1 John 3:17

But whoso hath this world's good Better, as R. V., But whoso hath the world's goods. The -But" is full of meaning. -But not many of us are ever called upon to die for another: smaller sacrifices, however, may be demanded of us; and what if we fail to make them?" The word for -good" or -goods" (βίος) is the same as that rendered -life" in 1 John 2:16, where see note. It signifies there and here -means of life, subsistence". -The world's life", therefore, means that which supports the life of mankind, or life in this world (see on 1 John 2:15) in marked contrast to eternal life (1 John 3:15).

and seeth his brother have need Better, and beholdeth his brother having need. The verb implies that he not only sees him (ἰδεῖν), but looks at him and considers him (θεωρεῖν). It is a word of which the contemplative Apostle is very fond; and outside the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts it occurs nowhere but in S. John's writings and Hebrews 7:4. It is a pity to spoil the irony of the original by weakening - havingneed" into - inneed" (R. V.). The one hasas his possession the world's wealth, the other hasas his possession need.

shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him There is no -of compassion" in the Greek and we hardly need both substantives. The ancients believed the bowels to be the seat of the affections (Genesis 43:30; 1 Kings 3:26; Jeremiah 31:20; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:1; Philemon 1:7; Philemon 1:12; Philemon 1:20) as well as the heart, whereas we take the latter only. Coverdale (here, as often, following Luther) alters Tyndale's -shutteth up his compassion" into -shutteth up his heart." And in fact, -shutteth up his bowels from him" is the same as -closeth his heart against him." The phrase occurs nowhere else in N. T., but comp. 2 Corinthians 6:12. The - fromhim" is picturesque, as in 1 John 2:28: it expresses the moving away and turning his back on his brother. In LXX. -Thou shalt not harden thine heart" (Deuteronomy 15:7) is -Thou shalt not turn awaythine heart".

how dwelleth the love of God in him? Better, as R. V., how doth the love of God abide in him?this preserves the order of the Greek better and marks the recurrence of S. John's favourite verb -abide" (see on 1 John 2:24). -The love of God", as usual in this Epistle (see on 1 John 2:5), means man's love to God. The question here is equivalent to the statement in 1 John 4:20, that to love God and hate one's brother is impossible.