The apostle introduces this catholic Epistle by a compendious
description of the object, nature, and design of the apostolical
announcement concerning the Incarnate Word of life. Its object is the
Eternal Logos who was manifested as the life; its nature is the
testimony of personal witnesses of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Message, which is the compendium of Christ's teaching._
1 John 1:5. AND, resuming the ‘we have heard' in the Introduction,
THIS IS THE MESSAGE WHICH WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM: from ‘His Son
Jesus Christ' (1 John 1:3), the ‘Him' being enough if we remember
the ‘fellowship' between the Father and t... [ Continue Reading ]
First the apostle announces his message that God is light and only
light (1 John 1:5). Then follows (down to chap. 1 John 2:2) a
universal statement of the evangelical conditions of fellowship with
Him in holiness. In chap. 1 John 2:3-6 the knowledge of God is
exhibited as a stimulant to perfect obe... [ Continue Reading ]
_The atoning provision for fellowship in the light of God, viewed
generally and with specific reference to the Christian life._
1 John 1:6-7. IF WE SAY: this is a keyword throughout the section, and
marks off the utterly unchristian or antichristian spirit from the
perfect opposite which in each ca... [ Continue Reading ]
1 John 1:8-9. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND
THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. Another ‘if we say,' strictly co-ordinate
with the preceding; the phrases here being variations upon those
contained in the former, but, after St. John's manner, with some
additional points of force. What... [ Continue Reading ]
1 John 1:10. In a third use of the universal. IF WE SAY, the great
anti-christian lie is once more repeated, but as usual in a
strengthened form,
THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED that we are not in fact sinners, as the
result of a life of which sin has been and is the characteristic. WE
MAKE HIM A LIAR, AND... [ Continue Reading ]