10 He who loveth his brother, abideth in the true light; He is truly enlightened with the doctrine and example of Christ; and there is nothing to him to occasion his falling into sin. 11 But he who hateth his brother, is still in the darkness of error and wickedness, and walketh in that darkness, and doth not know the miserable end of such a course of life. For the darkness hath blinded his eyes, the eyes of his understanding. 12 Dear children, I write to you the precept which I shall mention immediately, (ver. 15.) because sins shall be forgiven you on account of Christ at the judgment, if ye repent and forsake your sins. 13 Old Christians, I write to you what follows, ver. 15. because ye have known Christ; his doctrine, and precepts, and manner of life; from the beginning, and must know that darkness of night, the apostle strongly expresseth the pernicious nature of malevolence. It blinds a man's reason to such a degree, that he doth not see what is right; it extinguisheth every virtuous inclination which would lead him to do what is right, and putteth him wholly under the power of anger and revenge: So that in this darkness he is in danger, not only of stumbling, but of destroying himself, not knowing whither be goeth. Ver. 12.—1. Little children. Because this appellation is used, ver. 1. to denote Christians of all ages and characters, Beza supposeth that John here addressed the whole body of Christ's disciples, as their common instructer, (See ver. 1. note 1.) whom he afterwards divided into three classes. In support of Beza's opinion, it may be observed, 1. That the word, by which in the distribution, the apostle expresses young Christians is Пaidia and not Tenvia. 2. That the reason which John assigns for writing to those whom he calls Texa, little children; namely, that sins were forgiven them through Christ, is applicable to the whole body of believers; and was a strong reason for such of them as John addressed, to obey his precept, not to love the world, &c.-Nevertheless if the reading of ver. 13, to be mentioned in note 3. on that verse, is admitted, Texvia here will signify the same class of Christians, with those designed by @aidia, ver. 13. And on that supposition the three classes, into which the whole body of the disciples was distributed by John, will have been twice addressed by him. ye have overcome the φω υμιν, παιδια, ότι εγνωκα 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men,because ye are strong, and the word of God abid. eth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. τε τον πατέρα. 14 Εγραψα υμιν, πατέρες, ότι εγνωκατε τον απ' αρχής έγραψα υμιν, νεανισκοι ὅτι ισχυροι εςε, και ὁ λογος του Θεού εν ἱμιν μενει, και νενι κηκατε τον πονηρον. 15 Μη αγαπατε τον κοσ μον, μηδε τα εν τω κοσμῳ. Εαν τις αγαπά τον κόσμον, ουκ εςιν η αγαπη του πατρος εν αυτῷ. Ver. 13.-1. Fathers I have written to you. John gave the appellation of fathers to those who are called by the other apostles Пgeourspol, seniores, elders, on account of their long standing in the Christian faith. The persons who were written to under this denomination, seem to have been of the number of the eye-witnesses, who generally had the office of elders conferred on them.-In this part of his letter, the apostle distributes the whole body of Christians into three classes, according to their different standings in the faith and proficiency in the knowledge of the gospel: namely Пatsges fathers, Neaviσrol young men and Haidia young children.-Fathers, were the most ancient believers who had made the greatest progress in knowledge and virtue. Young men, were those in the greatest vigour of the spiritual life, and who were considered by the apostle as soldiers fighting under Christ, against the powers of darkness. Young children were the newly converted, who being under a course of instruction, were called in the first age Catechumens. 2. Because ye have known him from the beginning. So I translate TV an' *x*; because the article is often put for the pronouns 'Os and autos, see Ess. iv. 72. also because the apostle is speaking of Jesus Christ, mentioned ver. 6.-If the reader does not admit this use of the article, he may consider the expression as elliptical, and may supply it in this manner; Because ye have known Inoxy an' agxns Jesus from the beginning: have known his disengagement from the world, and his contempt of its riches, honours, and pleasures. 3. Young children, I write to you. Several MSS. together with the Syriac version and some copies of the Vulgate, read here, gafa, I have written.— cause ye have overcome the wicked one. Young children,3 I write to you, because ye have known the Father. 14 Fathers, I have written to you, because ye have known him from the begin ning. Young men, I have written to you, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things which are in the world. 