I. Name

The word antichristos is found only in 1 John 2.18, 1 John 22; 1 John 4.3; 2 John 7, and in post-biblical Christian literature. Morphologically the closest analogy is antitheos which was in use since Homer (Od. 11:117; 13:378; 14:18). In Homer antitheos means ‘godlike’. In later times it comes to mean ‘contrary to God’ (for instance Philo, Poster. 37:3; 123:4; Congr. 118:1; Fug. 140:3). The term antichristos is ambiguous (‘opponent of Christ’ or ‘false Christ’) owing to the twofold meaning of anti in comp…