CHAPTER II. _He exhorts them not to sin; yet encourages those who may have_ _fallen, by the hope of mercy through Christ, who is a_ _propitiation for the sins of the whole world_, 1, 2. _He who knows God keeps his commandments; and he who professes_ _to abide in Christ ought to walk as Christ w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 2:2. _AND HE IS THE PROPITIATION_] 'Ἱλασμος· The _atoning_ _sacrifice_ for our sins. This is the proper sense of the word as used in the _Septuagint_, where it often occurs; and is the translation of אשם _asham_, an _oblation for sin_, Amos 8:14. חטאת chattath, a _sacrifice for sin_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 2:3. _AND HEREBY WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM_] If we keep the commandments of God, loving him with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves, we have the fullest proof that we have the true saving knowledge of God and his Christ. The _Gnostics_ pretended to much _knowledge_, but the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 2:4. _HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM_] This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their persona... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 2:5. _BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD_] Conscientiously observes his doctrine, the spirit and letter of the religion of Christ. _IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED_] The design of God's love in sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for the sin of man τετελειωται, _is accomplished_, in that m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _ABIDETH IN HIM_] He who not only professes to have known Christ, but also that he has communion with him, and abides in his favour, should prove the truth of his profession by walking as Christ walked; living a life of devotion and obedience to God, and of benevolence and beneficence to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _BRETHREN, I WRITE NO NEW COMMANDMENT_] There seems a contradiction between this and the next verse. But the apostle appears to speak, not so much of any difference in the _essence_ of the precept itself, as in reference to the _degrees_ of light and grace belonging to the Mosaic and Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _WHICH THING IS TRUE IN HIM AND IN YOU_] It is true that Christ loved the world so well as to lay down his life for it; and it was true in them, in all his faithful followers at that time, who were ready to lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus. There is a saying in _Synopsis_ Soh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _HE THAT SAITH HE IS IN THE LIGHT_] He that professes to be a convert to Christianity, even in the lowest degree; _and_ _hateth his brother_-not only does not love him, but wills and does him evil, as the Jews did the Gentiles; _is in darkness_-has received no saving knowledge of the truth;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _HE THAT LOVETH HIS BROTHER_] That is, his neighbour, his fellow creature, whether Jew or Gentile, so as to bear him continual good will, and to be ready to do him every kind office; _abideth in the light_-not only gives proof that he has received Christ Jesus the Lord, but that he walks i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _BUT HE THAT HATETH HIS BROTHER IS IN DARKNESS_] He is still in his heathen or unconverted state; and _walketh in_ _darkness_, his conduct being a proof of that state; _and knoweth not_ _whither he goeth _- having no proper knowledge of God or eternal things; and _cannot tell whether he is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _I WRITE UNTO YOU, LITTLE CHILDREN_] τεκνια. _Beloved_ _children_, (1 John 2:1) those who were probably the apostle's own converts, and members of the Church over which he presided. But it may be applied to young converts in general; those who can call God _Abba, Father_, by the Holy Spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _I WRITE UNTO YOU, FATHERS_] By fathers it is very likely that the apostle means persons who had embraced Christianity on its first promulgation in Judea and in the Lesser Asia, some of them had probably seen Christ in the flesh; for this appears to be what is meant by, _Ye have known him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THE WORD OF GOD ABIDETH IN YOU_] Ye have not only thoroughly known and digested the Divine doctrine, but your hearts are moulded into it; ye know it to be the truth of God from the _power_ and happiness with which it inspires you, and from the constant abiding testimony of the Spirit of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _LOVE NOT THE WORLD_] Though these several classes were so well acquainted with Divine things, and had all tasted the powers of the world to come: yet so apt are men to be drawn aside by sensible things, that the Holy Spirit saw it necessary to caution these against the love of the world,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD_] All that it can boast of, all that it can promise, is only sensual, transient gratification, and even this promise it cannot fulfil; so that its warmest votaries can complain loudest of their disappointment. _THE LUST OF THE FLESH_] Sensual and impure desir... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY_] All these things are continually fading and perishing; and the very _state_ in which they are possessed is changing perpetually, and the earth and its works will be shortly burnt up. _AND THE LUST THEREOF_] The men of this world, their vain pursuits, and delusive... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _LITTLE CHILDREN, IT IS THE LAST TIME_] This place is variously understood. This is the _last dispensation_ of grace and mercy to mankind; the _present age_ is the _conclusion_ of the Jewish state, as the temple and holy city are shortly to be destroyed. But as there are many who suppose... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _THEY WENT OUT FROM US_] These heretics had belonged to our Christian assemblies, they professed Christianity, and do so still; but we apostles did not commission them to preach to you, for they have disgraced the Divine doctrine with the most pernicious opinions; they have given up or exp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _BUT YE HAVE AN UNCTION_] The word χρισμα signifies not an _unction_, but an _ointment_, the very thing itself by which _anointing_ is effected; and so it was properly rendered in our former translations. Probably this is an allusion to the holy anointing oil of the law, and to Psalms 14:... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _I HAVE NOT WRITTEN, C._] It is not because ye are _ignorant_ of these things that I write to you, but because you _know_ _them_, and can by these judge of the doctrines of those false teachers, and clearly perceive that they are _liars_ for they contradict the _truth_ which ye have alread... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _WHO IS A LIAR BUT HE THAT DENIETH THAT JESUS IS THE_ _CHRIST?_] Here we see some of the false doctrines which were then propagated in the world. There were certain persons who, while they acknowledged Jesus to be a _Divine teacher_, denied him to be the _Christ_, i.e. the MESSIAH. _HE I... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _WHOSOEVER DENIETH THE SON_] He who denies Jesus to be the Son of God, and consequently the Christ or Messiah, _he hath_ _not the Father_-he can have no birth from above, he cannot be enrolled among the children of God, because none can be a child of God but by faith in Christ Jesus. _HE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _LET THAT THEREFORE ABIDE IN YOU_] Continue in the doctrines concerning the incarnation, passion, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of the Lord Jesus, which you have heard preached from the beginning by us his apostles. _YE ALSO SHALL CONTINUE IN THE SON, AND IN THE FATHER.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _THIS IS THE PROMISE_] God has promised eternal life to all who believe on Christ Jesus. So they who receive his doctrine, and continue in communion with the Father and the Son, shall have this eternal life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _THESE_ THINGS _HAVE I WRITTEN_] Either meaning the whole epistle, or what is contained in the preceding verses, from the beginning of the 18th to the end of the 25th. 1 John 2:18 _THEM THAT SEDUCE YOU._] Περι των πλανωντων ὑμας· That is, the _deceivers that were among them_, and who wer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _BUT THE ANOINTING WHICH YE HAVE RECEIVED_] That _ointment_, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, mentioned John 2:20, where see the note. _YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU_] The _Gnostics_, who pretended to the highest illumination, could bring no proof that they were divinely taught, nor ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _AND NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN_] τεκνια, _Beloved children,_ _abide in him_-in Christ Jesus. Let his word and spirit continually abide in you, and have communion with the Father and the Son. _THAT WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR_] To judge the world, _we may have_ _confidence_, παρρησιαν, _freedom of spe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 John 2:29. _IF YE KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS_] That God is a holy God, _ye know_ also, _that every one who doeth righteousness_-who lives a holy life, following the commandments of God, _is born of_ _him_, BEGOTTEN _of him_-is made a partaker of the Divine nature, without which he could neith... [ Continue Reading ]