The apostle’s
admonition does not mean the church has no need of teachers. John wrote it in
the context of the growing Gnostic assault on the incarnation. In its original context
it means rather that his audience is sufficiently equipped to stave off the decadently
unapostolic overtures of the Gnostics, who denied the incarnation and were
notorious for “boasting themselves as improvers of the apostles” (Irenaeus, Against
Heresies, 3.3.1) and for claiming that “the truth was not delivered by
means of written documents.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.3.2) As John
acknowledges in the previous verse, “I write these things to you about those who
are trying to deceive you” (1 John 2:26). (Timothy F. Kauffman, “The Word of
God,” in A Gospel Contrary! A Study of Roman Catholic Abuse of History and
Scripture to Propagate Error [2023], 39-40)
