THE FIRST GENERAL EPISTLE OF JOHN. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the Byzantine historians, and other eastern Writers, 5577. -Year of the Alexandrian era of the world, 5571. -Year of the Antiochian era of the worl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 1:2. _FOR THE LIFE WAS MANIFESTED_] The Lord Jesus, who is the creator of all things, and the _fountain of life_ to all sentient and intellectual beings, and from whom _eternal life_ and _happiness_ come, _was manifested_ in the flesh, and we _have seen him,_ and in consequence _bear wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 1:3. _THAT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD_] We deliver nothing by hearsay, nothing by tradition, nothing from conjecture; we have had the fullest certainty of all that we write and preach. _THAT YE ALSO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US_] That ye may be preserved from all false doctrine, and h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 1:4. _THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL._] Ye have already _tasted_ that the Lord is good; but I am now going to show you the height of your Christian calling, that your _happiness may be complete_, being thoroughly cleansed from all sin, and filled with the fulness of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 1:5. _THIS THEN IS THE MESSAGE_] This is the _grand_ _principle_ on which all depends, _which we have heard of_ απαυτου, FROM _him_; for neither Moses nor the prophets ever gave that full instruction concerning God and communion with him which Jesus Christ has given, for the only-begott... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP_] Having fellowship, κοινωνια, _communion_, with God, necessarily implies a _partaking of the Divine nature_. Now if a man profess to have such communion, and _walk in darkness_-live an irreligious and sinful life, _he lies_, in the profession which he mak... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT_] If, having received the principle of holiness from him, we live a holy and righteous life, deriving continual light, power, and life from him, then _we have_ _fellowship one with another_; that is, we have communion with God, and God condescends to hold commun... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN_] This is tantamount to 1 John 1:10: _If we say that we have not sinned. All have sinned, and come_ _short of the glory of God_; and therefore every man needs a _Saviour_, such as Christ is. It is very likely that the heretics, against whose evil doctrines the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 1:9. _IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS_] If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; _he is faithful_, because to such... [ Continue Reading ]