Reference: John, The Epistles of
Fausets
FIRST EPISTLE. Genuineness. Polycarp, John's disciple (ad Philippians 7), quotes 1Jo 4:3. Eusebius (H. E., iii. 39) says of Papias, John's hearer, "he used testimonies from the first epistle of John." Irenaeus (Eusebius, H. E., v. 8) often quoted it; he quotes (Haeres. iii. 15, sections 5,8) from John by name 1Jo 2:18; and in 1Jo 3:16, section 7 he quotes 1Jo 4:1-3; 5:1; 2Jo 1:7-8. Clement Alex. (Strom. ii. 66, p. 664) refers to 1Jo 5:16 as in John's larger epistle; compare Strom. iii. 32,42; iv. 102. Tertullian adv. Marcion, vi. 16, refers to 1Jo 4:1; adv. Praxean xv to 1Jo 1:1; also 1Jo 1:10, and contra Gnost. 12. Cyprian (Ep. 28:24) quotes 1Jo 2:3-4 as John's; and, de Orat. Domini, 5, quotes 1Jo 2:15-17; De opere et Eleemos. quotes 1Jo 1:8; De bono Patientiae quotes 1Jo 2:6.
Muratori's Fragment on the Canon states "there are two (the Gospel and epistle) of John esteemed universal," quoting 1Jo 1:3. The Peshito Syriac has it. Origen (Eusebius vi. 25) designates the first epistle genuine, and "probably second and third epistles, though all do not recognize the latter two"; he quotes 1Jo 1:5 (tom. 13 vol. 2). Dionysius of Alexandria, Origen's scholar, cites this epistle's words as the evangelist John's. Eusebius (H. E., iii. 24) says John's first epistle and Gospel are "acknowledged without question by those of the present day, as well as by the ancients." So Jerome (Catalog. Ecclesiastes Script.). Marcion opposed it only because it was opposed to his heresies. The Gospel and the first epistle are alike in style, yet evidently not mere copies either of the other. The individual notices, it being a universal epistle, are fewer than in Paul's epistles; but what there are accord with John's position.
He implies his apostleship (1Jo 2:7,26), alludes to his Gospel (Joh 1:1, compare Joh 1:14; 20:27), and the affectionate He uniting him as an aged pastor to his spiritual "children" (1Jo 2:18-19). In 1Jo 4:1-3 he alludes to the false teachers as known to his readers; in 1Jo 5:21 he warns them against the idols of the world around. Docetism existed in germ already, though the Docete by name appear first in the second century (Col 1:15-18; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 1:1-3). Hence 1Jo 4:1-3 denounces as "not of God every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" (compare Joh 2:22-23). Presciently the Spirit through John forearms the church against the coming heresy.
TO WHOM THE EPISTLES WERE ADDRESSED. Augustine (Quaest. Evang. 2:39) says it was addressed to the Parthians, i.e. the Christians beyond the Euphrates, outside the Roman empire, "the church at Babylon elected together with" (1Pe 5:13) the churches in the Ephesian region, where Peter sent his epistles (1Pe 1:1; Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia). As Peter addressed the Asiatic flock tended first by Paul, then by John, so John, Peter's close companion, addresses the flock among whom Peter was when he wrote. Thus "the elect lady" (2Jo 1:1) answers to "the church elected together."
TIME AND PLACE. This epistle is subsequent to the Gospel, for it assumes the reader's acquaintance with the Gospel facts and Christ's speeches, and His aspect as the incarnate Word God manifest in the flesh, set forth in John's Gospel. His fatherly tone addressing his "little children" implies it was written in old age, perhaps A.D. 90. The rise of antichristian teachers he marks as a sign of "the last time" (1Jo 2:18), no other "age" or dispensation will be until Christ comes; for His coming the church is to be ever waiting; Heb 1:2, "these last days." The region of Ephesus, where Gnostic heresy sprang up, was probably the place, and the latter part of the apostolic age the time, of writing. Contents. Fellowship with the Father and the Son is the subject and object (1Jo 1:3). Two divisions occur:
(1) 1 John 1:5 - 2:28, God is light without darkness; consequently, to have fellowship with Him necessitates walking in the light. Confession and consequent forgiveness of sins, through Christ's propitiation for the world and advocacy for believers, are a necessary preliminary; a further step is positive keeping God's commandments, the sum of which is love as contrasted with hatred, the sum of disobedience. According to their several stages of spiritual growth, children, fathers, young men, as respectively forgiven, knowing the Father, and having overcome the wicked one, John exhorts them not to love the world, which is incompatible with the indwelling of the Father's love. This anointing love dwelling in us, and our continuing to abide in the Son and in the Father, is the antidote against the antichristian teachers in the world, who are of the world, not of the church, and therefore have gone out from it.
