THE ADVOCACY OF CHRIST AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF BELIEVERS 1. My little children] The diminutive implies the fatherly care which the aged Apostle felt for his disciples. ADVOCATE] The word thus translated is used by St. John alone of the NT. writers. Elsewhere (John 14:16; John 14:25; John 15:26; John... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPITIATION] the act or offering which makes an injured person favourable to the offender, Christ is the propitiation as well as the propitiator: the offering itself as well as the sacrificing priest who makes it. THE WHOLE WORLD] cp. John 1:29; John 4:24; John 17:20. The work of Christ was wrought... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LOVE OF GOD] i.e. man's love to God: cp. 1 John 4:12, An ideal condition is here presented. Perfect obedience is evidence of perfect love.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN OLD COMMANDMENT] cp. 2 John 1:5. Old, because they have known it from the beginning of their Christian life. WHICH YE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING] RV 'which ye heard.'... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW COMMANDMENT] The commandment of love, old as it now is in one sense, is in another new, as it ever gains fresh light and meaning. THE DARKNESS, etc.] RV 'the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.'... [ Continue Reading ]
OCCASION OF STUMBLING] lit. 'stumbling-block,' that which may cause himself or others to fall, in this case probably (see next v.) himself. Without love no one can walk in the light of God's truth. 12-14. In these vv. the readers are addressed, twice over, as (1) 'little children,' (2) 'fathers,' (3... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE NOT THE WORLD] The 'world' here is not the world of nature, nor the world of humanity which 'God so loved' (John 3:16). It means all in the present order of things which appeals to the soul as an object of desire apart from and in rivalry to God. 16. All that is thus antagonistic to God is sum... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST TIME] RV 'the last hour.' The Apostles undoubtedly anticipated a coming of Christ in the near future as a vital possibility, and all generations are enjoined by our Lord's teaching to do the same. The dispensation which immediately precedes that great event, the time of which is known only... [ Continue Reading ]
AN UNCTION] RV 'an anointing': cp. 2 Corinthians 1:21. Oil is the sacred symbol of the Spirit's operations. The anointing here represents the gift of the Spirit, whereby believers are endowed with spiritual discernment (John 14:26; John 16:13). THE HOLY ONE] probably Christ. 23. 'The denial of the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR] RV 'if he shall be manifested.' The 'if' implies no doubt as to the fact, but only uncertainty as to the time. CONFIDENCE] RV 'boldness,' lit. 'freedom or readiness of speech.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IS BORN OF HIM] lit. 'hath been begotten from him.' 'The presence of righteous action is the sure sign of the reality of the divine birth' (Westcott).... [ Continue Reading ]