1Christ is our advocate with the Father, and a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. 3Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments: 7the chief of which is to love one another. 12The apostle addresseth Christians of various ages separately, 15and warneth them against an inordinate love of this world: 18and against deceivers, who were many. 20He sheweth the means they had of knowing the truth, and of distinguishing false teachers; and pointeth out their obligation to abide in the truth which they had been taught. 29He that doeth righteousness is born of God.
1MY 1little children, these things write I unto you, 2that ye sin not. 3And if any man sin, 4we have ana5advocate 6with the Father, Jesus Christ 7the righteous:
1 These words he uses to show his kindness towards them, as Christ does in John 13:33; and calls believers by this name, not only because he had, as it were, begotten many of them by the preaching of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 4:15; Philemon verse 10, but also because of his great age.
2 That is, not that you would misuse this doctrine, thereupon to sin the more freely.
3 Or, but.
4 That is, that you might know, and therewith comfort yourselves, that we have, etc.
a 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25.
5 Gr. paracleton, which title properly signifies an advocate or intercessor who defends and carries on anyone’s cause in judgment; and it is here ascribed to Christ, because He intercedes for us with the Father, Rom. 8:34.
6 Namely, Whom we have provoked with our sins.
7 As such He is surnamed, Isa. 53:11; Zech. 9:9; Acts 7:52, because He was without any sin. See 1 John 3:5 and therefore suitable to be our Advocate, Heb. 7:26; 1 Peter 3:18.
2And he is theb8propitiation 9for our sins: and not 10for ours only, but also for the sins of 11thec whole world.
b Rom. 3:25; 2 Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:20; 1 John 4:10.
8 Gr. hilasmos; Propitiation, that is, Propitiator; as in the same sense Paul calls Him hilasterion, that is, Propitiatory, Rom. 3:25. See the annotation at Rom. 3 on verse 25. And He is here called the Propitiation itself, because He offered up Himself for a propitiation, John 17:19; Heb. 10:14, and because He only and perfectly has reconciled us to God, Heb. 9:28.
9 Namely, because He, bearing punishment for the same in our stead and thereby satisfying the justice of God, pacifies the wrath of God and so reconciles God to men, 2 Cor. 5:21.
10 Namely, the apostles and other believers who now live.
11 That is, of all people in the entire world out of all nations, who shall yet believe in Him, John 11:52; Rev. 5:9. For, that He does not reconcile unto God all and every person in the entire world, appears both by experience, and also this, that He prayed not to the Father for all and everyone, John 17:9, but only for them who shall believe in Him, John 17:20.
c John 4:42; 1 John 4:14.
3And hereby we do know that we 12know 13him, if we 14keep his commandments.
12 Namely, in this manner that we have acknowledged Him for our Savior, love Him, put our trust in Him, and obey Him. For this word here, as also oftentimes elsewhere, signifies more than a simple knowledge. See Psalm 1:6; Mat. 7:23; 2 Tim. 2:19.
13 Namely, Jesus Christ.
14 That is, observe them, namely, with true diligence and zeal; although this is not done altogether perfectly in this life. See 1 John 1:8.
4Hed that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth 15is not in him.
d 1 John 4:20.
15 This expounds the foregoing by way of contraposition, which this apostle uses oftentimes.
5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is 16the love of God 17perfected: 18herebye know we that we are 19in him.
16 Namely, whereby we love God.
17 Or, fulfilled, that is, becomes a sincere and true love, which has all its parts. See 1 John 4:12, 18. For, that neither our faith nor our love is perfect in this life in all degrees, Paul teaches, 1 Cor. 13:9; and John in 1 John 1:8.
18 Gr. herein, namely, by the keeping of God’s Word, and when our love is made perfect.
e John 13:35.
19 That is, have communion with Him and with His benefits.
6He that saith he abideth 20in him oughtf himself also so to walk, even 21as he walked.
20 That is, is and will remain in His communion. See John 6:56.
f John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21.
21 That is, holy according to the example of His life, although we cannot in all things perfectly follow the same, 1 John 1:8.