(2) 1 John 2:29 - 5:5 handles the opening thesis: "He is righteous," therefore "every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him." Sonship involves present self purification, first because we desire now to be like Him, "even as He is pure," secondly because we hope hereafter to be perfectly like Him, our sonship now hidden shall be manifested, and we shall be made like Him when He shall be manifested (answering to Paul's Colossians 3), for our then "seeing him as He is" involves transfiguration into His likeness (compare 2Co 3:18; Php 3:21). In contrast, the children of the devil hate; the children of God love. Love assures of acceptance with God for ourselves and our prayers, accompanied as they are with obedience to His commandment to "believe on Jesus Christ, and love one another"; the seal is "the Spirit given us" (1Jo 3:24). In contrast (as in the first division), denial of Christ and adherence to the world characterize the false spirits (1Jo 4:1-6). The essential feature of sonship or birth of God is unslavish love to God, because God first loved us and gave His Son to die for us (1Jo 4:18-19), and consequent love to the brethren as being God's sons like ourselves, and so victory over the world through belief in Jesus as the Son of God (1Jo 5:4-5).
(3) 1Jo 5:6-21. Finally, the truth on which our fellowship with God rests is, Christ came by water in His baptism, the blood of atonement, and the witnessing Spirit which is truth, which correspond to our baptism with water and the Spirit, and our receiving the atonement by His blood and the witness of His Spirit. In the opening he rested this truth on his apostolic witness of the eye, the ear, and the touch; so at the close on God's witness, which the believer accepts, and by rejecting which the unbeliever makes God a liar. He adds his reason for writing (1Jo 5:13), corresponding to 1Jo 1:4 at the beginning, namely, that "believers may know they have (already) eternal life," the spring of "joy" (compare Joh 20:31), and so may have "confidence" in their prayers being answered (1Jo 5:14-15; compare 1Jo 3:22 in the second part), e.g. their intercessions for a brother sinning, provided his sin be not unto death (1Jo 5:16). He sums up with stating our knowledge of Him that is true, through His gift, our being in Him by virtue of being in His Son Jesus Christ; being "born of God" we keep ourselves so that the wicked one toucheth us not, in contrast to the world lying in the wicked one; therefore still, "little children, keep yourselves from idols" literal and spiritual.
STYLE. Aphorism and repetition of his own phrases abound. The affectionate hortatory tone, and the Hebraistic form which delights in parallelism of clauses (as contrasted with Paul's logical Grecian style), and his own simplicity of spirit dwelling fondly on the one grand theme, produce this repetition of fundamental truths again and again, enlarged, applied, and condensed by turns. Contemplative rather than argumentative, he dwells on the inner rather than the outer Christian life. The thoughts do not move forward by progressive steps, as in Paul, but in circles round one central thought, viewed now under the positive now under the negative aspect. His Lord's contrasted phrases in the Gospel John adopts in his epistles, "flesh," "spirit," "light," "darkness," "life," "death," "abide in Him"; "fellowship with the Father and Son, and with one another" is a phrase not in the Gospel, but in Acts and Paul's e
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Only be very firm and bold, taking heed to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee, do not turn aside therefrom, to the right hand or to the left, - that thou mayest prosper, whithersoever thou goest. This scroll of the law must not cease out of thy mouth, but thou must talk to thyself therein, day and night, that thou mayest take heed to do according to all that is written therein, - for, then, shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and, then, shalt thou have good success. read more. Have I not commanded thee, Be firm and bold, do not start nor be dismayed, - for, with thee, is Yahweh thy God, whithersoever thou goest? So then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying:
Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses hath given you over the Jordan, - but, ye, shall pass over, armed, before your brethren, - all ye mighty men of valour, and shall help them;
Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.
And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory, - a glory, as an Only-begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth.
When, therefore, he had been raised from among the dead, his disciples remembered, that, this, he had been saying; and they believed in the Scripture, and in the word which Jesus had spoken. Now, when he was in Jerusalem, during the passover, during the feast, many, believed on his name, viewing his signs which he was doing.
Then, saith he unto Thomas - Reach thy finger hither, and see my hands, and reach thy hand, and press into my side, - and become not disbelieving, but believing.
but, these, are written, that ye may believe that, Jesus, is, the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, ye may have life in his name.
