1 John 2:3-6 NIV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:3

Verse 3 3And hereby, or by this. After having treated of the doctrine respecting the gratuitous remission of sins, he comes to the exhortations which belong to it, and which depend on it. And first indeed he reminds us that the knowledge of God, derived from the gospel, is not ineffectual, but that obedience proceeds from it. He then shews what God especially requires from us, what is the chief thing in life, even love to God. What we read here of the living knowledge of God, the Scripture does... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:4

Verse 4 4He that saith, I know him How does he prove that they are liars who boast that they have faith without piety? even by the contrary effect; for he has already said, that the knowledge of God is efficacious. For God is not known by a naked imagination, since he reveals himself inwardly to our hearts by the Spirit. Besides, as many hypocrites vainly boast that they have faith, the Apostle charges all such with falsehood; for what he says would be superfluous, were there no false and vain... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:5

Verse 5 5But whoso keepeth He now defines what a true keeping of God’s law is, even to love God. This passage is, I think, incorrectly explained by those who understand that they please the true God who keephis word. Rather take this as its meaning, “to love God in sincerity of heart, is to keep his commandments.” For he intended, as I have before reminded you, briefly to shew what God requires from us, and what is the holiness of the faithful. Moses also said the same thing, when he stated the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:6

Verse 6 6He that saith he abideth in him As he has before set before us God as light for an example, he now calls us also to Christ, that we may imitate him. Yet he does not simply exhort us to imitate Christ; but from the union we have with him, he proves that we ought to be like him. A likeness in life and deeds, he says, will prove that we abide in Christ. But from these words he passes on to the next clause, which he immediately adds respecting love to the brethren. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:1-6

Sin supposed: sin dealt with. There is here a contrast to the statement in the last verse of the first chapter. There, a man was supposed to deny the commission of sin. Here, the apostle supposes its existence, and shows how God has dealt with it. We have here— I. DIVINE PROVISION AGAINST EXPERIENCE OF SIN IN BELIEVERS , 1 . Advocacy as far as our need for it is concerned. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye may not sin. And if any man... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3

And herein we perceive that we know him, if we keep his commandments γινώσκομεν , we come to know, we recognize; ἐγνώκαμεν , we have come to know, we know). The token of our having this knowledge is stated hypothetically; not because, but if, we obey. To serve under another and obey him is one of the best ways of knowing his character. The knowledge is no mere intellectual apprehension, such as the Gnostic, postulated, but a moral and spiritual affection and activity. It is possible... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3-5

Verification verified; or, knowing that we know God. Connecting link: The redemption effected by Christ in doing away with sin restores the lost fellowship between us and God. In the act of fellowship we come to a heart-knowledge of God; and this true knowledge of God is constantly being verified by a life of obedience. Topic— Certitude in the knowledge of God. The closer our study of the Word of God, and the more minute our investigation of its phrases and words, the more striking... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3-5

The true knowledge of God and its infallible proof. "And hereby we know that we know him," etc. We have in our text— I. AN EXALTED SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT . To "know him," i.e., God. This is not to be altered and weakened into knowing certain doctrines concerning him; it is the knowledge of God himself. We may know, or think that we know, much about him, without knowing himself. This knowledge of God is not intellectual, but moral and spiritual. It is not the trained and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3-6

Thirdly, walking in the light involves obedience. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:4

The participial substantive ὁ λέγων now takes the place of ἐάν with the subjunctive, but the two are equivalent (cf. 1 John 1:6 , which is almost exactly parallel to this, and shows what "knowing him" really is, viz. having fellowship with him, just as not keeping his commandments is the same as walking in darkness). St. John says, μὴ τηρῶν , not, οὐ τηρῶν , the case being hypothetical—if there be such a man, he is a liar, and has no idea of truth (see on 1 John 1:8 ). He... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:3-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 2:4

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