1 John 2:8-11 NIV

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:7-8

2:7-8 Beloved, it is not a new commandment which I am writing to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning, the old commandment is the word which you heard. Again, it is a new commandment which I am writing to you, a thing which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the light is now shining. Beloved is John's favourite address to his people (compare 1 John 3:2 ; 1 John 3:21 ; 1 John 4:1 ; 1 John 4:7 ; 3 John 1:1-2 ; 3 John 1:5 ; ... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:7-8

John goes on to say that this commandment of love is true in Jesus Christ and true in the people to whom he is writing. To John, as we have seen, truth was not only something to be grasped with the mind; it was something to be done. What he means is that the commandment to love one another is the highest truth; in Jesus Christ we can see that commandment in all the glory of its fullness; in him that commandment is true; and in the Christian we can see it, not in the fullness of its truth but... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:8

Again, a new commandment I write unto you ,.... Which is the same with the former, considered in different respects. The command of brotherly love is a new one; that is, it is an excellent one, as a new name is an excellent name, and a new song is an excellent one; it is renewed by Christ under the Gospel dispensation; it is newly explained by him, and purged from the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees; see Matthew 5:43 ; and enforced by him with a new argument, and by a new... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:9

He that saith he is in the light ,.... Is in Christ the light, or has the true knowledge of the light of the Gospel, or is illuminated by the Spirit of God; for persons may profess to be enlightened ones, and not be so: wherefore the apostle does not say, he that is in the light, but he that says he is, and hateth his brother ; who is so either by creation, as all men are brethren, having one Father, that has made them, and brought them up; or by regeneration, being born of God the... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:8

Which thing is true in him and in you - It is true that Christ loved the world so well as to lay down his life for it; and it was true in them, in all his faithful followers at that time, who were ready to lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus. There is a saying in Synopsis Sohar, p. 94, n. 51, that may cast some light on this passage: That way in which the just have walked, although it be Old, yet may be said to be New in the love of the righteous. The love that the righteous bear... read more

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:7-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:7-8

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:9

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 2:8

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