MY LITTLE CHILDREN (τεκνια μου). Tender tone with this diminutive of τεκνον (child), again in 1 John 2:12; 1 John 3:18, but παιδια in 1 John 2:14. John is now an old man and regards his readers as his little children. That attitude is illustrated in the story of his visit to the robber to win him... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE (κα αυτος). He himself in his own person, both priest and sacrifice (Hebrews 9:14).THE PROPITIATION (ιλασμος). Late substantive from ιλασκομα (Luke 18:13; Hebrews 2:17), in LXX, Philo, Plutarch, in N.T. only here and 1 John 4:10. Christ himself is the means of propitiation for (περ conce... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREBY (εν τουτω). See this phrase also in 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 3:19; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:2; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 5:2. That is explained by the εαν clause, "if we keep his commandments " (εαν τηρωμεν, condition of the third class, εαν with present active subjunctive, "if we keep on ke... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW HIM (Εγνωκα αυτον). Perfect active indicative with recitative οτ like quotation marks just before it. This is one of the pious platitudes, cheap claptrap of the Gnostics, who would bob up in meetings with such explosions. John punctures such bubbles with the sharp addition "and keepeth not... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHOSO KEEPETH (ος δ' αν τηρη). Indefinite relative clause with modal αν and the present active subjunctive, "whoever keeps on keeping."VERILY (αληθως). Truly, of a truth. This prize is open to all, not confined to a few initiated Gnostic intellectuals or pneumatics.HATH THE LOVE OF GOD BEEN... [ Continue Reading ]
HIMSELF ALSO TO WALK (κα αυτος περιπατειν). Present active infinitive after οφειλε (ought), "Himself also to keep on walking," a continuous performance, not a spasmodic spurt.EVEN AS HE WALKED (καθως εκεινος περιεπατησεν). Constative aorist active indicative summing up the life of Christ on eart... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED (αγαπητο). First instance of this favourite form of address in these Epistles (1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:3; 1 John 4:2; 1 John 4:5; 1 John 4:11).NO NEW COMMANDMENT (ουκ εντολην καινην). Not novel or new in kind (καινην as distinct from νεος, new in time, f... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN A NEW COMMANDMENT (παλιν εντολην καινην). Paradox, but truth. Old in teaching (as old as the story of Cain and Abel, 3:11f.), but new in practice. For this use of παλιν for a new turn see John 16:28. To walk as Christ walked is to put in practice the old commandment and so make it new (ever... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATETH HIS BROTHER (κα τον αδελφον αυτου μισων). Sharp contrast between the love just described and hate. The only way to walk in the light (1 John 1:7) is to have fellowship with God who is light (1 John 1:3; 1 John 1:5). So the claim to be in the light is nullified by hating a brother.EVEN... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDETH (μενε). Present active indicative, continues in the light and so does not interrupt the light by hating his brother.OCCASION OF STUMBLING (σκανδαλον). See on Matthew 13:41; Matthew 16:23 for this interesting word. It is a stumbling block or trap either in the way of others (its usual sen... [ Continue Reading ]
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 the glory of Christ who is the image of God. The first part of the verse repeats verse 1 John 2:9, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE (γραφω). Present active indicative, repeated three times, referring to this Epistle. For "the name" see 1 John 3:23; 3 John 1:7. They were loyal to the name of Christ (Matthew 10:22).ARE FORGIVEN (αφεωντα). Doric perfect passive indicative of αφιημ (seen also in Luke 5:20; Luke 5:23) fo... [ Continue Reading ]
FATHERS (πατερες). Those mature believers with long and rich experience (εγνωκατε, ye have come to know and still know).HIM WHICH IS FROM THE BEGINNING (τον απ' αρχης). See 1 John 1:1 as explaining this crisp description of the Word of life (cf. John 1:1-18).YOUNG MEN (νεανισκο). The younger... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE WRITTEN (εγραψα). Repeated three times. Epistolary aorist referring to this Epistle, not to a previous Epistle. Law (_Tests of Life_, p. 309) suggests that John was interrupted at the close of verse 1 John 2:13 and resumes here in verse 1 John 2:14 with a reference to what he had previousl... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE NOT THE WORLD (μη αγαπατε τον κοσμον). Prohibition with μη and the present active imperative of αγαπαω, either stop doing it or do not have the habit of doing it. This use of κοσμος is common in John's Gospel (1 John 1:10; 1 John 17:14) and appears also in 1 John 5:19. In epitome the Roman E... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT (παν το). Collective use of the neuter singular as in 1 John 5:4, like παν ο in John 6:37; John 6:39. Three examples, not necessarily covering all sins, are given in the nominative in apposition with παν το. "The lust of the flesh" (η επιθυμια της σαρκος, subjective genitive, lust felt by... [ Continue Reading ]
