The subjects which are introduced into this chapter are the following: I. A statement of the apostle that the great object which he had in writing to them was that they should not sin; and yet if they sinned, and were conscious that they were guilty before God, they should not despair, for they had... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LITTLE CHILDREN - Τεκνια μοῦ Teknia mou. This is such language as an aged apostle would be likely to use when addressing a church, and its use in this Epistle may be regarded as one evidence that John had reached an advanced period of life when he wrote the Epistle. THESE THINGS WRITE I UNTO YO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS - The word rendered “propitiation” (ἱλασμός hilasmos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, except in 1 John 4:10 of this Epistle; though words of the same derivation, and having the same essential meaning, frequently occur. The corresponding word ἱλαστ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEREBY WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM - To wit, by that which follows, we have evidence that we are truly acquainted with him, and with the requirements of his religion; that is, that we are truly his friends. The word “him” in this verse, seems to refer to the Saviour. On the meaning of the word “... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM - He who professes to be acquainted with the Saviour, or who professes to be a Christian. AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS - What he has appointed to be observed by his people; that is, he who does not obey him. IS A LIAR - Makes a false profession; professes to have that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD - That is, what he has spoken or commanded, The term “word” here will include all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct. IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED - He professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its c... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SAITH, HE ABIDETH IN HIM - Greek, “remains” in him; that is, abides or remains in the belief of his doctrines, and in the comfort and practice of religion. The expression is one of those which refer to the intimate union between Christ and his people. A great variety of phrase is employed to... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN, I WRITE NO NEW COMMANDMENT UNTO YOU - That is, what I am now enjoining is not new. It is the same doctrine which you have always heard. There has been much difference of opinion as to what is referred to by the word “commandment,” whether it is the injunction in the previous verse to live... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, A NEW COMMANDMENT I WRITE UNTO YOU - “And yet, that which I write to you, and particularly enjoin on you, deserves in another sense to be called a new commandment, though it has been also inculcated from the beginning, for it was called new by the Saviour himself.” Or the meaning may be, “In... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SAITH HE IS IN THE LIGHT - That he has true religion, or is a Christian. See 1 John 1:7. AND HATETH HIS BROTHER - The word “brother” seems here to refer to those who professed the same religion. The word is indeed sometimes used in a larger sense, but the reference here appears to be to tha... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LOVETH HIS BROTHER ABIDETH IN THE LIGHT - Has true religion, and enjoys it. AND THERE IS NONE OCCASION OF STUMBLING IN HIM - Margin, “scandal.” Greek, “and there is no stumbling” (or scandal - σκάνδαλον skandalon - in him.) The word here used, means anything against which one strikes or stu... [ Continue Reading ]
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 where there is not love for the brethren. IS IN DARKNESS - 1 John 2:9. AND WALKETH IN DARKNESS - He i... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE UNTO YOU, LITTLE CHILDREN - There has been much difference of opinion among commentators in regard to this verse and the three following verses, on account of their apparent tautology. Even Doddridge supposes that considerable error has here crept into the text, and that a portion of these v... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE UNTO YOU, FATHERS - As there were special reasons for writing to children, so there were also for writing to those who were more mature in life. The class here addressed would embrace all those who were in advance of the νεανίσκοί neaniskoi, or young men, and would properly include those w... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE WRITTEN UNTO YOU, FATHERS, BECAUSE ... - The reason assigned here for writing to fathers is the same which is given in the previous verse. It would seem that, in respect to them, the apostle regarded this as a sufficient reason for writing to them, and only meant to enforce it by repeating it... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE NOT THE WORLD - The term “world” seems to be used in the Scriptures in three senses: * As denoting the physical universe; the world as it appears to the eye; the world considered as the work of God, as a material creation. (2)The world as applied to the people that reside in it - “the world... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD - That is, all that really constitutes the world, or that enters into the aims and purposes of those who live for this life. All that that community lives for may be comprised under the following things. THE LUST OF THE FLESH - The word “lust” is used here in the general... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY - Everything properly constituting this world where religion is excluded. The reference here does not seem to be so much to the material world, as to the scenes of show and vanity which make up the world. These things are passing away like the shifting scenes of the stage.... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN - See 1 John 2:1. IT IS THE LAST TIME - The closing period or dispensation; that dispensation in which the affairs of the world are ultimately to be wound up. The apostle does not, however, say that the end of the world would soon occur, nor does he intimate how long this dispensatio... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT OUT FROM US - From the church. That is, they had once been professors of the religion of the Saviour, though their apostasy showed that they never had any true piety. John refers to the fact that they had once been in the church, perhaps to remind those to whom he wrote that they knew them... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE HAVE AN UNCTION FROM THE HOLY ONE - The apostle in this verse evidently intends to say that he had no apprehension in regard to those to whom he wrote that they would thus apostatize, and bring dishonor on their religion. They had been so anointed by the Holy Spirit that they understood the t... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NOT WRITTEN UNTO YOU BECAUSE YE KNOW NOT THE TRUTH - You are not to regard my writing to you in this earnest manner as any evidence that I do not suppose you to be acquainted with religion and its duties. Some, perhaps, might have been disposed to put this construction on what he had said, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS A LIAR - That is, who is false; who maintains an erroneous doctrine; who is an impostor, if he is not? The object of the apostle is to specify one of the prevailing forms of error, and to show that, however plausible the arguments might be by which it was defended, it was impossible that it s... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER DENIETH THE SON, THE SAME HATH NOT THE FATHER - That is, has no just views of the Father, and has no evidence of his friendship. It is only by the Son of God that the Father is made known to people, Matthew 11:27; Hebrews 1:2, and it is only through him that we can become reconciled to God... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THAT THEREFORE ABIDE IN YOU - Adhere steadfastly to it; let the truth obtain a permanent lodgement in the soul. In view of its great importance, and its influence on your happiness here and hereafter, let it never depart from you. WHICH YE HAVE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING - That is, the same doctr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE PROMISE THAT HE HATH PROMISED US, EVEN ETERNAL LIFE - This is evidently added to encourage them in adhering to the truths which they had embraced respecting the Son of God. In maintaining these truths they had the promise of eternal life; in departing from them they had none, for the... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU CONCERNING THEM THAT SEDUCE YOU - Respecting their character, and in order to guard you against their arts. The word “seduce” means to lead astray; and it here refers to those who would seduce them “from the truth,” or lead them into dangerous error. The apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE ANOINTING WHICH YE HAVE RECEIVED OF HIM - See the notes at 1 John 2:20. ABIDETH IN YOU - The meaning is, that the influence on your heart and life, which results from the fact that you are anointed of God, permanently abides with you, and will keep you from dangerous error. The apostle evid... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN - See the notes at 1 John 2:1. ABIDE IN HIM; THAT, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR - In the end of the world, to receive his people to himself. See the notes at John 14:2. WE MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE - Greek, boldness - παῤῥησίαν parrēsian. This word is commonly used to denote openness... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS - This is not said as if there could be any doubt on the subject, but merely to call their attention to it as a well-known truth, and to state what followed from it. Everyone who has any true acquaintance with God, must have the fullest conviction that he is a righteo... [ Continue Reading ]