Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 5:21

"[My] little children, guard yourselves from idols." — 1 John 5:21 (ASV)

John closes on an affectionate note and with a final admonition. “Dear children” (cf. 3:7; 4:4) reminds his readers of his genuine commitment to them. The exhortation “keep yourselves from idols” at first glance seems out of place. Idolatry has not so much as been mentioned in the letter. Although the warning may be understood as a general admonition to avoid any contact with paganism, it is more likely that the warning represents a final characterization of the “heresy” represented by the false teachers. False teaching is ultimately “apostasy from the true faith.” To follow after it is to become nothing better than an idol worshiper, especially if it is a matter of the truth of one’s conception of God. The author is blunt. The false teachers propose not the worship of the true God, made known in his Son Jesus, but a false god—an idol they have invented.