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or in the Apocalypse ; nor does any other writer of the New Testa- ment use it. Whether the phraseology of the apostles or the language of the faithful led to the introduction of that word, John, about to cut off [guard against] the errors which might arise, wishes mention to be made not only of antichrist , but also of antichrists : and when he speaks of antichrist , or the spirit of antichrist , or a deceiver and antichrist , though he speaks in the singular number, he designs to point out all who are deceivers and enemies of the truth. The faith- ful had heard that the spirit of antichrist, wad antichrist himself should come. John acknowledges that, and adds, that the spirit of antichrist is now already in the world , that now there had arisen many antichrists. And as Christ is sometimes spoken of for Christianity , so antichrist is spoken of for antichristianity , or the doctrine and multitude of men opposed to Christ. There is in particular one remarkable adversary, who is called the Horn speaking great things , Dan. vii. 8, 20; the man of sin , etc., 2 Thess. ii. 3, 4 ; a beast ascending out of the bottomless pit , Apocal. xi. 7, xvii. 8; but he indeed appears to be called by the same name of antichrist , rather in accordance with ecclesiastical usage, ancient and modern, than in accordance with the sense of the apostle. Comp. H. More's Synopsis of Prophecy, Book 1st, ch. i. 4. John so admits that antichrist even then was come, as to teach, that not one only, but many antichrists had come ; a matter which he considers of greater consequence and more disastrous. The whole class of those, who have any good or evil disposition, is often ex- pressed in the singular number with the article. 'O ayuObg uvOpuxog, the good man [every man that is good], etc. Matt. xii. 35, xviii. 17; 1 Pet. iv. 18 ; Tit. ii. 8 ; John x. 10, 12; and so everywhere, espe- cially in Proverbs, also 1 John iv. 2, 3, 6. Thus 6 -^everng, 6 nKavog, 6 avr'ryjiGTog, the liar , the deceiver , antichrist , ch. ii. 22 ; 2 John ver. 7. Therefore antichrist , or antichristianity, has propagated itself from the close of John’s life through the whole course of ages, and still remains until that great adversary arises. — spyjrou) comes, from an- other place. The antithesis is, “ Many antichrists have arisen ,” viz. from us, ver. 19. Comp. Acts xx. 29, 30. — xa l vDi/) xa i, and: nv, Lat. hodie , to-day, Germ, wurklich, actually. This is opposed to mere previous hearing [of antichrists]. — oOsv — hr /v, whence — it is) Hence the necessity of the admonition follows.
19. ’e£5j X6ov, they went out) The antithesis is, they would have re- mained.— si yap, for if) One who is truly faithful does not easily fall away: ch. lii. 9, v. 18. — aXX’ ha, but that) that is, but they went out, that, etc.