1 John 2:7-10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:8

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 Sohar, p. 94, n. 51, that may cast some light on this passage: That way in which the just have walked, although it be Old, yet may be said to be New in the love of the righteous. The love that the righteous bear... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:9

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; and, whatever he may pretend, is in heathen ignorance, or even worse than heathen ignorance, to the present time, notwithstanding the clear shining of the light of the Gospel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:10

He that loveth his brother - That is, his neighbor, 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 in him, that he retains the grace of his justification, and grows therein. And there is none occasion of stumbling in him - Και σκανδαλον εν αυτῳ ουκ εστιν· And there is no stumbling block in him; he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:7

Verse 7 7Brethren, I write no new commandment This is an explanation of the preceding doctrine, that to love God is to keep his commandments. And not without reason did he largely dwell on this point. First, we know that novelty is disliked or suspected. Secondly, we do not easily undertake an unwonted yoke. In addition to these things, when we have embraced any kind of doctrine, we dislike to have anything changed or made new in it. For these reasons John reminds us, that he taught nothing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:8

Verse 8 8Again, a new commandment Interpreters do not appear to me to have attained the meaning of the Apostle. He says new, because God, as it were, renews it by daily suggesting it, so that the faithful may practice it through their whole life, for nothing more excellent can be sought for by them. The elements which children learn give place in time to what is higher and more solid. On the contrary, John denies that the doctrine respecting brotherly love is of this kind, is one which grows... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:9

Verse 9 9He that saith he is in the light He pursues the same metaphor. He said that love is the only true rule according to which our life is to be formed; he said that this rule or law is presented to us in the Gospel; he said, lastly, that it is there as the meridian light, which ought to be continually looked on. Now, on the other hand, he concludes that all are blind and walk in darkness who are strangers to love. But that he mentioned before the love of God and now the love of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:10

Verse 10 John says in 1 John 3:11, that we falsely boast of love to God, except we love our brethren; and this is most true. But he now takes love to the brethren as a testimony by which we prove that we love God. In short, since love so regards God, that in God it embraces men, there is nothing strange in this, that the Apostle, speaking of love, should refer at one time to God, at another to the brethren; and this is what is commonly done in Scripture. The whole perfection of life is often... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:7

Beloved; ἀγαπητοί , not ὀδελφοί , is the true reading. Addresses of this kind commonly introduce a fresh division of the subject, main or subordinate. Thus ἀγαπητοί ( 1 John 4:1 , 1 John 4:7 ); τεκνία ( 1 John 2:1 ); παιδία ( 1 John 2:18 ); ἀδελφοί ( 1 John 3:13 ). Sometimes, however, they introduce an earnest conclusion ( 1 John 2:28 ; 1 John 3:21 ; 1 John 5:21 ). In 1 John 4:11 ἀγαπητοί introduces a conclusion which serves as a fresh... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:7-11

Love and light. Connecting link: The word "ought" ( 1 John 2:6 ) implies a command explicitly given or implicitly involved in other teaching; such is the case here. The Son of God has come. And from him as the Light the command has proceeded. What specific form the commandment has taken from his lips is the main teaching of this paragraph. Hence our theme— The commandment, old and yet new, brought by him who is the Light. The "connecting links" which are traceable in the writings... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:7-11

The commandment of brotherly love. I. THE COMMANDMENT OLD . "Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the Word which ye heard." The commandment indicated in the previous verse, viz. to walk as Christ walked, is in this paragraph identified with the commandment of brotherly love. His heart warming to his readers, he addresses them as "beloved." What he has in his mind to lay upon them by his letter was... read more

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