G.K. Beale, «The Old Testament Background of the «Last Hour» in 1 John 2,18», Vol. 92 (2011) 231-254
This article argues that the «last hour» in 1 John 2,18 is best understood against the Old Testament background of Daniel 8,12. In particular, the only eschatological uses of «hour» (w#ra) in all of the Greek Old Testament occur in the «Old Greek» of Dan 8,17.19; 11,35.40; 12,1. There the «hour» (w#ra) refers to the specific eschatological time when the opponent of God’s people will attempt to deceive them. John sees Daniel’s prophecy as beginning to be fulfilled in the deceptive work of the Antichrist(s) who has come among the churches to which he is writing.
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THE OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUND “ LAST HOUR â€
OF THE
1. Development of the Synoptic and 2 Thessalonians Traditions in 1
John 2,18
As noted briefly above, the reference in 1 John 2,18 to the
readers having earlier “heard that antichrist is coming†and that
“ now many antichrists have appeared†(so also in 4,3) goes back to
two early Christian sources, with which the audience has familiarity
in oral form (could the audience’s familiarity with this expectation
have been due to hearing the reading of this material in its written
gospel form in the weekly church assembly?). (1) Jesus’ prophecy
of “false christsâ€, “‘For false christs and false prophets will arise
and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible,
even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance’†(Matt 24,24-25;
so also Mark 13,22-23, with minor variations from Matthew). (2)
Second Thessalonians’ prophecy of the “man of lawlessness†is also
likely one of the sources included in the reference to “you have
heard †in 1 John 2,18. There is general consensus that Jesus’ proph-
ecy of the eschatological trial and of the end-time antagonist is
dependent on Daniel 7–12 6. Likewise, there is significant acknowl-
edgement that the 2 Thessalonians prophecy goes back to Daniel’s
prophecy of the end-time opponent who will attempt to deceive
God’s people (in Daniel 7–9; 11–12) 7. The following texts from
Daniel helped shape the view on this topic by the Synoptic dis-
course and 2 Thessalonians 8 : Dan. 8,12.23.25 ; 11,30.34.36.
That Jesus is developing the prophecy of Daniel’s latter-day de-
ceiver is apparent from the saturation of other Daniel 7–12 allusions
elsewhere in Matthew 24 together with its synoptic parallels 9. For
example Matt 24,15 and 21 respectively quote the famous “abom-
ination of desolation†and “great tribulation†passages from Daniel.
E.g. HARTMAN, Prophecy Interpreted, 145-177.
6
Allusion is made to Dan 11,36 in 2 Thess 2,3-4, on which, e.g. among
7
others, see I. H. MARSHALL, 1 and 2 Thessalonians (NCB ; Grand Rapids, MI
1983) 190-191; G.K. BEALE, 1-2 Thessalonians (IVPNTC 13; Downers Grove,
IL 2003) 205-210, though the reference derives not only from Daniel but also
from the synoptic discourse eschatological tradition (Matthew 24, Mark 13,
and Luke 21). On this topic see HARTMAN, Prophecy Interpreted, 197-205,
and D. WENHAM, Paul (Grand Rapids, MI 1995) 316-319.
Of course, there is debate about the authorship of 2 Thessalonians, about
8
which there is not space to discuss here.
On which see further HARTMAN, Prophecy Interpreted, 145-177.
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