Compare John 1:1; John 1:9; John 1:14. The construction of the first three verses is somewhat involved. It will be simplified by throwing it into three parts, represented respectively by vv. 1, 2, 3. The first part, That which was from the beginning - Word of Life, forms a suspended clause, the verb... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is parenthetical. Compare, for similar interruptions of the construction, ver. 3, John 1:14; John 3:16; John 3:31; John 19:35. And [κ α ι]. See on John 1:10; John 8:20. The Life [η ζ ω η]. The Word Himself who is the Life. 59 Compare John 14:6; John 5:26; 1 Jo [ Continue Reading ]
The regular course of the sentence, broken by ver. 2, is now resumed, by the repetition of that which we have seen and heard. Only the order is reversed : seen and heard instead of heard and seen (ver. 1), and the two elements of experience, sight and hearing, are thrown together without the repeate... [ Continue Reading ]
These things. The whole Epistle. Write we unto you [γ ρ α φ ο μ ε ν υ μ ι ν]. The best texts read hJmeiv we, instead of uJmin to you. Both the verb and the pronoun are emphatic. The writer speaks with conscious authority, and his message is to be not only announced (ajpaggellomen, ver. 3), but writ... [ Continue Reading ]
This then is [κ α ι α υ τ η ε σ τ ι ν]. Rev., correctly and literally, and this. According to the proper reading the verb stands first in order [ε σ τ ι ν α υ τ η], with emphasis, not merely as a copula, but in the sense "there exists this as the message." For a similar use of the substantive verb,... [ Continue Reading ]
If we say [ε α ν ε ι π ω μ ε ν]. The subjunctive mood puts the case as supposed, not as assumed. Walk in the darkness. The phrase occurs only in John's Gospel and First Epistle. Darkness here is skotov, instead of skotia (ver. 5). See on John 1:5. Walk [π ε ρ ι π α τ ω μ ε ν], is, literally, walk a... [ Continue Reading ]
We walk in the light [ε ν τ ω φ ω τ ι π ε ρ ι π α τ ω μ ε ν]. The phrase occurs only in the First Epistle. Walk, as above. In the light, having our life in God, who is light. He is in the light. God is forever and unchangeable in perfect light. Compare Psalms 104:2; 1 Timothy 6:16. We walk, advanci... [ Continue Reading ]
That we have no sin. %Oti that, may be taken merely as a mark of quotation : "If we say, sin we have not." On the phrase to have sin, see on John 16:22, and compare have fellowship, ver. 3. Sin [α μ α ρ τ ι α ν] is not to be understood of original sin, or of sin before conversion, but generally. "It... [ Continue Reading ]