There saluteth you - Gaius, my host and the host of the whole assembly. There salute you - Erastus, the steward of the city, and Quartus the brother.
And, we all, with unveiled face, receiving and reflecting, the glory of the Lord, into the same image, are being transformed, from glory into glory, - even as from a Spirit that is Lord.
Who will transfigure our humbled body, into conformity with his glorified body, according to the energy wherewith he is able even to subdue, unto himself, all things.
In whom, we have our redemption - the remission of our sins, - Who, is an image of the unseen God, Firstborn of all creation, - read more. Because, in him, were created all things in the heavens and upon the earth, the things seen and the things unseen, whether thrones or lordships or principalities or authorities, - they all, through him and for him, have been created, And, he, is before all, and, they all, in him, hold together; And, he, is the head of the body, the assembly, Who is the beginning, Firstborn from among the dead, in order that, he, might become, in all things, himself, pre-eminent; -
Whereas, in many parts and in many ways of old, God spake unto the fathers, in the prophets, At the end of these days, He hath spoken unto us in his Son, - whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he hath made the ages;
At the end of these days, He hath spoken unto us in his Son, - whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he hath made the ages; Who, being an eradiated brightness of his glory, and an exact representation of his very being, also bearing up all things by the utterance of his power, purification of sins, having achieved, sat down on the right hand of the majesty in high places:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, unto the chosen pilgrims of the dispersion, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, -
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, unto the chosen pilgrims of the dispersion, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, - Chosen according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of Spirit, unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, Favour unto you, and peace, be multiplied!
Elders, therefore, among you, I exhort - I who am their co-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also, in the glory about to be revealed, have, a share; -
She who, in Babylon, is co-elect, and Mark my son, salute you:
She who, in Babylon, is co-elect, and Mark my son, salute you:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we for ourselves gazed upon, and our hands did handle, concerning the Word of Life, -
That which we have seen and heard, are we announcing, even unto you, in order that, ye too, may have fellowship with us, and, our own fellowship also, may be with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
That which we have seen and heard, are we announcing, even unto you, in order that, ye too, may have fellowship with us, and, our own fellowship also, may be with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And, these things, are we writing, in order that, our joy, may be made full. read more. And this is the message which we have heard from him, and are reporting unto you, - that, God, is, light, and in him is, no darkness at all.
If we say - Sin, have we none! we are deceiving, ourselves, and, the truth, is not in us.
If we say - We have not sinned! false, are we making, him, and, his word, is not in us.
And, hereby, perceive we, that we understand him, - if, his commandments, we are keeping. He that saith - I understand him! And, his commandments, is not keeping, is false, and, in him, the truth is not!
He that saith, that, in him, he abideth, ought, just as He walked, himself also, to be walking. Beloved! no new commandment, am I writing unto you; but an old commandment, which ye have been holding from the beginning: The old commandment is the word which ye have heard.
Be not loving the world, nor yet the things that are in the world: if anyone be loving the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because, all that is in the world - the coveting of the flesh, the coveting of the eyes, and the vain grandeur of life - is not of the Father, but is, of the world; read more. And, the world, passeth away, and the coveting thereof, but, he that doeth the will of God, endureth unto times age-abiding. Little children! it is, the last hour; and, just as ye have heard that, an antichrist, is coming, even now, antichrists have become, many, whence we perceive that it is, the last hour:
Little children! it is, the last hour; and, just as ye have heard that, an antichrist, is coming, even now, antichrists have become, many, whence we perceive that it is, the last hour:
Little children! it is, the last hour; and, just as ye have heard that, an antichrist, is coming, even now, antichrists have become, many, whence we perceive that it is, the last hour: From among us, they went out, but they were not of us; for, if, of us, they had been, they would in that case have abode with us; but it came to pass in order that they might be made manifest, because, all, are not of us.
These things, have I written unto you, concerning them who would lead you astray.
Hereby, have we come to understand love: in that, He, for us, his life laid down; and, we, ought, for the brethren, our lives to lay down.
And, whatsoever we are asking, we are receiving from him, because, his commandments, are we keeping, and, the things that are pleasing before him, are we doing.
And, he that keepeth his commandments, in him, abideth, and, he, in him. And, hereby, perceive we, that he abideth in us, by reason of the Spirit which, unto us, he hath given.
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world.
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world.
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world.
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world.
