I recently was at a meeting when a man stood up and testified to the glory of God, specifically, about his desire to worship as his fathers did before him. It was wonderful to see a man so full of the Holy Spirit of God! He gave all the glory to Jesus Christ. He said something very relevant and I'm sure ya'll have heard it before but here it is: "Gumption, without unction is merely presumption."
I understand that this is to say that without the touch of the Holy Ghost, were doing what we are doing merely by the flesh and not walking in the Spirit. Well, as I was studying the word, "unction," I found that it's only used once in the KJB. I John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." All the commentators I've read speak of this as an "anointing."
I'm wondering if anyone has a thought or two as to why God used "unction" instead of "anointing?" I know this will hamstring a few, but please let's stay out of the Greek, I am persuaded that God preserved His Word in the KJB and it's in english. I'm pretty simple so try not to blow me away with theological terminology that I may not understand. Brethren, any help would be appreciated.
In Christ eternally,
Bro. Chuck

Bro Chuck,
In reference to "unction", you don't have to be concerned about the geek this time, its origin is old English - ueguent, or ointment, which came from the old Latin "ungere", to anoint. Look at John 16:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:21. The reason here in 1 John for unction, IMHO, is because as Webster indicates, we have a "divine application of grace" from The Lord, that guides us; hence, the context of that chapter. In the old South, they used to have "Divine Unction" meetings, which is what I think your comment alluded to. The statement, "Gumption without unction is presumption," strongly indicates, as you said, that if The Lord is not "in it", we're serving in the flesh.
Hope that helps.

Please read this quote brethren..."The tragedy of this last hour is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people. This is preaching without unction. Preaching without unction kills instead of gives life. Preacher, with all thy getting, get unction."

Something else, huh?
In Christ,
Bro. Chuck

AMEN! Now, that'll preach, as they say down home!

[you don't have to be concerned about the geek this time,]
Lol....
In Christ,
Bro. Chuck

Thanks for your reply Mongol Servant...Your reply hepled me, still need more info, but I apppreciate the help.
In Christ,
Bro. Chuck

John himself gives the answer -
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
....
26 These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

We can understand why John wrote what John wrote, but can only guess at the 1611 translators reasons.