1 John 1:7

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 1:6-7

1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with him and at the same time walk in darkness, we lie and are not doing the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other and the blood of Jesus Christ is steadily cleansing us from all sin. Here John is writing to counteract one heretical way of thought. There were those who claimed to be specially intellectually and spiritually advanced, but whose lives showed no sign of it. They claimed to have... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 1:6-7

As John sees it, there are two great tests of truth. (i) Truth is the creator of fellowship. If men are really walking in the light, they have fellowship one with another. No belief can be fully Christian if it separates a man from his fellow-men. No Church can be exclusive and still be the Church of Christ. That which destroys fellowship cannot be true. (ii) He who really knows the truth is daily more and more cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus. The Revised Standard Version is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 1:6-7

Four times in his letter John bluntly accuses the false teachers of being liars; and the first of these occasions is in this present passage. (i) Those who claim to have fellowship with the God who is altogether light and who yet walk in the dark are lying ( 1 John 1:6 ). A little later he repeats this charge in a slightly different way. The man who says that he knows God and yet does not keep God's commandments is a liar ( 1 John 2:4 ). John is laying down the blunt truth that the man... read more

John Gill

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

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

John Calvin

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

Verse 7 7But if we walk in the light. He now says, that the proof of our union with God is certain, if we are conformable to him; not that purity of life conciliates us to God, as the prior cause; but the Apostle means, that our union with God is made evident by the effect, that is, when his purity shines forth in us. And, doubtless, such is the fact; wherever God comes, all things are so imbued with his holiness, that he washes away all filth; for without him we have nothing but filth and... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:6-7

The condition and consequences of fellowship with God. "If we say that we have fellowship with him," etc. I. THE CONDITION OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD . St. John states this condition both negatively and positively. 1 . Negatively. "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. 2 . Positively. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another." "This walking in the light, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:7

The contrary hypothesis is now stated, and the thought is carried a stage further (cf. 1 John 1:9 ). He again speaks conditionally ἐάν , and does so until 1 John 2:3 ; after which the participial substantive ὁ λέγων ὀ ἀαπῶν ὁ μισῶν represents the conditional clause. The change of verbs is significant: we walk, God is, in the light. We move through time; he is in eternity. Our activity involves change; his does not. Like the sun, he both is Light and dwells in the light;... read more

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