1 John 1:5-10,James 4:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light ,.... Are persons enlightened by the Spirit of God, so as to have a true sight and sense of sin, to know Christ, and the way of salvation by him; and are children of the light, and are going on and increasing in spiritual light and knowledge; walk on in Christ, the light, by faith, and in the light and truth of the Gospel, and as becomes it, and as children of light; and as such who are called out of darkness into marvellous light: as he is in the light ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:8

If we say that we have no sin ,.... Notwithstanding believers are cleansed from their sins by the blood of Christ, yet they are not without sin; no man is without sin: this is not only true of all men, as they come into the world, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity, and of all that are in a state of unregeneracy, and of God's elect, while in such a state, but even of all regenerated and sanctified persons in this life; as appears by the ingenuous confessions of sin made by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins ,.... Not to one other; for though it is our duty to confess our faults to our fellow creatures and fellow Christians which are committed against them, yet are under no obligation to confess such as are more immediately against God, and which lie between him and ourselves; or at least it is sufficient to confess and acknowledge in general what sinful creatures we are, without entering into particulars; for confession of sin is to be made to God, against whom it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:10

If we say that we have not sinned ,.... Have never sinned, in time past as well as now; deny original sin, and that men are born in sin, but affirm they come into the world pure and holy; and assert that concupiscence is not sin; and so not regarding internal lusts and desires as sinful, only what is external, fancy they have so lived as to have been without sin: but if any of us give out such an assertion, we make him a liar : that is, God, who in his word declares that the wicked are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:5

This then is the message - This is the grand principle on which all depends, which we have heard of απ ' αυτου , From him; for neither Moses nor the prophets ever gave that full instruction concerning God and communion with him which Jesus Christ has given, for the only-begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, has alone declared the fullness of the truth, and the extent of the blessings, which believers on him are to receive. See John 1:18 . God is light - The source of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:6

If we say that we have fellowship - Having fellowship, κοινωνια , communion, with God, necessarily implies a partaking of the Divine nature. Now if a man profess to have such communion, and walk in darkness - live an irreligious and sinful life, he lies, in the profession which he makes, and does not the truth - does not walk according to the directions of the Gospel, on the grace of which he holds his relation to God, and his communion with him. The Gnostics, against whose errors it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light - If, having received the principle of holiness from him, we live a holy and righteous life, deriving continual light, power, and life from him, then we have fellowship one with another; that is, we have communion with God, and God condescends to hold communion with us. This appears to be the intention of the apostle; and so he was understood by some versions and MSS., which, instead of μετ ' αλληλων , with each other, have μετ ' αυτον , with him. Those... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:8

If we say that we have no sin - This is tantamount to 1 John 1:10 ; : If we say that we have not sinned. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and therefore every man needs a Savior, such as Christ is. It is very likely that the heretics, against whose evil doctrines the apostle writes, denied that they had any sin, or needed any Savior. In deed, the Gnostics even denied that Christ suffered: the Aeon, or Divine Being that dwelt in the man Christ Jesus, according to them,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins - If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; he is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psalm 32:5 ; Proverbs 28:13 ; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him who believeth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:5

Verse 5 5This then is the message, or promise. I do not disapprove of the rendering of the old interpreter, “This is the annunciation,” or message; for though ἐπαγγελία means for the most part a promise, yet, as John speaks here generally of the testimony before mentioned, the context seems to require the other meaning, except you were to give this explanation, “The promise which we bring to you, includes this, or has this condition annexed to it.” Thus, the meaning of the Apostle would become... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:5

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