Everything Old is New Again

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth – 1 John 2:7-8 (KJV)

Well, that makes no sense. Is it an old commandment or a new commandment? Make up your mind.

Let’s see how Wuest thinks it should read –

Divinely loved ones, no commandment new in quality am I writing to you, but a commandment, an old one, which you have had constantly from the beginning. The commandment, the old one, is the Word which you heard. Again, a commandment, one new in quality, I am writing to you, which fact is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is being caused to pass away, and the light, the genuine light is shining.


It almost sounds like the old commandment and the new commandment are the same except they are different.

In fact, God’s message, His Word has been coming to humanity since the beginning – more to the point, it has been coming to us, individually, since the moment we entered this world. We see it; we hear it; some of us even take it to heart and obey it. We don’t know why. It just seems to be the right thing to do. Sometimes we feel like doing something else, shutting down that voice that keeps drawing our attention to odd things, pushing us in a direction that seems contrary to our own animal interests.

Then one day, whether we have been “good” or bad by the standards of the world system, the light comes on. The old commandment, the wisdom of the ages, the insights of seers and prophets and teachers, the mythologies, and the stories of every group on earth – all suddenly becomes a new commandment. The commandment, in a way, has not changed, but, as Rick says, we see it “with eyes made new”. The Word changes in dimension. Rather than lying flat on the page, it stands up and walks around. The page becomes a portal. The stream of vibrations striking the ear drum becomes an earthquake, transforming. The mountains are moved or melt like wax.

What is the difference between the old commandment and the new commandment? In a word: Jesus. John points this out when he says the fact is “true in Him and in you.” Christ changes everything. In some ways, that is the New Testament in one line. Imagine the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus as he rose from his knees on the road and was led into Damascus. He was one of the most erudite men of his day. He knew the Scriptures backward and forward. He knew God’s word so well that he confidently pursued, persecuted, and sought to destroy the followers of the Nazarene. Now he has encountered the living Christ, been struck down and left blind. Christ has changed everything. Confused and helpless, he can do nothing but sit in a room, praying, fasting -- waiting. A man enters the room, prays, and lays hands upon Saul. That quickly, his eyes are opened. The darkness is past, and the true light shines.

All we think we know is subject to change in the light of revelation: from knowledge to gnosis.

In Your light we see light (Psalm 36:9).