ἀγαπητοί, St. John's favourite style (cf. 1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11). About to enjoin love, he begins by loving. καινός, “novel,” “new in kind ” (novus) as distinguished from νέος, “new in time ” (recens). ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, here not as in 1 John 1:1, but “from the beginning of your Christian life”. ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ παλαιά, cf. 1 John 1:2 : τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον.

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Old Testament