1 John 2:22
New International Version
Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.

New Living Translation
And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

English Standard Version
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

Berean Standard Bible
Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.

Berean Literal Bible
Who is the liar, except the one denying that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son.

King James Bible
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

New King James Version
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

New American Standard Bible
Who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

NASB 1995
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

NASB 1977
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Legacy Standard Bible
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Amplified Bible
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son.

Christian Standard Bible
Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son.

American Standard Version
Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.

Contemporary English Version
And a liar is anyone who says Jesus isn't truly Christ. Anyone who says this is an enemy of Christ and rejects both the Father and the Son.

English Revised Version
Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who is a liar? Who else but the person who rejects Jesus as the Messiah? The person who rejects the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

Good News Translation
Who, then, is the liar? It is those who say that Jesus is not the Messiah. Such people are the Enemy of Christ--they reject both the Father and the Son.

International Standard Version
Who is a liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? The person who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

Majority Standard Bible
Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.

NET Bible
Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.

New Heart English Bible
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Weymouth New Testament
Who is a liar compared with him who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who disowns the Father and the Son is the anti-Christ.

World English Bible
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who is the liar, except he who is denying that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist who is denying the Father and the Son;

Berean Literal Bible
Who is the liar, except the one denying that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son.

Young's Literal Translation
Who is the liar, except he who is denying that Jesus is the Christ? this one is the antichrist who is denying the Father and the Son;

Smith's Literal Translation
Who is a liar if not he denying that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, denying the Father and the Son.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Who is a liar, other than he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.

New American Bible
Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.

New Revised Standard Version
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is a false christ, and whoever denies the Father, denies the Son also.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Who is a liar but whoever denies that Yeshua is The Messiah? Such a person is a false messiah. He who denies The Father denies also the Son.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Who is a liar, but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.

Godbey New Testament
Who is a liar except the one denying that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son.

Haweis New Testament
Who is the liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Messiah? This man is the antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son.

Mace New Testament
who is so great an impostor as he, who denies that Jesus is the Christ? he is antichrist, that denies the father and the son.

Weymouth New Testament
Who is a liar compared with him who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who disowns the Father and the Son is the anti-Christ.

Worrell New Testament
Who is the liar, but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Anti-Christ, he that denies the Father and the Son.

Worsley New Testament
Who is a liar, if not he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, that denieth the Father as well as the Son;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Beware of Antichrists
21I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.…

Cross References
John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 5:23
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

John 15:23
Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.

Matthew 10:33
But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

John 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 16:2-3
They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. / They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.

1 John 4:3
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

John 7:41-42
Others declared, “This is the Christ.” But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? / Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

John 10:30-33
I and the Father are one.” / At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. / But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” ...

Acts 4:11-12
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ / Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Matthew 16:16
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

John 1:10-11
He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. / He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.


Treasury of Scripture

Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.

Who.

1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

he that.

1 John 2:23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 Corinthians 12:2,3
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led…

He is.

1 John 2:18
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

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Antichrist Anti-Christ Belief Christ Compared Denies Denieth Denying Disowns Except Jesus Liar
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Antichrist Anti-Christ Belief Christ Compared Denies Denieth Denying Disowns Except Jesus Liar
1 John 2
1. He comforts them against the sins of infirmity.
3. Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments;
9. to love our brothers;
15. and not to love the world.
18. We must beware of antichrists;
20. from whose deceits the godly are safe, preserved by perseverance in faith, and holiness of life.














Who is the liar
The term "liar" in this context is translated from the Greek word "ψεύστης" (pseustēs), which refers to someone who is deceitful or false. In the biblical narrative, lying is not merely about falsehood but is deeply connected to the moral and spiritual state of a person. The Bible consistently portrays lying as contrary to God's nature, who is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6). Here, the apostle John is emphasizing the gravity of denying Christ, equating it with the ultimate form of deceit.

if it is not the one who denies
The word "denies" comes from the Greek "ἀρνέομαι" (arneomai), meaning to reject or disown. In the early church, confessing Jesus as the Christ was central to the faith. Denial, therefore, was not just a personal rejection but a public renunciation of the core truth of Christianity. Historically, this was a significant issue as false teachers and heretical movements began to emerge, challenging the apostolic teachings.

that Jesus is the Christ
"Jesus is the Christ" is a foundational confession of Christian faith. "Christ" is derived from the Greek "Χριστός" (Christos), meaning "Anointed One," equivalent to the Hebrew "Messiah." This title affirms Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Savior. Denying this truth was tantamount to rejecting God's redemptive plan, as Jesus' messianic role is central to the salvation narrative.

This is the antichrist
The term "antichrist" is from the Greek "ἀντίχριστος" (antichristos), meaning "against Christ" or "in place of Christ." In John's epistles, the antichrist is not just a future eschatological figure but represents any spirit or person opposing Christ's truth. This concept serves as a warning to believers to remain vigilant against teachings and ideologies that undermine the gospel.

who denies the Father and the Son
The denial of "the Father and the Son" underscores the inseparable relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ. In the Johannine context, to deny the Son is to deny the Father, as Jesus is the revelation of God (John 1:18). This phrase highlights the Trinitarian belief that knowing and accepting Jesus is integral to knowing God. Historically, this was a direct counter to early heresies that sought to separate Jesus' divine nature from His humanity or to deny His unique sonship.

Verse 22. - Who is the liar, but he that denieth, etc.? From the lie St. John passes on to the utterer of it. "Ye readily distinguish any lie from the truth. Who, then, is the liar?" "The liar" does not mean the liar κατ ἐξοχήν, as if this denial constituted the very acme of falsehood. To deny the very existence of God is surely a worse lie. Still less can we say that "the context leaves no doubt that 'the liar' is the same with 'the antichrist.'" The article ὁ ψεύστης refers to the preceding ψεῦδος, just as in 1 John 5:4, 5 ὁ νικῶν refers to the preceding νίκη. The very form of sentence is the same: τίς ἐστιν ὁ νικῶν... εἰ μὴ ὁ κ.τ.λ. and there ὁ νικῶν cannot mean the victor, κατ ἐξοχήν, who is Christ, and not the believer. So that the Authorized Version is not so very inaccurate in rendering ὁ ψεύστης "a liar." "Who tells lies, if not he who denies (and says) that Jesus is not the Christ?" This was the great Gnostic lie to which St. John's Gospel and Epistle give the answer. The antichrist is this, he who denieth the Father and the Son. "The antichrist" here is not the great adversary, but one having similar characteristics. He denies the Messiahship of Jesus, and thus virtually denies both the Father and Son (comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:4). This truth St. John proceeds to restate and develop.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Who
Τίς (Tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

liar,
ψεύστης (pseustēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5583: A liar, deceiver. From pseudomai; a falsifier.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

[it is] not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

the [one who]
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

denies
ἀρνούμενος (arnoumenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 720: Perhaps from a and the middle voice of rheo; to contradict, i.e. Disavow, reject, abnegate.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

is
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Christ?
Χριστός (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

This
οὗτός (houtos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

antichrist,
ἀντίχριστος (antichristos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 500: From anti and Christos; an opponent of the Messiah.

who
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

denies
ἀρνούμενος (arnoumenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 720: Perhaps from a and the middle voice of rheo; to contradict, i.e. Disavow, reject, abnegate.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Father
Πατέρα (Patera)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Son.
Υἱόν (Huion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.


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NT Letters: 1 John 2:22 Who is the liar but he who (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)
1 John 2:21
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