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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:19

Hereby we know that we are of the truth - That we have the true religion of the Lord Jesus, and shall assure our hearts - be persuaded in our consciences, that we have the truth as it is in Jesus; as no man can impose upon himself by imagining he loves when he does not: he may make empty professions to others, but if he loves either God or man, he knows it because he feels it; and love unfelt is not love, it is word or tongue. This the apostle lays down as a test of a man's Christianity, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:20

If our heart condemn us - If we be conscious that our love is feigned, we shall feel inwardly condemned in professing to have what we have not. And if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, for he knows every hypocritical winding and turning of the soul, he searches the heart, and tries the reins, and sees all the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of the heart which we cannot see, and, if we could see them, could not comprehend them; and as he is the just Judge, he will... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:18

Verse 18 18.Let us not love in word There is a concession in this first clause; for we cannot love in tongue only; but as many falsely pretend this, the Apostle concedes, according to what is often done, the name of the thing to their dissimulation, though, in the second clause, he reproves their vanity, when he denies that there is reality except in the deed. For thus ought the words to be explained, — Let us not profess by the tongue that we love, but prove it by the deed; for this is the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:19

Verse 19 19And hereby we know, or, by this we know. The word truth, he takes now in a different sense; but there is a striking similarity in the words, — If we, in truth, love our neighbors, we have an evidence that we are born of God, who is truth, or that the truth of God dwells in us. But we must ever remember, that we have not from love the knowledge which the Apostle mentions, as though we were to seek from it the certainty of salvation. And doubtless we know not otherwise that we are the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:20

Verse 20 20.For if our heart condemn us He proves, on the other hand, that they in vain possess the name and appearance of Christians, who have not the testimony of a good conscience. For if any one is conscious of guilt, and is condemned by his own heart, much less can he escape the judgment of God. It hence follows, that faith is subverted by the disquiet of an evil conscience. He says, that God is greater than our heart, with reference to judgment, that is, because he sees much more keenly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:13-24

Hate and death contrasted with love and life ( 1 John 3:13-15 ); generous love, which has its pattern in the self-sacrifice of Christ ( 1 John 3:16 , 1 John 3:17 ); sincere love, which is the ground of our boldness toward God, who has commanded us to love ( 1 John 3:18-24 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:13-24

The sign of brotherly love. I. LOVE TO BE TRACED TO A SAVING CHANGE . 1 . Not to be expected in the world. "Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you." Cain hated Abel; after the same fashion the world hates Christ's people. Our Lord, whom John here echoes, points to the fact of his being hated before his people, and then adds, "If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:16-18

Love others, for God hath loved thee! Connecting link: The great contrast has been presented between the love abiding in those who have passed from death unto life and the enmity abiding in the world. That hatred has been illustrated by a reference to Cain, and believers are told they must not be surprised if the murderous spirit still survives. The apostle then reverts to his favourite theme—love. He seems to say, "As for us, we have learnt a different lesson. We have come to know ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:16-18

The exhibition and obligation of true love. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us," etc. Our subject naturally divides itself into two main branches. I. THE EXHIBITION OF THE NATURE OF TRUE LOVE . "Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us." "The meaning is not," as Ebrard says, "wherein we (subjectively) have perceived love, but in what (objectively) the nature of love consists." 1 . It is of the nature of love... read more

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