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
On the other hand, “hour†in 1 John 2,18 refers to the hour
of tribulation that occurs repeatedly in Daniel 8 and 11–12
(though 1 John 2,18 is directly preceded by a reference to be-
lievers who will “abide forever†[1 John 2,17], which likely re-
fers to resurrection life).
Other “already and not yet†uses of “hour†in John’s gospel
likely also have a Danielic background. In this regard, J. Beutler,
who, after briefly discussing “hour†in Dan 11,35.40.45 and 12,1 22,
concludes with respect to the various uses of “hour†in John’s
gospel (e.g., John 16,2.4.21.32) that “the eschatological hour of
judgment and resurrection, derived from Daniel, is taken up under
various aspects [by John], liturgical, Christological and eccle-
sial †23. The uses in John 16 develop the eschatological tribulation
uses from Daniel (note 16,32-33, where wra and ulıciv occur, as
™ ˜
in Dan 12,1). Likewise, the “already and not yet†formula with
“ hour †in John 4,20-24 probably reflects the uses of “hour†in Dan
8,11-19, where the “hour†refers to the destruction of the temple
followed by its restoration (8,14), and the uses in Dan 11,31–12,2
point to the same thing, though there the restoration is portrayed as
resurrection (Dan 12,1-3). Similarly, John 4,20-24 assumes the de-
struction or irrelevance of the old temple and the restoration of its
worship in a non-localized geographical place.
Likewise, the Danielic prophecy is evoked when the synoptic
eschatological discourse uses wra once to refer to the oppression of
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believers during the final tribulation period: “When they arrest you
and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to
say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who
speak, but it is the Holy Spirit†(Mark 13,11). Thus, Mark utilizes
wra in a way similar to the use of wra in the OG of Daniel 8,
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10-12 24. As in the Johannine uses, this Markan use could also be de-
Rome 1974) 71-81. See also J. FREY, Die johanneische Eschatologie
(Tübingen 2000) III, 381-391, who sees that the idea of the “coming hour†in
John 5,28 and generally in the Johannine tradition has been inspired by the
OG of Dan 11,40.45 and 12,1.
J. BEUTLER, Judaism and the Jews in the Gospel of John (SubBi 30;
22
Rome 2006) 119-125.
Ibid., 125.
23
Matthew 24,36.44.50; 25,13; Mark 13,32 also use wra to refer to the
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unexpected future coming of Christ. See C. A. EVANS Mark 8,27–16,20
(WBC 34B; Dallas, TX 2002) 411, who contends that the “hour†theme in
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