1 John 1:5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 1:5-7

The apostle, having declared the truth and dignity of the author of the gospel, brings a message or report from him, from which a just conclusion is to be drawn for the consideration and conviction of the professors of religion, or professed entertainers of this glorious gospel. I. Here is the message or report that the apostle avers to come from the Lord Jesus: This then is the message which we have heard of him (1 John 1:5), of his Son Jesus Christ. As he was the immediate sender of the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 1:5

1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him, and which we pass on to you, that God is light, and there is no darkness in him. A man's own character will necessarily be determined by the character of the god whom he worships; and, therefore, John begins by laying down the nature of the God and Father of Jesus Christ whom Christians worship. God, he says, is light, and there is no darkness in him. What does this statement tell us about God? (i) It tells us that he is splendour... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 1:5

In God, says John, there is no darkness at all. Throughout the New Testament darkness stands for the very opposite of the Christian life. (i) Darkness stands for the Christless life. It represents the life that a man lived before he met Christ or the life that he lives if he strays away from him. John writes to his people that, now that Christ has come, the darkness is past and the true light shines ( 1 John 2:8 ). Paul writes to his Christian friends that once they were darkness but now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:5

This then is the message ,.... Of God by his Son the Word, or from Christ by his apostles. The Syriac version renders it, "this is the Gospel"; which is good news from a far country, a message sent from the King of kings to sinful men: or this is the annunciation, or declaration; that is, the thing declared, or showed. Some render it, "this is the promise", that whereas God is light, such who walk in the light shall have communion with him, and others shall not: which we have heard of him... 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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:5

This verse constitutes the text and basis of this division of the Epistle, especially on its positive side. And the message which we have heard… is this. Again we have a remarkable parallel between Gospel and Epistle; both begin with a καί (which connects the opening with the introduction in a simple and artless manner), and with the same kind of sentence: "And the witness of John is this." The reading ἐπαγγελία ( 1 John 2:25 , and frequent in the New Testament) must be rejected... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:5

The great message. "This then is the message which we have heard of him," etc. Notice two preliminary points. 1 . That the Christian minister has received message from the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke to his apostles and to many others. He revealed unto them God the Father, and the great truths concerning human redemption. He still speaks to us through the sacred Scriptures. 2 . That the Christian minister should announce this message to others. It is his duty not to preach the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:5-10

Message from Christ brought to bear on fellowship with God. I. NATURE OF GOD , "And this is the message which we have heard from him, and announce unto you, that God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all." Christ's message is supported by the conviction that he has a message to deliver. The apostolic message, which has still to be delivered, was received directly from the lips of Christ. It has particular reference to the nature of God, viz. his being Light, with which we are to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 1:5

This then is the message which we have heard of him - This is the substance of the announcement (ἐπαγγελία epangelia) which we have received of him, or which he made to us. The message here refers to what he communicated as the sum of the revelation which he made to man. The phrase “of him” (απ ̓ αὐτου ap' autou) does not mean respecting him, or about him, but from him; that is, this is what we received from his preaching; from all that he said. The peculiarity, the substance of all that he... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 1:5-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 1:5

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 1:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 1:5

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:5-10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 1:5

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