Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Commentary Critical and Explanatory

1 John 2:11

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Is in darkness, and walketh. "Is" marks his continuing STATE: he has never come our of 'the darkness:' "walketh" marks his OUTWARD COURSE.

Whither, [ pou (G4226)] - 'where:' including not only the destination to which, but the way whereby.

Hath blinded - aorist, "blinded" of old. Darkness not only surrounds, but blinds him, and that a blindness of long standing.

Continues after advertising

See also 1 John 2:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 11. _BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS_] He is still in his heathen or unconverted state; and _walketh in_ _darkness_, his conduct being a proof of that state; _and knoweth not_ _whi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER - The word here used would, in this connection, include both the mere absence of love, and positive hatred. It is designed to include the whole of that state of mind whe...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. LIGHT AND DARKNESS AND THE TESTS Chapter S 1:5-2:17 _ 1. God is light; walking in darkness and in light (1 John 1:5)_ 2. What the light manifests (1 John 1:8) 3. The advocacy of Christ to maint...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    OBEDIENCE THE PROOF OF FELLOWSHIP. Here John repeats in a positive way the teaching of the previous section. Conduct cannot be, as the false teachers claimed, a matter of indifference, for true knowle...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A PASTOR'S CONCERN (1 John 2:1-2)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    He who says that he is in the light, and who at the same time hates his brother, is still in the darkness. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is nothing in him which makes him stu...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    KNOWETH. App-132. GOETH. Compare John 12:35. HATH. Omit. BLINDED. Greek. _tuphloo._ See 2 Corinthians 4:4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:28. God is Light 1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:11. What Walking in the Light involves This section is largely directed against the Gnostic do

