WHAT MANNER OF LOVE (ποταπην αγαπην). Qualitative interrogative as in 2 Peter 3:11; Matthew 8:27. Only here in John's writings. Originally of what country or race.HATH BESTOWED (δεδωκεν). Perfect active indicative of διδωμ, state of completion, "the endowment of the receiver" (Vincent).THAT WE... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW (νυν). Without waiting for the παρουσια or second coming. We have a present dignity and duty, though there is greater glory to come.IT IS NOT YET MADE MANIFEST (ουπω εφανερωθη). First aorist passive indicative of φανεροω. For the aorist indicative with ουπω with a future outlook Brooke note... [ Continue Reading ]
SET ON HIM (επ' αυτω). Resting upon (επ) with locative rather than εις, looking to, Acts 24:15. That is upon Christ (Brooke), upon God (D. Smith), upon God in Christ (Westcott).PURIFIETH HIMSELF (αγνιζε εαυτον). Present active indicative of αγνιζω, old verb, from αγνος (pure from contamination),... [ Continue Reading ]
SIN IS LAWLESSNESS (η αμαρτια εστιν η ανομια). The article with both subject and predicate makes them coextensive and so interchangeable. Doing sin is the converse of doing righteousness (1 John 2:29). The present active participle (ποιων) means the habit of doing sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE (εκεινος). As in verse 1 John 3:3; John 1:18.WAS MANIFESTED (εφανερωθη). Same form as in verse 1 John 3:2, but here of the Incarnation as in John 21:1, not of the second coming (1 John 2:28).TO TAKE AWAY SINS (ινα τας αμαρτιας αρη). Purpose clause with ινα and first aorist active subjunctiv... [ Continue Reading ]
SINNETH NOT (ουχ αμαρτανε). Linear present (linear μενων, keeps on abiding) active indicative of αμαρτανω, "does not keep on sinning." For μενω (abide) see 1 John 2:6; John 15:4-10.WHOSOEVER SINNETH (ο αμαρτανων). Present (linear) active articular participle like μενων above, "the one who keeps... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN LEAD YOU ASTRAY (μηδεις πλανατω υμας). Present active imperative of πλαναω, "let no one keep on leading you astray." See 1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:26. Break the spell of any Gnostic charmer.HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS (ο ποιων την δικαιοσυνην). "He that keeps on doing (present active part... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT DOETH SIN (ο ποιων την αμαρτιαν). "He that keeps on doing sin" (the habit of sin).OF THE DEVIL (εκ του διαβολου). In spiritual parentage as Jesus said of the Pharisees in John 8:44. When one acts like the devil he shows that he is not a true child of God.SINNETH FROM THE BEGINNING (απ... [ Continue Reading ]
DOETH NO SIN (αμαρτιαν ου ποιε). Linear present active indicative as in verse 1 John 3:4 like αμαρτανε in verse 1 John 3:8. The child of God does not have the habit of sin.HIS SEED (σπερμα αυτου). God's seed, "the divine principle of life" (Vincent). Cf. 1 John 3:1.AND HE CANNOT SIN (κα ου δυν... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THIS (εν τουτω). As already shown. A life of sin is proof that one is a child of the devil and not of God. This is the line of cleavage that is obvious to all. See John 8:33-39 for the claim of the Pharisees to be the children of Abraham, whereas their conduct showed them to be children of the... [ Continue Reading ]
MESSAGE (αγγελια). In N.T. only here and 1 John 1:5, but επαγγελια (promise) fifty-one times.FROM THE BEGINNING (απ' αρχης). See 1 John 1:1 for this phrase and 1 John 2:7 for the idea. They had the message of love for the brotherhood from the beginning of the gospel and it goes back to the time... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE EVIL ONE (εκ του πονηρου). Ablative case and the same for neuter and masculine singular, but verse 1 John 3:10 makes it clear that the reference is to the devil.SLEW (εσφαξεν). First aorist active indicative of σφαζω, old verb, to slay, to butcher, to cut the throat (Latin _jugulare_) li... [ Continue Reading ]
