This short chapter embraces the following subjects: I. A strong affirmation that the Son of God, or the “Life,” had appeared in the flesh, 1 John 1:1. The evidence of this, the writer says, was that he had seen him, heard him, handled him; that is, he had had all the evidence which could be furnish... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING - There can be no doubt that the reference here is to the Lord Jesus Christ, or the “Word” that was made flesh. See the notes at John 1:1. This is such language as John would use respecting him, and indeed the phrase “the beginning,” as applicable to the Lord Jesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LIFE WAS MANIFESTED - Was made manifest or visible unto us. He who was the life was made known to people by the incarnation. He appeared among people so that they could see him and hear him. Though originally with God, and dwelling with him, John 1:1, yet he came forth and appeared among peo... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD DECLARE WE UNTO YOU - We announce it, or make it known unto you - referring either to what he purposes to say in this Epistle, or more probably embracing all that he had written respecting him, and supposing that his Gospel was in their hands. He means to call their... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THESE THINGS WRITE WE UNTO YOU - These things respecting him who was manifested in the flesh, and respecting the results which flow from that. THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL - This is almost the same language which the Saviour used when addressing his disciples as he was about to leave them, John 15... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS THEN IS THE MESSAGE WHICH WE HAVE HEARD OF HIM - This is the substance of the announcement (ἐπαγγελία epangelia) which we have received of him, or which he made to us. The message here refers to what he communicated as the sum of the revelation which he made to man. The phrase “of him” (απ ̓... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP UITH HIM - If we reckon ourselves among his friends, or, in other words, if we profess to be like him: for a profession of religion involves the idea of having fellowship with God, (compare the notes at 1 John 1:3), and he who professes that should be like him. AND... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT - Compare the notes at 1 John 1:5. Walking in the light may include the three following things: * Leading lives of holiness and purity; that is, the Christian must be characteristically a holy man, a light in the world, by his example. (2)Walking in the truth; that is... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN - It is not improbable that the apostle here makes allusion to some error which was then beginning to prevail in the church. Some have supposed that the allusion is to the sect of the Nicolaitanes, and to the views which they maintained, particularly that nothing was fo... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS - Pardon in the Scriptures, always supposes that there is confession, and there is no promise that it will be imparted unless a full acknowledgment has been made. Compare Psalms 51; Psalms 32:1;; Luke 15:18 ff; Luke 7:41 ff; Proverbs 28:13. HE IS FAITHFUL - To his promises. H... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED - In times that are past. Some perhaps might be disposed to say this; and as the apostle is careful to guard every point, he here states that if a man should take the ground that his past life had been wholly upright, it would prove that he had no true religion. The... [ Continue Reading ]