7Brethren, I write 22nog new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had 23from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
22 Namely, while by this my writing I propound and earnestly imprint into you the commandment of loving our neighbor, which is not new, seeing the same is not only propounded in the Old Testament, Lev. 19:17, 18, but also was always pressed strongly from the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel, Mat. 5:44; John 15:12; Rom. 12:10; 13:8.
g 2 John verse 5.
23 That is, since you were called to the knowledge of Christ.
824Again, 25a newh commandment I write unto you, 26which thing is true in him and 27in you: 28because 29the darkness is past, and 30the true light now 31shineth.
24 Or, contrariwise.
25 That is, which is propounded and pressed in a new manner by Christ and His apostles, is confirmed by His own example and special love, and is written in the hearts of believers by the Spirit of God, according to the promises of the new covenant, Jer. 31:33. See the annotation at John 13 on verse 34.
h John 13:34; 15:12.
26 That is, the love which is truly in Christ towards us, let this be also truly in you. See John 13:34.
27 The word is could be inserted here.
28 Or, that the darkness, etc.
29 Namely, of ignorance and ungodliness, which was previously in the world before the Gospel was preached. See the like, Rom. 13:12; 1 Thes. 5:4; 1 Peter 2:9.
30 Namely, of the saving knowledge of God, and of His promises and commandments, Eph. 5:8; 1 John 1:7; 2:9.
31 Namely, in the doctrine of the Gospel, which we proclaim.
9He that saith he is 32in the light, and hateth his brother, 33is in darkness even until now.
32 That is, knows and embraces the doctrine of the Gospel.
33 That is, he remains still in the foregoing ignorance and blindness; and for this cause he is not a true Christian.
10Hei that loveth his brother abidethj in the light, and there is none occasion of 34stumbling in him.
i 1 John 3:14.
j John 12:35.
34 Or, offense. Gr. scandalon; which signifies a stone, or something alike, which lies in the way whereat men stumble, and whereby they are made to fall, which is easily done when men walk in darkness; but he who walks in the light can easily avoid such a stumblingblock, if he looks well before him, which the apostle here says that true believers do. See likewise, Psalm 119:165; John 11:9, 10.
11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not 35whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
35 Namely, whether he goes the right way or not. Or, knoweth not that he goeth unto his own destruction.
12 Ik write unto you, 36little children, 37because your sins are forgiven you 38for his name's sake.
k Luke 24:47; Acts 4:12; 13:38.
36 As before in verse 1. Here it does not begin yet the divisions according to their age, but in the following verse.
37 Or, that your sins are forgiven. So also verses 13, 14.
38 That is, for Jesus Christ’s sake. See Acts 4:12; 10:43, and the annotations at Acts 4 on verse 12; Acts 10 on verse 43.
13I write unto you, 39fathers, because ye have known 40him that is 41from the beginning. I write unto you, 42young men, because ye have overcome 43the wicked one. I write unto you, 44little children, because ye have known 45the Father.
39 That is, ancient persons, who by your years have gotten great knowledge.
40 Namely, Jesus Christ.
41 Namely, of the world, that is, from eternity. See 1 John 1:1.
42 Namely, who are in the best and strongest of your life, and fit for striving.
43 That is, the devil, Mat. 6:13; 13:19.
44 Namely, who are yet young in years, whose duty and honor is rightly to know, to respect, and to love their parents.
45 Namely, of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is also become our Father for Christ’s sake, John 20:17.
14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because 46ye are strong, and 47the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
46 That is, even as young men are commonly strong of body, so must they also be strong in faith to fight against the devil, 1 Peter 5:9.
47 Namely, which is the spiritual sword, wherewith you must fight against the devil, Eph. 6:17.
15Lovel not 48the world, neither the things that are in the world. Ifm any man love the world, 49the love of the Father 50is not in him.
l Rom. 12:2.
48 That is, the things beside the true knowledge and service of God in this world, which are greatly esteemed, desired and sought after by worldly men, which are expressed in the following verse. See James 4:4.
m Gal. 1:10; James 4:4.