IF (ε). Common construction after θαυμαζω (wonder) rather than οτ (that, because). Present imperative here with μη means "cease wondering." Note μη θαυμασηις (do not begin to wonder) in John 3:6 (an individual case). See this same condition and language in John 15:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW (ημεις οιδαμεν). Emphatic expression of ημεις (we) in contrast to the unregenerate world, the Christian consciousness shared by writer and readers.WE HAVE PASSED (μεταβεβηκαμεν). Perfect active indicative of μεταβαινω, old compound to pass over from one place to another (John 7:3), to m... [ Continue Reading ]
A MURDERER (ανθρωποκτονος). Old compound (Euripides) from ανθρωπος (man) and κτεινω (to kill), a man-killer, in N.T. only here and John 8:44 (of Satan).NO (πασ--ου). According to current Hebraistic idiom= ουδεις as in 1 John 2:19; 1 John 2:21.ABIDING (μενουσαν). Present active feminine accusa... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW WE (εγνωκαμεν). Perfect active indicative, "we have come to know and still know." See 1 John 2:3 for "hereby" (εν τουτω).LOVE (την αγαπην). "The thing called love" (D. Smith).HE FOR US (εκεινος υπερ ημων). Εκεινος as in 1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:3; 1 John 3:5, υπερ here alone in this Epistle,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO HATH (ος αν εχη). Indefinite relative clause with modal αν with ος and the present active subjunctive of εχω.THE WORLD'S GOODS (τον βιον του κοσμου). "The living or livelihood (not ζωη, the principle of life, and see 1 John 2:16 for βιος) of the world" (not in the sense of evil or wicked,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WORD, NEITHER WITH THE TONGUE (λογω μηδε τη γλωσση). Either instrumental or locative makes sense. What John means is "not merely by word or by the tongue." He does not condemn kind words which are comforting and cheering, but warm words should be accompanied by warm deeds to make real "in deed... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL WE KNOW (γνωσομεθα). Future middle indicative of γινωσκω, at any future emergency, we shall come to know by this (εν τουτω) "that we are of the truth" (οτ εκ της αληθειας εσμεν).BEFORE HIM (εμπροσθεν αυτου). In the very presence of God we shall have confident assurance (πεισομεν την καρδι... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREINSOEVER OUR HEART CONDEMN US (οτ εαν καταγινωσκη ημων η καρδια). A construction like οτ αν, whatever, in John 2:5; John 14:13. Καταγινωσκω occurs only three times in the N.T., here, verse 1 John 3:21; Galatians 2:11. It means to know something against one, to condemn.BECAUSE GOD IS GREATER... [ Continue Reading ]
IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US NOT (εαν η καρδια μη καταγινωσκη). Condition of third class with εαν μη and present active subjunctive. The converse of the preceding, but not a claim to sinlessness, but the consciousness of fellowship in God's presence.BOLDNESS TOWARD GOD (παρρησιαν προς τον θεον). Eve... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER WE ASK (ο εαν αιτωμεν). Indefinite relative clause with modal αν and the present active subjunctive, like οτ εαν καταγινωσκη in verse 1 John 3:20. In form no limitations are placed here save that of complete fellowship with God, which means complete surrender of our will to that of God... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS COMMANDMENT (η εντολη αυτου).THAT (ινα). Subfinal use of ινα in apposition with εντολη (commandment) and explanatory of it, as in John 15:12 (εντολη ινα). See Christ's summary of the commandments (Mark 12:28-31; Matthew 22:34-40). So these two points here (1)WE SHOULD BELIEVE (πιστευσωμεν,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE IN HIM (κα αυτος εν αυτω). That is "God abides in him" as in 1 John 4:15. We abide in God and God abides in us through the Holy Spirit (John 14:10; John 14:17; John 14:23; John 17:21). "Therefore let God be a home to thee, and be thou the home of God: abide in God, and let God abide in the... [ Continue Reading ]