1It is a mark of God's singular love toward us, that we are now called his sons, and designed for further happiness hereafter: 3and therefore we must obediently keep his commandments, 11and love one another with true brotherly kindness and actual beneficence.
1BEHOLD,a1what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we 2should be called 3the sons of God: therefore 4the world 5knoweth us not, because it knew 6him not.
a John 1:12.
1 Or, how great a love, that is, how great a benefit of His love towards us. He speaks thus to show the first cause of our blessedness, 1 John 4:10.
2 That is, we should be, namely, so that we have the name with the matter, verse 2. See the like, Luke 1:32.
3 Or, children of God; namely, by gracious adoption to be children and heirs of God, whereas before we were children of wrath. See Hosea 1:10; Rom. 8:14, 15, 16, 17. See also Eph. 1:5; 2:3.
4 That is, worldly and unbelieving persons; the multitude of those who are outside of Christ.
5 Namely, for children of God.
6 Namely, God, Who is our Father, John 16:3.
2Beloved, 7nowb are we the sons of God, 8andc it doth not 9yet appear 10what we shall be: butd we know that, when 11he shall appear, we shall be 12like him; for we shall see him 13as he is.
7 That is, in this life we have already the right of the state of God’s children, and the assurance of it, John 1:12.
b Isa. 56:5; John 1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 3:26; 4:6.
8 That is, but.
c Mat. 5:12; Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17.
9 That is, this glory, which is prepared for the children of God, is not yet made perfectly known to us, although some descriptions thereof are made here and there in Scripture.
10 That is, with how great glory we shall be endued.
d Philip. 3:21; Col. 3:4.
11 Namely, Christ, as appears out of 1 John 2:28 and Col. 3:4. Others understand thereupon it, namely, what we shall be.
12 Namely, in glory, in body and soul, yet so that Christ, the Head, as it is appropriate, shall far excel His members in glory. See the annotations at Philip. 3 on verse 21.
13 Namely, in His full glory, sitting at the right hand of His Father, which shall be a great part of our blessedness, Psalm 16:11; Rev. 22:4.
3And every man that hath 14this hope 15in him 16purifieth himself, even as 17he is pure.
14 Namely, that he shall enjoy the glory of the children of God.
15 That is, in Christ, that He shall bring him this glory at His return, as having merited the same for him.
16 That is, he does not misuse this hope to sin the more freely thereupon, but seeks after this that he may possess his body and soul, both which shall be so exceedingly glorified in purity and glory, 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Thes. 4:4.
17 Namely, Christ. See verse 5. That is, setting before himself the example of Christ as a pattern of purity, to imitate the same, although this cannot be done perfectly in this life.
4Whosoever committeth 18sin 19transgresseth also the law: fore sin is the 20transgression of the law.
18 That is, who gives himself to a sinful life, and permits sin to reign over him, as also verse 8 and some following; namely, whatever they may be, and how little so ever they may be esteemed by people.
19 That is, he commits the transgression of the law, or he breaks the law.
e 1 John 5:17.
20 Gr. anomia; whereby is signified whatsoever agrees not with the law, is contrary to the law, or breaks the law.
5Andf ye know that 21he 22was manifested to 23take away our sins; andg in him is no sin.
f Isa. 53:12; 1 Tim. 1:15.
21 Namely, Christ.
22 Namely, by His first coming in the flesh. See 1 John 1:2.
23 Or, take upon him to carry away. See the annotation at John 1 on verse 29.
g Isa. 53:9; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22.
624Whosoever abideth in him 25sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not 26seen him, neither known him.
24 That is, who has communion with Him by a true faith.
25 That is, he does not resort himself to an evil and sinful life; he does not permit sin to reign over him. For, otherwise true believers also sometimes indeed fall into sin, 1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 19:12; Prov. 20:9 James 3:2; 1 John 1:8. Therefore by the word to sin and to do sin, John understands here that which Paul calls walking after the flesh, Rom. 8:1, and being servants of sin, Rom. 6:17. See also John 8:34.