49 Namely, wherewith we love God the Father.
50 Namely, forasmuch as these two loves extend themselves to things which are contrary one to another, they cannot be together, and one love expels the other. See Mat. 6:24.
16For 51all that is in the world, 52the lust of the flesh, and 53the lust of the eyes, and 54the pride of life, 55is not of the Father, but is 56of the world.
51 That is, all that worldly men love and seek after, are contained in these three kinds, which are here expressed.
52 That is, pleasure. See Rom. 13:14.
53 That is, covetousness, and desire of riches, which is here called of the eyes, because the beholding of these goods stir up the desire of the same, and because the eyes of covetous persons are never satisfied therewith, but will have all what they see. See Prov. 27:20; Eccl. 4:8.
54 Or, haughtiness, that is, the ambition or pride which worldly men show every way in their state and life, in great costliness, pomp and exalting above their neighbor. The apostle, describing these sins, calls them by the name of lust, forasmuch as they proceed from innate corruption, James 1:15, to pluck them up as such by the root.
55 That is, is not implanted in the hearts of men by God, neither pleases God.
56 That is, out of the corrupt nature of worldly men.
17Andn57the world passeth away, and 58the lust thereof: but he 59that doeth the will of God 60abideth for ever.
n Psalm 90:10; Isa. 40:6; 1 Cor. 7:31; James 1:10; 4:14; 1 Peter 1:24.
57 That is, worldly people.
58 That is, all the goods and pleasures, whereunto the lust of the same extends itself.
59 Namely, in fleeing from these lusts and sins.
60 That is, shall have eternal life.
18Little children, 61it is the last time: ando as ye have heard that 62antichrist 63shall come, even now are there 64many antichrists; whereby we know 65that it is the last time.
61 That is, we live now in the last time of the world, of which it was foretold that antichrist shall come in the same, and many false teachers shall arise. See Mat. 24:5; 1 Cor. 10:11; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3.
o Mat. 24:5; 2 Thes. 2:3.
62 Gr. ho antichristos; which word signifies in general, anyone who under the name of being a Christian, sets himself against the doctrine of Christ’s Person and office; and in particular one among them of special eminency, which consists not in one person only, but in several succeeding one another in one state, or coming into one another’s room, as by the Emperor of Rome, is oftentimes understood, not only the Emperor who governs, but also all those who succeed one after another in the Empire. Here the apostle speaks of the antichrist by way of eminency, as the Greek particle ho gives to understand, who is described in 2 Thes. 2:3, etc., and generally in the Revelation of John.
63 That is, is come, or is, as it were, on the way to come. See 2 Thes. 2:7.
64 That is, many false teachers amongst Christians, who were forerunners of the great antichrist, and acted by one spirit, for here that word is taken in general and at large.
65 Namely, according to the predictions of Christ and the apostles, noted before.
1966Theyp67went 68out from us, but they were not 69of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have 70continued 71with us: butqthey went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not 72all of us.
66 Namely, these antichrists and false teachers.
p Psalm 41:9; Acts 20:30.
67 That is, came forth, arose and separated themselves from amongst us.
68 Namely, Christians, or christian assemblies.
69 That is, of the true and upright Christians, nor of the upright and sound teachers.
70 Namely, in the unity of the faith, and in the truth.
71 Namely, sincere Christians and teachers.
q 1 Cor. 11:19.
72 Namely, who call themselves Christians, and clothe their doctrine with the Name of Christ. See Mat. 7:21.
2073Butr ye have 74an unction 75from the Holy One, and ye know 76all things.
73 Gr. and. The apostle now shows believers the right means to escape the deceptions of the antichrists, namely, that they remain firm in the doctrine which they have once learned and received by the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
r Psalm 45:7; 133:2; 2 Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9.
74 Or, the ointment, whereby he understands the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit, whereby they were regenerated, and enlightened and strengthened with the saving knowledge of Christ, which is compared to the outpouring of a costly ointment. See Psalm 45:7; 133:2.
