1 John 2:9-11

Those In the Light Love the Brethren

The claim to be in the light, therefore in fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-7), is easily tested by our attitude toward our brethren. God displayed such love for the lost world that He gave His Son that those who believed Him might have everlasting life (John 3:16). The church was purchased by Christ's life and blood (Ephesians 5:25; Acts 20:28). One cannot claim to be in partnership with God and hate the ones for whom God gave so much (1 John 2:9).

The love we are to have for our brethren is agape love, or the commitment to act for the good of others. One who loves his brother will be careful not to put a pit or snare in his way (Matthew 18:6-7; Romans 14:15-21; 1 Corinthians 8:4-13). However, John may here be talking about our putting a snare in our own way. Notice the next verse and consider the possibility that John is saying the lack of proper concern for one's brethren places him in darkness and makes him subject to fall into pits and snares because he cannot see (1 John 2:10).

Those who hate their brethren are inwardly darkened, walk in darkness and do not know where they are going. Sadly, they are blinded to their own condition (1 John 2:11; Psalms 82:5; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

1 John 2:12-14

John's Purpose InWriting

John states his purpose for writing the book of 1 John in 2:12-14. First, he told his purpose from his own perspective as author. He was writing to young children, or tecknia in the Greek, in the faith because their sins had recently been forgiven through their obedience and because of the authority of Christ (Acts 2:38; Acts 4:12; Acts 22:16). He was also writing to those mature enough in the faith to be teaching and leading others to greater maturity (Hebrews 5:12-14).

They had come to have an intimate understanding of the eternal Christ (1:1). He was also writing to those just reaching the age of maturity. They had grown wiser in the faith because they had successfully met and overcome some of the challenges of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8-9).

Then, he follows with a second group of sentences which describe the reader's viewpoint of John's purpose in writing. He had written to babes ( Paddy) in Christ (2 Peter 2:2) because they had come to know God as their Father (Romans 8:13-16; Ephesians 1:3-6). He had written to the most mature Christians who through study had come to fully appreciate their Lord and better understand His eternal nature. He had written to those just maturing in Christian service because they were realizing their strength and best defense against Satan was God's word and had used it to overcome him (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 6:10; Hebrews 4:12).