My little children [τ ε κ ν ι α μ ο υ]. Teknion, little child, diminutive of teknon child, occurs in John 8:33; 1 John 2:12; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:21. This particular phrase is found only here (best texts omit my in 1 John 3:18). Used as a term of affection, or p... [ Continue Reading ]
And He [κ α ι α υ τ ο ς]. The He is emphatic : that same Jesus : He himself. The propitiation [ι λ α σ μ ο ς]. Only here and 1 John 4:10. From iJlaskomai to appease, to conciliate to one's self, which occurs Luke 28:13; Hebrews 2:17. The noun means originally an appeasing or propitiating, and passes... [ Continue Reading ]
Hereby [ε ν τ ο υ τ ω]. Lit., in this. Characteristic of John. See John 8:35; John 14:8; John 16:30; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13; 1 John 5:2; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 3:19; 1 John 4:2 [ Continue Reading ]
A liar. Compare we lie, 1 John 1:6. In him [ε ν τ ο υ τ ω]. Emphatic. Lit., in this one the truth is not. See on 1 8. Keepeth His word [τ η ρ η α υ τ ο υ τ ο ν λ ο γ ο ν]. Note the changed phrase : word for commandments. The word is the revelation regarded as a whole, which includes all the separat... [ Continue Reading ]
He abideth in Him [ε ν α υ τ ω μ ε ν ε ι ν]. To abide in God is a more common expression with John than to be in God, and marks an advance in thought. The phrase is a favorite one with John. See John 14:4 sqq.; John 6:56; 1 John 2:24; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:6; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:12 sq... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren [α δ ε λ φ ο ι]. The correct reading is ajgaphoi beloved. The first occurrence of this title, which is suggested by the previous words concerning the relation of love. No new commandment [ο υ κ ε ν τ ο λ η ν κ α ι ν η ν]. The Rev., properly, places these words first in the sentence as emph... [ Continue Reading ]
New commandment. The commandment of love is both old and new. Old, because John's readers have had it from the beginning of their Christian experience. New, because, in the unfolding of Christian experience, it has developed new power, meaning, and obligation, and closer correspondence "with the fac... [ Continue Reading ]
Hateth [μ ι σ ω ν]. The sharp issue is maintained here as in Christ's words, "He that is not with me is against me" (Luke 11:23). Men fall into two classes, those who are in fellowship with God, and therefore walk in light and love, and those who are not in fellowship with God, and therefore walk in... [ Continue Reading ]
Abideth [μ ε ν ε ι]. See on ver. 6. Compare ver. 9, is in. Occasion of stumbling [σ κ α ν δ α λ ο ν]. See on offend, Matthew 5:29. For the image in John, see John 6:61; John 11:9; John 16:1; Revelation 2:14. The meaning is not that he gives no occasion of stumbling to others, but that there is none... [ Continue Reading ]
Is - walketh - whither. The condition of him who hates is viewed as related to being, action, and tendency. He goeth [υ π α γ ε ι]. Or, is going. See on John 6:21; John 8:21. Hath blinded [ε τ υ φ λ ω σ ε ν]. For the image see Isaiah 6:10. See on closed, Matthew 13:15. Compare John 1:5, and see not... [ Continue Reading ]
Little children. See on ver. 1, and John 1:12. Not children in age, but addressed to the readers generally. Name. See on John 1:12; John 2:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
Fathers. Indicating age and authority. Have known [ε γ ν ω κ α τ ε] Rev., correctly, ye know. Knowledge is the characteristic of fathers; knowledge as the fruit of experience. Ye have perceived, therefore ye know. Have overcome [ν ε ν ι κ η κ α τ ε]. Compare John 16:33. The image is characteristic... [ Continue Reading ]
Him that is from the beginning. The eternal, pre - existent Christ, who was from the beginning (John 1:1). The eternal Son, through whom men are brought into the relation of children of God, and learn to know the Father. The knowledge of God involves, on the part of both fathers and children, the kn... [ Continue Reading ]
The world [τ ο ν κ ο σ μ ο ν]. See on John 1:9. The love of the Father [η α γ α π η τ ο υ π α τ ρ ο ς]. The phrase occurs only here in the New Testament. It means love towards the Father, yet as generated by the Father's love to man. Compare 1 John 3:1. See on love of God, ver. 5. Is not in him. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
All [π α ν]. Not all things severally, but all that is in the world collectively, regarded as a unit. The lust [η ε π ι θ υ μ ι α]. See on Mark 4:19. Of the flesh. Sensual appetite. The desire which resides in the flesh, not the desire for the flesh. For this subjective usage of the genitive with l... [ Continue Reading ]
Forever [ε ι ς τ ο ν α ι ω ν α]. The only form in which aijwn age, life, occurs in the Gospel and Epistles of John, except ejk tou aijwnov since the world began (John 9:32). Some old versions add, "as God abideth forever.... [ Continue Reading ]
Little children [π α ι δ ι α]. See on ver. 13. The last hour [ε σ χ α τ η ω ρ α]. The phrase only here in the New Testament. On John's use of wra hour, as marking a critical season, see John 2:4; John 4:21; John 4:23; John 5:25; John 5:28; John 7:30; John 8:20; John 11:2; John 11:3; [ Continue Reading ]
They went out from us [ε ξ η μ ω ν ε ξ η λ θ α ν]. The phrase went out from, may mean either removal (Rev 28:4; John 8:59) or origin (Revelation 9:3; Revelation 14:13; Revelation 14:15; Revelation 14:17; Revelation 19:5; Revelation 19:21). Here the latter, as appears from the following clause. Compa... [ Continue Reading ]
An unction [χ ρ ι σ μ α]. The word means that with which the anointing is performed - the unguent or ointment. In the New Testament only here and ver. 27. Rev., an anointing. The root of this word and of Cristov, Christ, is the same. See on Matthew 1:1. the anointing is from the Anointed. The Holy O... [ Continue Reading ]
I have not written [ο υ κ ε γ ρ α ψ α]. Or, I wrote not. See on ver. 13.... [ Continue Reading ]
A liar [ο ψ ε υ σ τ η ς]. Rev., correctly, "the liar." For a similar interrogative phrase see ch. 1 John 5:5. It marks the lively feeling with which the apostle writes. By the definite article, the liar, the lie is set forth in its concrete personality : the one who impersonates all that is false, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath not the Father [ο υ δ ε τ ο ν π α τ ε ρ α ε χ ε ι]. Properly, "hath not even the Father," though he professes to reverence the Father while rejecting the Son. Compare John 8:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
As for you [υ μ ε ι ς]. This is the rendering of the Rev. The force of the emphatic you at the beginning of the sentence is utterly lost in the A. V., which takes the pronoun simply as nominative to ye have heard. You is emphatic by way of contrast with the false teachers (ver. 22). From the beginn... [ Continue Reading ]