75 That is, from Christ Jesus, Who is so called, Psalm 16:10; Dan. 9:24; Acts 2:27. See the annotations there at Psalm 16 on verse 10; Daniel 9 on verse 24; Acts 2 on verse 27, and the reason, Heb. 7:26; from Him have all believers this gift, Joel 2:28; John 1:16; 14:26.
76 Namely, which are necessary for you to know unto salvation, and whereof I write unto you.
21I have not written unto you because ye know not 77the truth, 78but because ye know it, and that 79no lie is of the truth.
77 Namely, of the doctrine of the Gospel.
78 That is, to refresh the remembrance of that which you know, and thereby to strengthen you more and more in the truth against deceptions.
79 Gr. every lie is not of the truth, that is, because no lie, that is, no false doctrine is of the truth, that is, of the doctrine of the Gospel which we preach.
22Who is 80a liar but he that denieth that Jesus 81is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth 82the Father and 83the Son.
80 Namely, the principal false teacher.
81 Gr. is not, that is, who, denying the truth, says that Jesus is not the Christ, that is, the Messiah, the Anointed, the promised Savior. See John 20:31.
82 How the Father is denied, is further declared in the following verse.
83 The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is denied, not only in respect of His Person, when one denies either His Divine, or His true human nature, or the like; but also in respect of His office, when one denies that He is the Savior, or that He is the only and perfect Savior, and when one makes yet other mediators for salvation besides Him, etc.
23Whosoevers denieth the Son, the same 84hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
s Luke 12:9; 2 Tim. 2:12.
84 That is, denies sufficiently also the Father, forasmuch as the Father can neither be without His Son, nor rightly be known. See John 8:19; 10:30.
24Let 85that therefore abide in you, 86which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue 87in the Son, and in the Father.
85 That is, persevere ye steadfastly in the same.
86 Namely, of the pure doctrine of the Gospel, which, from the very first, was preached unto you by Christ and the apostles.
87 That is, in the true and saving doctrine of the Father, and of the Son. Or, in the communion of the Father and of the Son, 1 John 1:3.
25And this is 88the promise that he hath promised us, even 89eternal life.
88 That is, that which Christ has promised us in the Gospel.
89 See Mat. 19:29; 25:46; John 3:15, 16; 5:24; 6:33, 54; 10:10 and 17:2, and generally in the Gospel.
26These things have I written unto you concerning 90them that seduce you.
90 Namely, in order that you might so much the better and the more carefully take heed of their deception.
27Butt91the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not 92that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you 93of all things, and 94is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, 95ye shall abide 96in him.
t Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11.
91 That is, the same grace of the Holy Spirit, Whom Christ has given you, to enlighten you with the knowledge of the truth, as verse 20.
92 Namely, these things, seeing you know them already, or the grounds of christian doctrine, which you have already laid.
93 That is, of all these things; or, of all that is necessary for you to know unto salvation. See verse 20.
94 Namely, the anointing.
95 That is, so abide in Him. An Hebrew phrase; or he speaks thus to show the good confidence that he had of their steadfastness.
96 Namely, Christ, as appears from the following and the previous 24th verse.
28And now, little children, abide 97in him; that,u when he shall 98appear, we may have 99confidence, and not be 100ashamed 101before him at his coming.
97 Namely, Christ, that is, in His communion and doctrine, holding it fast by faith.
u Mark 8:38; 1 John 3:2.
98 Namely, in His coming to judgment, as the following words declare. See also 1 John 3:2.
99 Namely, to stand in His judgment before Him, trusting that He will not condemn, but absolve us.
100 Namely, as it shall occur to all unbelievers and ungodly persons.
101 Or, be not ashamed of Him.
29If ye know that 102he is righteous, ye know that every one 103that doeth righteousness is born 104of him.
102 Namely, God the Father, or Christ, of Whom he spoke in the foregoing words.
103 That is, who lives godly.
104 That is, is spiritually born again by Him. See 1 John 3:9.