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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 2:3-6

These verses may seem to relate to the 1 John 1:7; between which and these verses there occurred an incidental discourse concerning the believer's duty and relief in case of sin, occasioned by the mention of one of the believer's privileges?his being cleansed from sin by the Mediator's blood. In that verse the apostle asserts the beneficial consequence of walking in the light: ?We have then fellowship with one another, such divine fellowship and communion as are the prerogative of the church... read more

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 2:3-6

2:3-6 And it is by this that we know that we have come to know him--if we keep his commandments. He who says, "I have come to know him" and who does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a man. The love of God is truly perfected in any man who keeps his word. This is the way in which we know that we are in him. He who claims that he abides in him ought himself to live the same kind of life as he lived. This passage deals in phrases and thoughts which were very... 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 2:3

And hereby we do know that we know him ,.... Either the Father, with whom Christ is an advocate; not as the God of nature, and by the light of it, nor as the lawgiver and Judge of the whole earth, and by the law of Moses; but as the God of all grace, as a God pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin, as the Father of Christ, and as in him by the Gospel; and this not in a mere notional and speculative way, but with love and affection; not with fear and trembling, as devils know him, nor in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:4

He that saith I know him ,.... God or Christ, as the Gnostics did, who pretended to great, even perfect, knowledge of divine things: and keepeth not his commandments ; which the above persons had no regard to, and as many who profess great light and knowledge in our days show no concern for: is a liar ; he contradicts what he says, and gives the lie to it; for though in words he professes to know God, in works he denies him, and which betrays his ignorance of him: and the truth is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:5

But whoso keepeth his word ,.... Either the word of the Gospel, and the truths of it, who receives it in love, cordially embraces and retains it, and will by no means part with it, but holds it fast, and stands fast in it; or the precepts and ordinances of the word, who loves these, and esteems them above fine gold, and concerning all things to be right, and observes them as they should be: in him verily is the love of God perfected : not the love wherewith God loves him, for that is... read more

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