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Love of the Brethren 7 11. Walking in the light involves not only fellowship with God and with the brethren (1 John 1:5-7), consciousness and confession of sin (1 John 1:8-10), obedience by imitation...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The form of these three verses is similar to that of 1 John 2:3, and still more so to 1 John 1:8-10. In each of these three triplets a case is placed between two statements of the opposite to it; conf...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _is in darkness and walketh in darkness_ THE _darkness_is his home and the scene of his activity. -The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19). _knoweth n...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:28. GOD IS LIGHT...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:11. WHAT WALKING IN THE LIGHT INVOLVES This section is largely directed against the Gnostic doctrine that to the man of enlightenment all conduct is morally indifferent. Against...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    7–11. LOVE OF THE BRETHREN 7–11. Walking in the light involves not only fellowship with God and with the brethren (1 John 1:5-7), consciousness and confession of sin (1 John 1:8-10), obedience by imit...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    9–11. The form of these three verses is similar to that of 1 John 2:3-5, and still more so to 1 John 1:8-10. In each of these three triplets a case is placed between two statements of the opposite to...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΣΚ. ἘΣΤΊΝ, Κ. ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΣΚ. Π. The _darkness_ is his home and the sphere of his activity. The contrast between the godly and the wicked is similarly indicated in Proverbs 4:18-19 : αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶ...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΜΙΣΏΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΜΙΣΈΩ (G3404) ненавидеть, ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΕΊ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΠΕΡΙΠΑΤΈΩ (G4043) ходить, вести образ жизни. _Praes._ изображает длительное текущее событие: "он ходит" ΟΊΔΕΝ _...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER— Here is all along an evident allusion to one person's walking in the open day-light and another's walking in a very dark night: the one walks securely, and avoids all d...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER V _TO WALK IN THE LIGHT IS TO SHARE GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD OUR BROTHERS IN CHRIST_ (The Second Test. The First Time) 1 John 2:7-17 A. _The Text_ Beloved, no new commandment write I unto yo...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 11. BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER. In this case the reverse is true. Occasion for stumbling is ever present. Here there is no light, all is darkness, and one hating his brother is walking in da...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 The ministry of John is based upon his personal acquaintance with the Lord in the flesh. Indeed, this was the prime qualification of all the twelve apostles (Act_1:21). They were to bear witness to...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ADVOCACY OF CHRIST AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF BELIEVERS 1. My little children] The diminutive implies the fatherly care which the aged Apostle felt for his disciples. ADVOCATE] The word thus translate...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW CAN I BE SURE? 1 JOHN _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 2 CHRIST SPEAKS FOR US AND WE SHOULD OBEY GOD (1 JOHN 2:1-6) V1 My *children, I write these things to you so that you will not *sin. But if you...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    But, for the Christian who hates another Christian, there is no *light. He is wrong when he hates another Christian. He does not obey the command and he is in error. He is like someone in the dark. A...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    Here (1 John 2:9) is the chief way in which the old commandment, the new commandment, the word from the beginning, the walk in light would be manifested: brotherly love towards those with whom we have...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    A New Meaning in an Old Commandment. “Beloved, it is no new commandment that I am writing to you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    St. John recognises no neutral attitude between “love” and “hatred”. Love is active benevolence, and less than this is hatred, just as indifference to the Gospel-call amounts to rejection of it (_cf._...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENT OF LOVE 1 John 2:1 It is clearly possible to be kept from known and presumptuous sin. We shall be tempted, for that is an inevitable experience of life in this world; but we m...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Affirming that the purpose of his writing is that we sin not, the writer declared that even if we sin, provision is made by which it may be put away. The tests whereby we may know our relation to ligh...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    THOSE IN THE LIGHT LOVE THE BRETHREN The claim to be in the light, therefore in fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-7), is easily tested by our attitude toward our brethren. God displayed such love for th...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. (8) Again, a new commandm...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    11._But he that hateth his brother. _He again reminds us, that whatever specious appearance of excellency thou shewest, there is yet nothing but what is sinful if love be absent. This passage may be c...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    If, on the other hand, we have even committed sin and all, being judged according to the light, is confessed (so that the will no longer takes part in it, the pride of that will being broken down), He...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS,.... As is before expressed in 1 John 2:9, to which is added, AND WALKETH IN DARKNESS; he goes on in it, and takes delight in it, as dangerous and uncomf...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. Ver. 11. _He that hateth, &c._] There is a passi...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He that saith he is in the light_ In Christ; united to him, and truly enlightened by the gospel and the grace of God; _and_ yet _hateth his brother_ (The very name shows the love due to him;) _is in...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    IS IN DARKNESS; being blinded by hatred, he walks on in darkness, and stumbles into perdition....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Abiding in the light:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS, AND WALKETH IN DARKNESS, AND KNOWETH NOT WHITHER HE GOETH, BECAUSE THAT DARKNESS HATH BLINDED HIS EYES. The chief factor in the life of believers is love...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    “My children, these things I write to you in order that ye may not sin; and if anyone sin, we have a patron with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (JND). If we have seen some absolute, positive...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Hath no principle to guide or govern him, but what is common to the unregenerate world, so that his whole life is a continual error; nor doth he understand or consider the tendency of his course, bein...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    A Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian by an Anonymous Bishop Hast thou not read, that "he who hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 John 2:11 But G1161 hates G3404 (G5723) his G846 brother G80 is G2076 (G5748) in G1722 darkness...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE OLD COMMANDMENT AND THE NEW COMMANDMENT (1 JOHN 2:7). Here John stresses the need to stand by what they have originally learned and experienced and by the Light that is already shining among them...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Again, a new commandment I do write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. He who says he is in the light and hates hi...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The new commandment, which is also old: that of brotherly love, 1 John 2:7_. 1 John 2:7. Beloved introducing a new view of the subject by a term appropriate, NO NEW COMMANDMENT WRITE I UNTO YOU, BUT...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    First the apostle announces his message that God is light and only light (1 John 1:5). Then follows (down to chap. 1 John 2:2) a universal statement of the evangelical conditions of fellowship with Hi...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BLINDED (ετυφλωσεν). First aorist active indicative of τυφλοω, the very verb and form used in 2 Corinthians 4:4 of the god of this age to keep men from beholding the illumination of the gospel of th...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 John 2:1. _My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not._ For this we ought to watch and strive, that we sin not. 1 John 2:1. _And if any man sin-_ What then? Is it a hopele...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 John 2:1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christ's advocacy for the believer. Tests of fellowship, obedience and love. Warning against worldliness and apostates. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, John, Satan, anti-christ. CONCLUSION: To kno...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 John 2:2. _He is the propitiation for our sin:_ ιλασμος, a ram, or other victim offered as an atoning sacrifice for sin. On Genesis 15:9, the rabbins make a distinction between the heifer, the she g...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BUT WHOEVER. "The one who hates his brother is blind, and does not know he is blind. The darkness of sin and error prevents him from being able to see what is right, and it kills the good impulses whi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:7 The Unchanging Commandment in a Changing World. John emphasizes the love commandment. He then describes the challenge of living as a Christian in a dark world (vv....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 JOHN—NOTE ON 1 JOHN 2:9 HATES HIS BROTHER. John often uses strongly contrasting terms for emphasis (e.g., light vs. darkness, truth vs. lies). DARKNESS HAS BLINDED HIS EYES. “Darkness” and “blindnes...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 2 VER. 1. _My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not._ At the end of the last chapter it was said that all who were grown up had sinned, either mortally as heathens, o...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ 1 John 2:8. NEW COMMANDMENT.—St. John seems to refer to his demand of love to the brethren, as the satisfactory sign of heart-obedience, son-like obedience to the Fathe...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 2:1, 1 JOHN 2:2 Moreover, walking in the light involves accepting the propitiation wrought through Jesus Christ the Righteous. The connexion with the preceding is close. We have ju...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not (1 John 2:1). Now, he is talking about the purpose of writing is to bring you into fellowship with God, but the thing that breaks fel...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 2:9; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:35; Joh

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Is - walketh - whither. The condition of him who hates is viewed as related to being, action, and tendency. He goeth [υ π α γ ε ι]. Or, is going. See on John 6:21; John 8:21. Hath blinded [ε τ υ φ λ...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He that hateth his brother — And he must hate, if he does not love him: there is no medium. Is in darkness — In sin, perplexity, entanglement. He walketh in darkness, and knoweth not that he is in the...

Continues after advertising