Unction from the Holy One

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things...”

(1 John 2:20)

The term "unction" is translated here as ‘anointing’ which John uses to remind his readers of the Spiritual anointing they have received from the Holy One: Christ. This anointing is not to be pursued as a separate experience after conversion but is already on them through Christ and His finished work at the cross. Let's explore the nature of this anointing:

1. Primarily, ‘anointing’ relates to Christ Himself Whose title ‘Christ’ means ‘the Anointed One’ [Isaiah 61:1;Acts 4:27]. He was chosen and set apart by God the Father as Prophet, Priest and King: roles traditionally conferred through anointing in the Old Testament. In Christ, all these offices converge: He is the Prophet through Whom God speaks [Acts 3:22] the Priest Whose sacrifice justifies sinners [Hebrews 8:1] and the King to Whom all will bow, Revelation 15:3.
2. Having an anointing from the Holy One means that believers share in the righteousness of Christ, imputed to them through His sacrificial death, Romans 5:9-10. Christ the Holy One, is the Foundation of their election, redemption, justification and sanctification [1 Corinthians 1:30]and through His completed work believers receive all Spiritual blessings, Ephesians 1:3.
3. Believers having this anointing ‘know all things’ not in the sense of lacking the need for instruction but because the Spirit of God reveals Christ in them, bringing understanding of their forgiveness and justification already accomplished at the cross through Him. They are contrasted with those who reject Truth by following their own desires or false doctrines. Believers' anointing is rooted in their union with Christ: His death and resurrection are theirs and through God-given Faith they come to appreciate the blessings of this anointing bestowed by Grace. Christ is their complete satisfaction before the Father, leaving His chosen, redeemed children lacking in nothing.

In summary, the ‘anointing’ spoken of by John encompasses believers' union with Christ, their sharing in His righteousness imputed and the Spirit's work of revealing Christ's sufficiency in them for salvation. This passage emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the believers' experience and the completeness of their satisfaction in Him.