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 strong and be greatly active, to watch to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee: thou shalt not turn aside from it to the right and to the left, so that thou shalt be wise in all things where thou shalt go. And the book of this law shall not depart from thy mouth; and meditate thou in it day and night, so that thou shalt watch to do according to all written in it: for then thou shalt prosper thy ways, and then thou shalt be wise. read more. Did I not command thee? Be strong and be active; thou shalt not fear and thou shalt not bend: for Jehovah thy God is with thee in all where thou shalt go. And Joshua will command the scribes of the people, saying,
Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall dwell in the land which Moses gave to you on the other side Jordan; and ye shall pass over, being brave, before your brethren, all being strong, of the host, and help them;
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.
And the Word was flesh, and dwelt with us, (and we beheld his glory, as the glory of the only born of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this to them; and they believed the writing, and the word which Jesus spake. And when he was in Jerusalem at the paseha, in the festival, many believed in his name, beholding his signs which he did.
Then says he to Thomas, Bring hither thy finger, and see my hands; and bring thy hand, and put into my side: and be not unbelieving, but believing.
But these have been written, that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life in his name.
Gains my guest, and of the whole church, embraces you. Erastus steward of the city embraces you, and Quartus the brother.
And we all, shown as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, with the face uncovered, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Spirit of the Lord.
Who will change the body of our humiliation, for it to be conformable to the body of his glory, according to the operation by which he is able to place all things under himself.
In whom we have redemption by his blood, the remission of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: read more. For by him were all things created, things in the heavens, and things upon earth, things visible and invisible, whether thrones, whether dominions, whether beginnings, whether authorities: all were created by him, and for him: And he is before all, and all things have been established by him. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that he might be the first in all
God, formerly multifariously and abundantly having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, At these last days spake to us in the Son, whom he set heir of all things, by whom also he made the times;
At these last days spake to us in the Son, whom he set heir of all things, by whom also he made the times; Who being the brightness of glory, and the figure of his foundation, and bearing all things by the word of his power, having made by himself the purification of our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty among the highest ones;
Peter, sent of Jesus Christ, to the chosen strangers of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter, sent of Jesus Christ, to the chosen strangers of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the consecration of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.
The elders among you I beseech, a fellow elder, and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a participator of the glory which is about to be revealed:
The chosen together in Babylon, greet you; also Marcus my son.
The chosen together in Babylon, greet you; also Marcus my son.
What was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we beheld, and our own hands felt, concerning the word of life;
What we have seen and heard we announce to you, that ye also might have communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
What we have seen and heard we announce to you, that ye also might have communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these we write to you, that your joy might be filled up. read more. And this is the message which we have heard from him, and we announce to you, that God is light, and no darkness is in him.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
And in this we know that we have known him, if we should keep his commands. He saying, I have known him, and not keeping his commands, is a liar, and in him is not the truth.
He saying he remains in him ought, as he walked about, so also he to walk about. Brethren, I write no new command to you, but an old command which ye had from the beginning. The old command is the word which ye heard from the beginning.
Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For every thing which in the world, the eager desire of the flesh, and the eager desire of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. read more. And the world passes away, and its eager desires: but he doing the will of God remains for ever. Young children, it is the last hour: and as ye have heard that antichrist comes, and now many antichrists have come; whence we know that it is the last hour.
Young children, it is the last hour: and as ye have heard that antichrist comes, and now many antichrists have come; whence we know that it is the last hour.
Young children, it is the last hour: and as ye have heard that antichrist comes, and now many antichrists have come; whence we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they had remained with us, but, that they might be manifested, that they are not all of us.
These I wrote to you concerning them deceiving you.
In this have we known love, for he set his soul for us: and we ought to set the souls for the brethren.
And whatever we ask, we receive of him, for we keep his commands, and do things pleasing before him.
And he keeping his commands remains in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit he gave us.
Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world.
Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world.
Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world.
Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world.
Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world. In this ye know the spirit of God: Every spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God:
In this ye know the spirit of God: Every spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God:
In this ye know the spirit of God: Every spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God:
In this ye know the spirit of God: Every spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit which acknowledges not Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that of antichrist which ye have heard comes; and now is already in the world.
And every spirit which acknowledges not Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that of antichrist which ye have heard comes; and now is already in the world.
And every spirit which acknowledges not Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that of antichrist which ye have heard comes; and now is already in the world.
And every spirit which acknowledges not Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that of antichrist which ye have heard comes; and now is already in the world.
And every spirit which acknowledges not Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that of antichrist which ye have heard comes; and now is already in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have conquered them: for greater is he in you, than he in the world. read more. They are of the world: for this they speak of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God: he knowing God hears us; he is not of God who hears us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Fear is not in love; but perfected love casts out fear: for fear has restraint. And he fearing has not been perfected in love. We should love him, for he first loved us.
Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God: and every one loving him having begotten, loves him also begotten of him.
For everything begotten of God conquers the world: and this is the victory having conquered the world, our faith. Who is he conquering the world, if not he believing that Jesus is the Son of God? read more. This is he having come by water and blood, Jesus the Christ; not by water alone, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is testifying, for the Spirit is truth. For three are testifying (in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. And three are testifying in the earth,) the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three are for one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony of God which he has testified concerning his Son. He believing in the Son of God has the testimony in himself: he not believing God has made him a liar; for he has not believed the testimony which God has testified of his Son. And this is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He having the Son has life; and he not having the Son of God has not life. These I wrote to you believing in the name of the Son of God; ye might know that ye have etrnal life, and that ye might believe in the name of the Son of God.
These I wrote to you believing in the name of the Son of God; ye might know that ye have etrnal life, and that ye might believe in the name of the Son of God. And this is the freedom of speech which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us:
And this is the freedom of speech which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. If any see his brother sinning a sin not to death, he shall ask, and sinning will give him life to them sinning not to death. There is a sin to death: I say not of that, that he should ask.
If any see his brother sinning a sin not to death, he shall ask, and sinning will give him life to them sinning not to death. There is a sin to death: I say not of that, that he should ask.
If any see his brother sinning a sin not to death, he shall ask, and sinning will give him life to them sinning not to death. There is a sin to death: I say not of that, that he should ask. All injustice is sin: and there is a sin not to death. read more. We know that every one born of God sins not; but he born of God keeps himself, and evil touches him not. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in evil. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, and we know him true, and we are in him true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, watch yourselves from idols. Amen.
Little children, watch yourselves from idols. Amen.
The elder to the chosen mistress in truth; (and not I only, but also all and to her children, whom I love they having known the truth;)
For many cheats come into the world, they not acknowledging Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This is the cheat and antichrist.
If there come any to you, and bring not this teaching, receive ye him not into the household, and to rejoice tell him not:
If there come any to you, and bring not this teaching, receive ye him not into the household, and to rejoice tell him not:
If there come any to you, and bring not this teaching, receive ye him not into the household, and to rejoice tell him not: For he telling him to rejoice, partakes of his evil works.
For he telling him to rejoice, partakes of his evil works. Having many things to write to you, I was not willing by paper and ink: but I hope to come to you, and to speak mouth to month, that our joy might be filled up.
The elder to the dearly beloved Gains, whom I love in truth.
I have no joy greater than these that I hear my children walking in truth. Dearly beloved, thou doest faithfully whatever thou dost work for the brethren, and for strangers;