That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; Ver. 1. _That which was from the beginning_] Christ, the eternal God. _See Trapp on "_ Joh 1:2 _"_ Which we have heard, &c.] The man... [ Continue Reading ]
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen _it_, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) Ver. 2. _For the life was manifested_] Christ, who is "life essential," swallowed up death in victory, and "brought life and immortalit... [ Continue Reading ]
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship _is_ with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Ver. 3. _Declare we unto you_] That (Theophilus-like) ye may be at a certainty, fully persuaded,Luke 1:1, having a plerophor... [ Continue Reading ]
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. Ver. 4. _And these things write we_] Out of the Scriptures, those wells of salvation, draw we waters with joy, Isaiah 12:4, suck these breasts of consolation, and be satisfied, Isaiah 66:11. _Nusquam inveni requiem nisi in libro et clau... [ Continue Reading ]
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Ver. 5. _That God is light_] He is αυτοφως, light essential, and they that walk with him must be as so many crystal glasses with a light in the midst; for can two walk tog... [ Continue Reading ]
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: Ver. 6. _If we say that, &c._] As they do that profess to know God, but in works do deny him, Titus 1:16. _See Trapp on "_ Tit 1:16 _"_ And walk in darkness] There is a child of light that walks in dark... [ Continue Reading ]
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Ver. 7. _We have fellowship one, &c._] That is, God and we; inasmuch as we are made partakers of the divine nature, and are pure as God is pure,... [ Continue Reading ]
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Ver. 8. _If we say that we have_] If any should be so saucy, or rather silly, as to say with Donatus, _Non habeo, Domine, quod ignoscas, _ I have no sin for Christ to cleanse me from, he is a loud liar, and may very we... [ Continue Reading ]
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us _our_ sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ver. 9. _If we confess_] _Homo agnoscit, Deus ignoscit._ Man acknowledges, God forgives. And _Confessio peccati est vomitus sordium animae._ Confession of sin is the vomit of the fi... [ Continue Reading ]
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Ver. 10. _We make him a liar_] For the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, Romans 11:32. _See Trapp on "_ Rom 11:32 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]