Beloved! not in every spirit, believe ye, but test the spirits, whether they are, of God; because, many false prophets, have gone out into the world. Hereby, do ye perceive the Spirit of God: - every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ as having come, in flesh, is, of God;
Hereby, do ye perceive the Spirit of God: - every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ as having come, in flesh, is, of God;
Hereby, do ye perceive the Spirit of God: - every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ as having come, in flesh, is, of God;
Hereby, do ye perceive the Spirit of God: - every spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ as having come, in flesh, is, of God; And, every spirit that doth not confess Jesus, of God, is not. And, this, is the spirit of the Antichrist, touching which ye have heard that it cometh: even now, is it, in the world, already.
And, every spirit that doth not confess Jesus, of God, is not. And, this, is the spirit of the Antichrist, touching which ye have heard that it cometh: even now, is it, in the world, already.
And, every spirit that doth not confess Jesus, of God, is not. And, this, is the spirit of the Antichrist, touching which ye have heard that it cometh: even now, is it, in the world, already.
And, every spirit that doth not confess Jesus, of God, is not. And, this, is the spirit of the Antichrist, touching which ye have heard that it cometh: even now, is it, in the world, already.
And, every spirit that doth not confess Jesus, of God, is not. And, this, is the spirit of the Antichrist, touching which ye have heard that it cometh: even now, is it, in the world, already. Ye, are, of God, dear children, and have overcome them; because, greater, is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. read more. They, are, of the world: For this cause, of the world, they speak, and the world, unto them, doth hearken. We, are, of God: he that is getting to understand God, hearkeneth unto us, - whoso is not of God, hearkeneth not unto us: from this, perceive we - the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Fear, existeth not, in love, but, perfect love, casteth fear, outside; because, fear, hath correction: he that feareth, hath not been made perfect, in love. We, love, because, he, first loved us: -
Whosoever believeth that, Jesus, is the Christ, of God, hath been born: and, whosoever loveth him that begat, loveth him that hath been begotten of him.
Because, whatsoever hath been born of God, overcometh the world; and, this, is the victory that hath overcome the world - our faith. And who is he that overcometh the world, save he that believeth that, Jesus, is the Son of God? read more. This, is he that came through means of water and blood, Jesus Christ: not, by the water, only, but, by the water and by the blood, - and, the Spirit, it is, that is bearing witness, because, the Spirit, is the truth. Because, three, are they who are bearing witness - The Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood; and, the three, are, witnesses , unto one thing. If, the witness of men, we receive, the witness of God, is, greater. Because, this, is the witness of God - in that he hath borne witness concerning his Son, - He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness, within himself: He that doth not believe God, false, hath made him, - because he hath not believed on the witness which, God, hath witnessed, concerning his Son - And, this, is the witness: - that, life age-abiding, hath God given unto us, and, this life, is, in his Son: He that hath the Son, hath, the life, - he that hath not the Son of God, hath not, the life. These things, have I written unto you - in order that ye may know that ye have, Life Age-abiding - unto you who believe on the name of the Son of God.
These things, have I written unto you - in order that ye may know that ye have, Life Age-abiding - unto you who believe on the name of the Son of God. And, this, is the boldness which we have towards him: that, if, anything, we ask, according to his will, He doth hearken unto us.
And, this, is the boldness which we have towards him: that, if, anything, we ask, according to his will, He doth hearken unto us. And, if we know that he doth hearken unto us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the things asked, which we have asked of him,
And, if we know that he doth hearken unto us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the things asked, which we have asked of him, If one should see his brother committing a sin, not unto death, he shall ask, and He will grant unto him life, - for them who are sinning, not unto death. There, is, a sin, unto death: not concerning that, am I saying, that he should make request.
If one should see his brother committing a sin, not unto death, he shall ask, and He will grant unto him life, - for them who are sinning, not unto death. There, is, a sin, unto death: not concerning that, am I saying, that he should make request.
If one should see his brother committing a sin, not unto death, he shall ask, and He will grant unto him life, - for them who are sinning, not unto death. There, is, a sin, unto death: not concerning that, am I saying, that he should make request. All unrighteousness, is, sin, and there, is, a sin, not unto death. read more. We know that, whosoever hath been born of God, is not committing sin, - Nay, he that hath been born of God, He keepeth him, and, the wicked one, doth not touch him. We know that, of God, are we; and, the whole world, in the wicked one, is lying. We know, moreover, that, the Son of God, hath come, and hath given us insight, so that we are getting to understand, him that is Real, - and we are in him that is Real, in his Son Jesus Christ. This, is the Real God, and life age-abiding. Dear children! Guard yourselves from idols.