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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 2:12-17

This new command of holy love, with the incentives thereto, may possibly be directed to the several ranks of disciples that are here accosted. The several graduates in the Christian university, the catholic church, must be sure to preserve the bond of sacred love. Or, there being an important dehortation and dissuasion to follow, without the observance of which vital religion in the love of God and love of the brethren cannot subsist, the apostle may justly seem to preface it with a solemn... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:12-14

2:12-14 I am writing to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you through his name. I am writing to you, fathers, Because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, Because you have overcome the Evil One. I have written to you, little ones, Because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, And... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:12-14

The second problem which confronts us is more difficult, and also more important. John uses three titles of the people to whom he is writing. He calls them little children; in 1 John 2:12 the Greek is teknia ( Greek #5040 ) and in 1 John 2:13 paidia ( Greek #3816 ); teknia ( Greek #5040 ) indicates a child young in age and paidia ( Greek #3816 ) a child young in experience, and, therefore, in need of training and discipline. He calls them fathers. He calls them young men.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:12-14

This passage finely sets out God's gifts to all men in Jesus Christ. (i) There is the gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. This was the essential message of the gospel and of the early preachers. They were sent out to preach repentance and remission of sins ( Luke 24:47 ). It was Paul's message at Antioch in Pisidia that to men there was proclaimed through Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins ( Acts 13:38 ). To be forgiven is to be at peace with God and that is precisely the gift that... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:15-17

2:15-17 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything that is in the world--the flesh's desire, the eye's desire, life's empty pride--does not come from the Father but comes from the world. And the world is passing away, and so is its desire; but he who does God's will abides for ever. It was characteristic of ancient thought to see the world in terms of two conflicting principles. We see this very vividly... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:15-17

John has two things to say about the man who loves the world and compromises with it. First, he sets out three sins which are typical of the world. (i) There is the flesh's desire. This means far more than what we mean by sins o the flesh. To us that expression has to do exclusively with sexual sin. But in the New Testament the flesh is that part of our nature which. when it is without the grace of Jesus Christ, offers a bridgehead to sin. It includes the sins of the flesh but also all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:13

I write unto you, fathers ,.... Not merely in age, though they might be men in years who are here intended, or only with respect to their long standing in the church, which might be the case; though persons may be in years, and of a long standing in the church, and yet be children in knowledge and experience: but here it designs such, who, in comparison of others, were perfect, and were spiritual, and judged all things; had a well informed and established judgment in divine things, and were,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers ,.... This, with the reason annexed to it, is repeated, to raise the attention of the aged servants of Christ, and to quicken them to a discharge of their duty, who are apt to abate in their zeal, to grow lukewarm and indifferent, to cleave to the world, and to the things of it, which they are cautioned against in 1 John 2:15 . The whole of this, with the reason, because ye have known him that is from the beginning , is left out in the Vulgate Latin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:15

Love not the world ,.... The habitable earth, the world in which men live; this is not to be loved by saints, as if it was their habitation, where they are always to be, and so loath to remove from it, seeing they are but sojourners, and pilgrims, and strangers here; this is not their rest, nor dwellingplace, their continuing city, or proper country, that is heaven. Nor should they love the men of the world, who are as they came into it, are of it, and mind the things of it, and lie in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world ,.... This is the sum of the evil things in the world; or these following are the objects of sin in the world, or about which wicked men are conversant; even such as are carnal or grateful to the flesh, visible to the eye, and belong to this vain life, or serve to fill with pride and vanity; or these are the main things, which men that love the world most highly value and esteem: the lust of the flesh ; by which is meant, not lust in general, or... read more

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