Because the Gnostics and other heretics, in the first age, to gain the greater credit to their erroneous doctrines, assumed to themselves the character and authority of inspired teachers, John put his disciples in mind, (1 John 2:27,) that they had an unction from the Holy Spirit, by which they were... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hereby_ By the following plain mark; _know ye the Spirit of God_ In a teacher. _Every spirit_ Of a teacher; _that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God_ Doddridge, with many other commentators, reads this clause, _Every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ, who is come in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh_ That doth not acknowledge him to be the true Messiah, as above observed, and that he came in that particular manner, though he might have come otherwise; _is not of Gods_ “To determine whether the Socinian interpretation of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye_ Who abide in the truth taught you from the beginning; _are of God, and have overcome them_ Namely, these seducers, in all their snares and delusions: that is, the doctrine to which you adhere has prevailed against those who deserve the name of _antichrist_, (as undoubtedly all who oppose the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us love one another_ From the doctrine he has just been defending, he draws this exhortation: as if he had said, Think it not enough speculatively to admit the Christian doctrine, but let it be your great care to acknowledge it practically, and especially with respect to that most important art... [ Continue Reading ]
_In this was manifested the love of God_ Namely, most eminently above all other instances thereof; _because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world_ That is, evidently, sent him, who was his only-begotten Son before he was sent. “This,” as Macknight justly observes. “is an allusion to our... [ Continue Reading ]
_Herein is love_ Worthy of our highest admiration; _not that we loved God_ First; for we were, on the contrary, in a state of enmity to him, in which, if we had remained unsolicited and untouched by his love and grace, we should have persisted and perished; _but that he loved us_ First, (1 John 4:19... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hereby_ Εν τουτω, _by this, we know_ Have full proof; _that we dwell_, μενομεν, _we abide in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit_ In the enlightening, quickening, renewing, and comforting influences thereof. Some commentators understand the apostle as speaking here of the extr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever shall_ From a principle of loving faith, openly _confess_ In the face of all opposition and danger, maintaining this profession with resolution and zeal, and acting in conformity to it; _that Jesus is the Son of God_ The Christ, the Saviour of the world; _God abideth in him, and he in God... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no fear in love_ No slavish or tormenting fear, diffidence, or distrust, can be where love reigns; _but perfect_, mature _love casteth out_ such _fear, because_ such _fear hath torment_ And so is inconsistent with the happiness of love. _He that feareth is not made perfect in love_ In the... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man say, I love God_ And even say it with the utmost confidence; _and hateth his brother_ Which he will do more or less, if he do not love him; _he is a liar_ He affirms what is false, although, perhaps, he may not know it to be so; _for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen_ Who... [ Continue Reading ]