26 Namely, with the eyes of true faith, that is, not rightly known, as the following words declare.
7Little children, let no man 27deceive you: heh that doeth 28righteousness is 29righteous, even 30as he is righteous.
27 Namely, making you believe that true faith could exist with an evil and sinful life.
h 1 John 2:29.
28 This is opposed to doing sin, and therefore signifies to lead a godly and righteous life, and to be diligent and exercise one’s self in all good works.
29 That is, an upright and godly person, as this word is everywhere taken as such. See 1 Peter 3:12; 4:18; 2 Peter 2:7, 8.
30 This is not understood of such an equality which would agree in all things, for, such is unlike unto Christ amongst men; but such a likeness as there is, between a perfect pattern and between a work made according to it, although not perfectly expressing the pattern.
8He 31that committeth sin is 32of the devil; for the devil 33sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was 34manifested, that he might 35destroy 36the works of the devil.
31 That is, he who makes it his work to sin. See the exposition of verse 6.
32 That is, he takes after the devil, as children do after their fathers. See John 8:44.
33 That is, as he, immediately after he was created good, gave himself to sinning and continually abides and proceeds therein, so the unregenerate and ungodly men also do nothing else but sin.
34 Namely, in the flesh. See verse 5.
35 Gr. dissolve, or, undo; which He did when He suffered the punishment of the same for believers, Heb. 2:14, 15, and does it also when He regenerates them by His Spirit, whereby He delivers them from the dominion and slavery of sin, and makes of them a people who is zealous in good works, Titus 2:14.
36 That is, sin, whereof the devil was the first author.
937Whosoeveri is born of God 38doth not commit sin; forj39his seed 40remaineth in him: and he 41cannot sin, 42because he is born of God.
37 That is, regenerated by the Word and the Spirit of God. See John 1:13.
i 1 John 5:18.
38 See the annotation on verse 6.
j 1 Peter 1:23.
39 That is, God’s seed, whereby he is born again, namely, by the Word of God, John 3:5, 6; 1 Peter 1:23.
40 That is, does not totally perish, but works continually the fruits of regeneration, once begun in them, Philip. 1:6.
41 That is, gives himself unto a sinful life, as before in verses 6, 8.
42 Or, for he is born of God. For, by the grace of regeneration, the dominion of sin in him is taken away. Thus to be regenerated and to lead a sinful life, are inconsistent.
10In this the children of God are 43manifest, and the children of the devil: 44whosoever doeth not righteousness is not 45of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
43 That is, apparent, to discern and to distinguish one from another.
44 See verse 7.
45 Namely, born, or born again, verse 9.
11For this is 46the message that ye heard from the beginning, thatk we should love one another.
46 Or, declaration, which ye, etc. See 1 John 1:5.
k verse 23; John 13:34; 15:12.
12Not as Cain,l47who was of that wicked one, and 48slew 49his brother. And wherefore slew he him? 50Becausem his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
l Gen. 4:8.
47 That is, a child of the devil. See verse 10 and John 8:44.
48 Or, murdered.
49 Namely, Abel.
50 That is, of mere envy and ill-will, because he could not endure that God would give Abel, who lived godly, testimony that he was accepted with Him, and that Cain’s sacrifice displeased Him, seeing he led an evil life. See Heb. 11:4.
m Heb. 11:4.
1351Marveln not, my brethren, if 52the world hate you.
51 Namely, as if it was a strange and a thing unheard-of. For, that it was so from the beginning of the world, the example of Cain and Abel teaches this in the previous verse.
n John 15:18.
52 That is, worldly and unregenerate men.
14Weo know that we 53have passed 54from death unto life, 55because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
o 1 John 2:10.
53 That is, brought over, carried over, namely, by God, John 5:24; Col. 1:13.
54 That is, from spiritual and from eternal death.
55 Hereby is not shown the meritorious cause of life, but the evidence whereby we are assured of life. See Luke 7:47.
15Whosoever hateth his brother is a 56murderer: andp ye know that no murderer hath eternal life 57abiding in him.
56 Gr. a man-killer. Namely, before God, seeing in his heart, which God especially regards, he has, as much as in him lies, already murdered his neighbor. See Mat. 5:22.
p Mat. 5:21; Gal. 5:21.
