THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST (οτ Ιησους εστιν ο Χριστος). The Cerinthian antichrist denies the identity of Jesus and Christ (1 John 2:22). Hence John insists on this form of faith (πιστευων here in the full sense, stronger than in 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:16, seen also in πιστις in verse 1 John 5:4, wher... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREBY (εν τουτω). John's usual phrase for the test of the sincerity of our love. "The love of God and the love of the brethren do in fact include each the other" (Westcott). Each is a test of the other. So put 1 John 3:14 with 1 John 5:2.WHEN (οταν). "Whenever" indefinite temporal clause with... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS (αυτη)--THAT (ινα). Explanatory use of ινα with αυτη, as in John 17:3, to show what "the love of God" (1 John 4:9; 1 John 4:12) in the objective sense is, not mere declamatory boasting (1 John 4:20), but obedience to God's commands, "that we keep on keeping (present active subjunctive as i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR (οτ). The reason why God's commandments are not heavy is the power that comes with the new birth from God.WHATSOEVER IS BEGOTTEN OF GOD (παν το γεγεννημενον εκ του θεου). Neuter singular perfect passive participle of γενναω rather than the masculine singular (verse 1 John 5:1) to express sh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMETH? (τις εστιν δε ο νικων?). Not a mere rhetorical question (1 John 2:22), but an appeal to experience and fact. Note the present active articular participle (νικων) like νικα (present active indicative in verse 1 John 5:4), "the one who keeps on conquering the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS (ουτος). Jesus the Son of God (verse 1 John 5:5).HE THAT CAME (ο ελθων). Second aorist active articular participle of ερχομα, referring to the Incarnation as a definite historic event, the preexistent Son of God "sent from heaven to do God's will" (Brooke).BY WATER AND BLOOD (δι' υδατος κ... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE ARE THREE WHO BEAR WITNESS (οτ τρεις εισιν ο μαρτυρουντες). At this point the Latin Vulgate gives the words in the Textus Receptus, found in no Greek MS. save two late cursives (162 in the Vatican Library of the fifteenth century, 34 of the sixteenth century in Trinity College, Dublin).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT AND THE WATER AND THE BLOOD (το πνευμα κα το υδωρ κα το αιμα). The same three witnesses of verses 1 John 5:6; 1 John 5:7 repeated with the Spirit first.THE THREE (ο τρεις). The resumptive article.AGREE IN ONE (εις το εν εισιν). "Are for the one thing," to bring us to faith in Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE RECEIVE (ε λαμβανομεν). Condition of first class with ε and the present active indicative, assumed as true. The conditions for a legally valid witness are laid down in Deuteronomy 19:15 (cf. Matthew 18:16; John 8:17; John 10:25; 2 Corinthians 13:1).GREATER (μειζων). Comparative of μεγας,... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVETH ON (πιστευων εις). John draws a distinction between "not believing God" (μη πιστευων τω θεω) in next clause, the testimony of God about his Son, and surrender to and reliance on the Son as here (εις and the accusative). See the same distinction less clearly drawn in John 6:30. See also... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT GOD GAVE (οτ εδωκεν ο θεος). Declarative οτ in apposition with μαρτυρια as in verse 1 John 5:14; John 3:19. Note aorist active indicative εδωκεν (from διδωμ) as in 1 John 3:23, the great historic fact of the Incarnation (John 3:16), but the perfect δεδωκεν in 1 John 3:1 to emphasize the abid... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH THE LIFE (εχε την ζωην). The life which God gave (verse 1 John 5:11). This is the position of Jesus himself (John 5:24; John 14:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE WRITTEN (εγραψα). Not epistolary aorist, but refers to verses 1 John 5:1-12 of this Epistle as in 1 John 2:26 to the preceding verses.THAT YE MAY KNOW (ινα ειδητε). Purpose clause with ινα and the second perfect active subjunctive of οιδα, to know with settled intuitive knowledge. He wis... [ Continue Reading ]
TOWARD HIM (προς αυτον). Fellowship with (προς, face to face) Christ. For boldness see 1 John 2:28.THAT (οτ). Declarative again, as in verse 1 John 5:11.IF WE ASK ANYTHING (εαν τ αιτωμεθα). Condition of third class with εαν and present middle (indirect) subjunctive (personal interest as in Jam... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF WE KNOW (κα εαν οιδαμεν). Condition of first class with εαν (usually ε) and the perfect active indicative, assumed as true. See 1 Thessalonians 3:8; Acts 8:31 for the indicative with εαν as in the papyri. "An amplification of the second limitation" (D. Smith).WHATSOEVER WE ASK (ο εαν αιτ... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN SEE (εαν τις ιδη). Third-class condition with εαν and second aorist active subjunctive of ειδον (οραω).SINNING A SIN (αμαρτανοντα αμαρτιαν). Present active predicate (supplementary) participle agreeing with αδελφον and with cognate accusative αμαρτιαν.NOT UNTO DEATH (μη προς θανατον... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN (πασα αδικια αμαρτια εστιν). Unrighteousness is one manifestation of sin as lawlessness (1 John 3:4) is another (Brooke). The world today takes sin too lightly, even jokingly as a mere animal inheritance. Sin is a terrible reality, but there is no cause for despair. Sin... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW (οιδαμεν). As in 1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 5:15; 1 John 5:19; 1 John 5:20. He has "ye know" in 1 John 2:20; 1 John 3:5; 1 John 3:15.SINNETH NOT (ουχ αμαρτανε). Lineal present active indicative, "does not keep on sinning," as he has already shown in... [ Continue Reading ]
OF GOD (εκ του θεου). See 1 John 3:10; 1 John 4:6 for this idiom.LIETH IN THE EVIL ONE (εν τω πονηρω κειτα). Present middle indicative of the defective verb κειμα, to lie, as in Luke 2:12. Πονηρω is masculine, like ο πονηρος in verse 1 John 5:18. This is a terrible picture of the Graeco-Roman w... [ Continue Reading ]
IS COME (ηκε). Present active indicative, but the root has a perfect sense, "has come." See εξηλθον κα ηκω in John 8:42.AN UNDERSTANDING (διανοιαν). Here alone in John's writings, but in Paul (Ephesians 4:18) and Peter (1 Peter 1:13). John does not use γνωσις (knowledge) and νους (mind) only in... [ Continue Reading ]
YOURSELVES (εαυτα). Neuter plural reflexive because of τεκνια. The active voice φυλασσετε with the reflexive accents the need of effort on their part. Idolatry was everywhere and the peril was great. See Acts 7:41 for this word.... [ Continue Reading ]