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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 2:7-11

The seventh verse may be supposed either to look backward to what immediately preceded (and then it is walking as Christ walked that is here represented as no new, but an old commandment; it is that which the apostles would certainly inculcate wherever they brought Christ's gospel), or to look forward to what the apostle is now going to recommend, and that is the law of fraternal love; this is the message heard from the beginning (1 John 3:11), and the old commandment, 2 John 1:5. Now, while... read more

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 2:9-11

2:9-11 He who says that he is in the light, and who at the same time hates his brother, is still in the darkness. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is nothing in him which makes him stumble. He who hates his brother is in the darkness and he is walking in darkness, and he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. The first thing which strikes us about this passage is the way in which John sees personal relationships in terms of black... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:9-11

John has something further to say. As he sees it, our attitude to our brother man has an effect not only on him but also on ourselves. (i) If we love our brother, we are walking in the light and there is nothing in us which causes us to stumble. The Greek could mean that, if we love our brother, there is nothing in us which causes others to stumble and, of course, that would be perfectly true. But it is much more likely that John is saying that, if we love our brother, there is nothing in us... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:10

He that loveth his brother ,.... As such, and because he is his brother in Christ, and that cordially and sincerely, without hypocrisy and dissimulation, and by love serves him, both in things temporal and spiritual, and so observes the new, and yet old commandment, abideth in the light : it is a plain case, that such a man is in the light of grace, and continues in it; for though it is not his love to the brethren which is the cause of his light, of his being and continuing in it, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:11

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness ,.... As is before expressed in 1 John 2:9 , to which is added, and walketh in darkness ; he goes on in it, and takes delight in it, as dangerous and uncomfortable as it is: and knoweth not whither he goeth ; he cannot discern between good and evil; he puts darkness for light, and light for darkness; he sees not what is before him, nor what stumblingblocks lie in the way; he is not aware of the snares, pits, and traps he is in danger of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:12

I write unto you, little children ,.... By whom the apostle means in common all the saints he writes to, whom he afterwards distributes into fathers, young men, and little children; for the same word is used here as in 1 John 2:1 ; and a different one from that which is rendered little children in 1 John 2:13 ; and besides, the following blessing of pardon of sin is common to all the children of God of different ages: now what the apostle says he writes unto them, intends not the epistle... read more

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