, Pro 13:5 g. Isa 1:29 g. **Isa 45:17, Jer 2:36 g. Jer 12:13 g. Joel 2:26, Mat 25:41, *Mrk 8:38, Luk 9:26; Luk 12:9; +**Luk 21:36, Jhn 3:21, *Rom 5:5; Rom 6:21; Rom 14:10; Rom 14:12, 1Co 3:15, 2Co 5:10, Php 1:20; *Php 2:15; *Php 2:16, **2Ti 2:15, 1Pe 4:16, 2Pe 1:11; *2Pe 3:14.
before him. or, from him. Shrink back from Him ashamed, as if in guilty surprise (see Robertson). 1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 4:17; 1Jn 5:14, Isa 1:29 g. Jer 2:36 g. Jer 12:13, 2Th 1:9, Rev 6:17; Rev 7:4.
at his. *Mal 3:2; Mal 4:5, 1Co 1:7; 1Co 11:26; *1Co 15:23, +1Th 2:19; *1Th 3:13; *1Th 5:23, +*2Ti 4:1, Heb 9:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, *2Pe 3:4, 12.
coming. Gr. parousia, +Mat 24:3. Not simply “presence” but “arrival,” “advent” (EGT). Parousia occurs only here in John’s writings, but often elsewhere (Lange). Mat 24:3; Mat 24:27; Mat 24:37; Mat 24:39; Mat 24:44; Mat 25:13, Luk 12:40, 1Co 15:23, 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:15; 1Th 5:23, 2Th 2:1; 2Th 2:8, 9, Jas 5:7, 8, 2Pe 1:16; 2Pe 3:4; 2Pe 3:12.