1 John 2:20

An unction. Gr. chrisma, “an anointing,” from chrio, “to anoint” (see on Matt. 1:1). The use of chrisma may have been suggested by the use of antichristos in v. 18. Compare on Matt. 3:11; Luke 24:49.

Holy One. The OT speaks of God as the Holy One of Israel (Ps. 71:22; Isa. 1:4; etc.); the NT specifically applies the title to Christ (Mark 1:24; Acts 3:14; see on John 6:69). John knew that the Holy Spirit was given by the Father through the mediation of the Son (John 14:16, 26), and the reference here may therefore be either to the Father or to the Son.

Ye know all things. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “ye all know.” According to this reading John does not say that the Christian possesses all knowledge, but that all Christians have knowledge. However, the original reading is well supported and need not be taken to imply that the Christian possesses all knowledge, but simply that the Christian possesses all knowledge essential for his salvation. In the OT the anointing had been restricted to priests, rulers, and prophets (Ex. 29:7; 1 Sam. 9:16; 1 Kings 19:16), but under the new covenant all believers are anointed and all receive the divinely imparted knowledge that guides to life eternal (see on John 14:26; 16:13).