57 That is, being, that is, it is not in him.
16Herebyq58perceive we 59the love of God, because 60he laid down 61his life for us: and we 62ought to lay down our 63lives for the brethren.
q John 15:13; Eph. 5:2.
58 In some copies it reads, we have known the love of God.
59 That is, the power and greatness of love.
60 Namely, Jesus Christ.
61 Gr. his soul. See Mat. 20:28; John 10:15, that is, died for us.
62 Namely, when the glory of God and the edification of the congregation and the necessity of our brethren requires this.
63 Gr. the souls, as before.
17Butr whoso hath this world’s 64good, and seeth his brother have need, and 65shutteth up 66his bowels of compassion 67from him, how 68dwelleth the love 69of God in him?
r Deut. 15:7; Luke 3:11; James 2:15.
64 Gr. the life, that is, livelihood, Mark 12:44; Luke 8:43; 21:4.
65 Namely, that he does not open the same to helpfulness and liberality.
66 Or, his heart. See Luke 1:78; 2 Cor. 7:15; Philip. 2:1; Philemon verse 7.
67 Or, before him, that is, that he does not assist him in his need.
68 That is, is, or, can be?
69 Here he mentions the love unto God, and not unto our neighbor, although he speaks here of the same, because we cannot love God, if we love not our neighbor. See 1 John 4:20, 21.
18My little children, let us not love 70in word, neither in tongue; but 71in deed and 72in truth.
70 Namely, only; as Rom. 2:28.
71 That is, by showing actually the works of love to our neighbor.
72 That is, uprightness of heart, without hypocrisy or ambition to be seen of men. See Mat. 6:1, etc.
19And 73hereby we know that we are 74of the truth, and shall 75assure 76our hearts 77before him.
73 Namely, by the manifestation of sincere love to our neighbor.
74 That is, are true and sincere Christians, who rightly understand, believe, and live according to the truth of the Gospel.
75 That is, set at ease; assuring ourselves by this evidence that we are true children of God. See verse 10, Mat. 5:45; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 4:6, 17.
76 That is, our conscience.
77 Namely, before Jesus Christ, Who shall judge us, that we may boldly stand before Him at His coming, and not be ashamed. See 1 John 2:28.
20For if 78our heart 79condemn us, 80God is 81greater than our heart, and 82knoweth all things.
78 That is, our conscience, everyone his own.
79 That is, accuse, convince and condemn us, that we do not sincerely love God and our neighbor, and therefore are no true Christians.
80 Or, God is truly greater, etc.
81 That is, mightier to condemn us.
82 That is, He knows all things and much better how it is with us than our own conscience. See Job 9:4; 11:6, etc.; 28:23, 24; Psalm 94:7, etc.; Isa. 40:13, etc.; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Heb. 4:13.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us 83not, then have we 84confidence 85toward God.
83 Namely, that we are hypocrites; but that the Holy Spirit witnesses with out spirit that we are true children of God, Rom. 8:16.
84 That is, a bold confidence, Heb. 4:16.
85 Namely, that He will acknowledge us for His true children.
22Ands86whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
s Jer. 29:12; Mat. 7:8; 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 14:13; 16:24; James 1:5; 1 John 5:14.
86 Namely, what is necessary for us unto salvation, and is agreeable to His will. See 1 John 5:14.
23Andt this is his commandment, 87That we should believe 88on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, andu love one another, as he gave us commandment.
t John 6:29; 17:3.
87 That is, that we must believe, etc.
88 That is, in His Son Jesus Christ. See 1 John 2:12.
u Lev. 19:18; Mat. 22:39; John 13:34; 15:12; Eph. 5:2; 1 Thes. 4:9; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:21.
24Andv he that keepeth his commandments 89dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, 90by the Spirit which he hath given us.
v John 14:23; 15:10; 1 John 4:12.
89 That is, has intimate communion with Him. See 1 John 1:3.
90 That is, by the testimony, the operation, and moving of the Holy Spirit. See Rom. 8:9, 14, 15, 16.