PASSETH AWAY (παραγετα). "Is passing by" (linear action, present middle indicative), as in verse 1 John 2:8. There is consolation in this view of the transitoriness of the conflict with the world. Even the lust which belongs to the world passes also. The one who keeps on doing (ποιων present acti... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS THE LAST HOUR (εσχατη ωρα εστιν). This phrase only here in N.T., though John often uses ωρα for a crisis (John 2:4; John 4:21; John 4:23; John 5:25; John 5:28, etc.). It is anarthrous here and marks the character of the "hour." John has seven times "the last day" in the Gospel. Certainly in... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM US (εξ ημων)--OF US (εξ ημων). The same idiom, εξ and the ablative case (ημων), but in different senses to correspond with εξηλθαν (they went out from our membership) and ουκ ησαν (they were not of us in spirit and life). For εξ in the sense of origin see John 17:15, for εξ in the sense of... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOINTING (χρισμα). Old word for result (ματ) and for the material, from χριω, to anoint, perhaps suggested by the use of αντιχριστο in verse 1 John 2:18. Christians are "anointed ones," χριστο in this sense, with which compare Psalms 105:15: "Touch not my anointed ones" (μη αψησθε των χριστων μου... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE NOT WRITTEN (ουκ εγραψα). Not epistolary aorist (1 John 2:14), but a reference to what he has just said.AND BECAUSE NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH (κα οτ παν ψευδος εκ της αληθειας ουκ εστιν). Not certain whether οτ here is causal (because) or declarative (that). Either makes sense. Note the idi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIAR (ο ψευστης). The liar (with the article) _par excellence_. Rhetorical question to sharpen the point made already about lying in 1 John 1:6; 1 John 1:10; 1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:21. See 1 John 5:5 for a like rhetorical question.BUT (ε μη). Except, if not.THAT DENIETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRI... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH NOT THE FATHER (ουδε τον πατερα εχε). "Not even does he have the Father" or God (2 John 1:9).HE THAT CONFESSETH THE SON (ο ομολογων τον υιον). Because the Son reveals the Father (John 1:18; John 14:9). Our only approach to the Father is by the Son (John 14:6). Confession of Christ before m... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR YOU (υμεις). Emphatic proleptic position before the relative ο and subject of ηκουσατε, a familiar idiom in John 8:45; John 10:29, etc. Here for emphatic contrast with the antichrists. See 1 John 1:1 for απ' αρχης (from the beginning).LET ABIDE IN YOU (εν υμιν μενετω). Present active imp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE PROMISE (κα αυτη εστιν η επαγγελια). See 1 John 1:5 for the same idiom with αγγελια (message). This is the only instance of επαγγελια in the Johannine writings. Here "the promise" is explained to be "the life eternal" (1 John 1:2). In Acts 1:4 the word is used for the coming of th... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING THEM THAT WOULD LEAD YOU ASTRAY (περ των πλανωντων υμας). "Concerning those that are trying to lead you astray" (conative use of the present active articular participle of πλαναω. See 1 John 1:8 for this verb. John is doing his part to rescue the sheep from the wolves, as Paul did (Act... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS FOR YOU (κα υμεις). Prolepsis again as in verse 1 John 2:24.WHICH YE RECEIVED OF HIM (ο ελαβετε απ' αυτου). Second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω, a definite experience, this anointing (χρισμα), from Christ himself as in verse 1 John 2:20. This Paraclete was promised by Christ (John... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW (κα νυν). John tenderly repeats the exhortation, "keep on abiding in him."IF HE SHALL BE MANIFESTED (εαν φανερωθη). Condition of third class with εαν and first aorist passive subjunctive as in verse 1 John 2:19; Colossians 3:3. A clear reference to the second coming of Christ which may... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE KNOW (εαν ειδητε). Third-class condition again with εαν and second perfect active subjunctive of οιδα. If ye know by intuitive or absolute knowledge that Christ (because of verse 1 John 2:28) is righteous, then "ye know" or "know ye" (γινωσκετε either indicative or imperative) by experiment... [ Continue Reading ]