This should be compared with 1 John 3:24, to which it is closely parallel. There, as here, the gift of the Spirit is the proof of God's abiding presence: but there this is connected with keeping His commandments; here it is connected with the special duty of brotherly love.

he hath given us of his Spirit We receive - ofHis Spirit" (ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος): of Christ alone was it said in the fullest sense -not by measure" is the Spirit given to him (John 3:34). Christians are sometimes said to receive the Spirit (Galatians 3:2-3; Galatians 3:5; Galatians 4:6), sometimes ofthe Spirit (see on 1 John 3:24): only the former is true of Christ. See on 2 John 1:4.

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