_HE DECLARETH THE SINGULAR LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS US, IN MAKING US HIS SONS; WHO THEREFORE OUGHT OBEDIENTLY TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AS ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS BRETHREN._ _Anno Domini 90._ THE apostle, in the last verse of the preceding chapter, having declared that every one who worketh righteo... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE, &C.— The word _behold,_ is made use of to excite new degrees of attention; and indeed is generally used in the scripture as a kind of hand, to point out what is peculiarly worthy our attention. The word ποταπος, rendered _what manner,_ properly signifies quantity; when i... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, &C.— In 1 John 3:1 the apostle says, the world knew them not. Here he intimates, that they themselves did not fully comprehend what glory and felicity was implied in their being sons of God, and heirs of his eternal inheritance. It is observable, that these are the words... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HATH THIS HOPE— The phrase Ο εχων, signifies, he that _keepeth, holdeth,_ or _retaineth:_ he purifies himself; consequently he is not like a stone, or like a machine, which is entirely passive: God, it is true, gives him all the power by imparting his grace unto him; and this is the use which h... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN— St. John's design in this verse, was not to explain the meaning of the word _sin,_ but to assure the Christians that _sin_ exposed a man to punishment; and then the connection is clear and evident: 1 John 3:3. "He that hopes for the heavenly felicity, purifies himself even... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER ABIDETH IN HIM,— "Hence it plainly follows, that whoever abides in him by vital and influential union and communion with him, like a branchin the vine (John 15:5.), does not commit sin: he that sinneth, has no realizing view of him by faith: his views and knowledge of him have been so supe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS,— _He who practiseth righteousness;_ and so 1 John 3:8 _he who practiseth sin._ The scriptures frequently represent him as the _righteous man,_ who habitually and constantly, internally and externally, practiseth righteousness. The verse may be thus paraphrased: "My dear... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT COMMITTETH SIN, &C.— Or, _who liveth in sin,_ says Heylin. The original is a Hebraism, importing a habit of sin. Limborch imagines the phase _sinneth from the beginning,_ to refer to repeated acts of sin, and a continued course of it, which preceded Satan's expulsion from heaven. But it seem... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD, &C.— "Whoever he be that is a partaker of the divine nature by the regenerating Spirit,is no longer a doer or practiser of iniquity; for that divine principle of grace, which is infused into him, has an abiding root and residence in him, to rule and govern him; and he has s... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE MANIFEST, &C.— All men are either _the children of God,_ or _of the devil._ Here is the rule to distinguish the one from the other; not by boasting that we are the elect people of God; not by a set of notions, or barren speculations; but by our own present and persona... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS THE MESSAGE— In this verse we have St. John's first reason why Christians should love one another; namely, "It is the message or command of God in Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT AS CAIN, &C.— The original is expressive; _Not like Cain! he was of the wicked one, and murdered his brother:_ God forbid therefore that we should be like him. To be _of the wicked one,_ is the same thing as being a child of the devil. See 1 John 3:8. In this verse St. John assigns a second reas... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WORLD HATE YOU— By the _world,_ understand the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. See ch. 1 John 5:19. The _world_ is here set in opposition to the Christian brethren. This verse contains an inference from what had been said in that preceding; "There has all along been enmity between the seed of... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH, &C.— This is said even of the best men; which implies, by a strong consequence, that they are, as it were, born in the land and territories of death; or that the gospel finds them in such a condition, as to be liable to condemnation and destruction; to the exe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER HATETH HIS BROTHER, IS A MURDERER:— That is, in the temper and disposition of his mind; or, hatred is one step towards murder. See Matthew 5:21; Matthew 22:27; Matthew 28:20. Inthe 6th commandment murder is forbidden; but the commandments are so to be interpreted, that every tendency towar... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREBY PERCEIVE WE THE LOVE OF GOD,— This text, as it stands in our version, has generally been mentioned as equivalent to Acts 20:28. In which, as he who laid down his life for us, _is God_ as well _as man, God_ is said to have done that, which the _man_ united to him did. The verse may be thus par... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO HATH THIS WORLD'S GOOD, &C.— The common signification of the word βιος,— rendered _good,_ is _life;_ but it is used also for riches, or worldly subsistence;—for that which _is the support of life._ The heart and _bowels_ are put for human affections, because they are moved and affected when we... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US NOT LOVE IN WORD, &C.— All hypocritical pretences to love, where there is none in the _heart,_ are very justly condemned and abhorred; but rough language, and an open profession of hatred or dislike, though sincere, are also abominable in the sightof God. St. John recommends sincerity, and do... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEREBY WE KNOW, &C.— "And by a constant prevalence of this excellent temper and conduct, we may be well satisfied that we are begotten with the word of truth (James 1:18.), and are brought to understand, believe in, and live under, the government of the true principles of the gospel, as sincere... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEART,— That is, _more powerful,_ say some, and consequently more able to condemn and punish: but _greater in knowledge,_ say others; and the following words evidently favour this interpretation: a criminal may have some hopes of escaping, when he stands before an earthly jud... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED, IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US NOT,— Though the expression is negative in the text, it must imply somewhat positive; namely, that conscience should upon examination acquit us. St. John is speaking here notof Jews, Heathens, Infidels, hypocrites, or vicious persons; but of himself, and other real C... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE OF HIM,— There are four conditions on which men may expect to have their prayers heard: _First,_ If they pray for things agreeable to the will of God; that is, for things in themselves truly good and proper. See ch. 1 John 5:14. _Secondly,_ If they pray in a right manne... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT, &C.— "And this is his great commandment, that we should endeavour to grow more in that blessed principle of faith in his dear Son Jesus Christ; and that we should unfeignedly and cordially love one another, as he has so strongly and affectionately charged us to do.... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELLETH IN HIM,— That is, in _God;_ and _He,_ that is, _God,_ in _him._ Neither this text, nor 1 Corinthians 6:17 will prove, (as some have absurdly averred,) that a good man is the Deity himself, or a part of God, or of the same essence or substance. The apostle intended only to say, "Whoever is b... [ Continue Reading ]