_Whosoever_, &c. The apostle having discoursed in the preceding Chapter s, on the privileges of the children of God, now adds a further illustration of the great essential parts of their character, in order that those to whom he wrote might be enabled to form a more accurate judgment of their own co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is he that overcometh the world_ That is superior to all earthly care, desire, fear? Who is the man, and where is he to be found? Surely none have gained, or will gain, this important victory, _but they who believe that Jesus is the Son of God_ “The great principles,” says Doddridge, “peculiar... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is he that came by water and blood_ Here the apostle evidently alludes to the testimony borne by him in his gospel, that when the soldier pierced Christ's side, _forthwith there came out blood and water;_ a fact which the apostle represents as of great importance; adding, _He that saw it bare... [ Continue Reading ]
_For there are three_, &c. It is well known that the authenticity of this verse has been a subject of much controversy. “The arguments, on both sides of the question, taken from ancient Greek MSS. and versions, and from quotations made by the fathers, and from printed editions, have been stated with... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there are three that bear witness on earth_ To the same important doctrine concerning Christ, the Son of God, and salvation through him; _the Spirit, the water, and the blood_ The _Spirit_ here, distinguished from the Holy Ghost in the preceding verse, seems to mean, 1st, That influence of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_If we receive the testimony of men_ As we do continually, and must do, in a thousand instances, if we would not give over all business, and even refuse taking necessary nourishment. The testimony of two or three credible witnesses, according to the law of Moses, was deemed sufficient to prove any m... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that believeth on the Son of God_, with such a faith, _hath the testimony in himself_ Namely, knows by experience, that what God hath testified concerning his Son, and salvation in and through him, is indeed true, being already saved by him from the guilt and power of sin, into the favour and im... [ Continue Reading ]
_And this is the record_ Η μαρτυρια, _the testimony;_ the sum of God's testimony concerning his Son, and salvation through him: this is the thing testified by the six witnesses the three in heaven, and the three on earth; _that God hath given to us_ Hath sincerely and freely offered to mankind in ge... [ Continue Reading ]
_These things have I written unto you_ The things contained in the former part of this chapter concerning the fruits of regenerating faith, and the water and the blood, and the witnesses in heaven and on earth, and especially concerning the things which they have witnessed, mentioned in the two last... [ Continue Reading ]
_And this is the_ farther _confidence_ Παρρησια, _boldness; that we have in_, or with, _him, that if we ask any thing_ See on Matthew 7:7; _according to his will_ His revealed will, (for his word shows us what things we may lawfully ask,) _he heareth us_ Not only observes and takes notice of our pet... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man_, &c. As if he had said, Yea, he hears us not only for ourselves, but others also; _see his brother_ That is, any child of man; _sin a sin which is not unto death_ That is, any sin but that which is marked out in the awful words of our Lord Jesus Christ as unpardonable, namely, the blasp... [ Continue Reading ]
_We know_, &c. As if he had said, Yet this gives no encouragement to sin. On the contrary, it is an indisputable truth, _that whosoever is born of God_ That is, regenerated and made a new creature; see on 1 John 2:29; _sinneth not_ Doth not commit any known sin, so long as he lives by faith in the S... [ Continue Reading ]
_We know_ By all these infallible proofs; _that the Son of God is come_ Into the world; _and hath given us an understanding_ Hath enlightened our minds; _that we may know him that is true_ The living and true God, namely, the Father, of whom the apostle appears here to speak; _and we are in him that... [ Continue Reading ]