1 If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. what I am going to write, is his precept. Vigorous Christians, I write to you the following precept, because ye have already overcome the wicked one, having resisted his strongest temptations to apostasy. New converts, I write to you the same precept, because, though ye have not seen Christ, ye have known the Father: Ye have known his willingness and power to strengthen you. 14 Old Christians, I have written to you to walk even as Christ walked, ver. 6. by loving your brethren as he loved you, ver. 8. because ye have known him from the beginning, and have been deeply affected with the knowledge of his love. Vigorous Christians, I have written the same precept to you, because ye are strong in all the Christian virtues through the word of God abiding in you, and ye have already overcome the devil. 15 What I write to you all is this: Do not love the persons and practices of the men of the world; neither the things which are in the world. If any one love the world; if he enters into friendship with idolaters and infidels and is fond of the things which they pursue; the love of the Father is not in him. This reading, if it were well supported, might be preferred to the common reading, for the reason mentioned in the note on ver. 12. Ver. 15-1. Love not the world, neither the things which are in the world. As the apostle distinguishes the world, from the things which are in the world, it is probable that by the world, he means the wicked men of the world, and by the things which are in the world, the bad principles, and corrupt dispositions belonging to the men of the world. These, if they are the objects of admiration and love, have a powerful influence to seduce both the old and the 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the fesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world pass 16 Ότι παν τὸ ἐν τῷ κοι σμῳ, ἡ επιθυμία της σαρχος, και η επιθυμια των οφθαλμων, και η αλαζονεια του βιου, ουκ εςιν εκ του πατρός, αλλ' εκ του κόσμου εςι. 17 Και ὁ κοσμος παρα eth away, and the lust γεται, και η επιθυμια αυ του ὁ δε ποιων το θέλημα του Θεου μενει εις τον αιώνα. thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little children, it is the last time ; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 18 Παιδια, εσχατη ώρα εςι και καθως ηκουσατε ότι ο αντίχριςος έρχεται, και νυν αντιχριςοι πολλοι γεγονασιν· ὁδεν γινωσκομεν γινωσκομεν ότι εσχατη ώρα εςιν. young from the imitation of Christ, and to extinguish brotherly love, or benevolent dispositions in the mind. See ver. 16. note 1. Ver. 16.-1. For all that is in the world. Here, as in the preceding verse, the world, signifies the men of the world. In this sense our Lord likewise used the word, world. John xv. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: But because ye are not of the world, therefore the world hateth you. So likewise St. Paul, Rom. xii. 2. Be not conformed to this world: And our apostle, chap. v. 19. The whole world lieth under the wicked one.— Hence the evil one is called, John xii. 31. The prince of this world. And Ephes. ii. 2. The spirit who now inwardly worketh in the children of disobedience. Wherefore, in the passage under consideration, the world is that collection of idolaters, unbelievers, and wicked men, which compose the great bulk of the inhabitants of the world. Whereas, if by the world, we understand the earth, and by the things which are in the world, the productions whether of nature or of art, with which the earth is stored, it would not be true, that all which is in the world, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Besides, from what follows, it is evident that John is not speaking of the earth, but of the men of the world, whose lusts he describes. 2. The lusts of the flesh. This, as distinguished from the last of the eye, and the pride of life, denotes those fleshly appetites, which are gratified by the intemperate use of women, and wine, and meats. 3 The lust of the eye. According to Lightfoot, this is covetousness, called Matth. vi. 23. an evil eye. But I rather think the apostle means, an inordinate passion for magnificence in houses, furniture, equipage and dress, which because it is gratified by the eye, may fitly be called, the lust of the eye. 16 For all that is in the 1 world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the 3 eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.5 17 Now the world passeth away, and the lust thereof. But he who doth the will of God, abideth for ever. 16 For whatever evil affection subsists in idolaters and unbelievers; namely, the lust of the flesh after sensual pleasures; and the lust of the eyes after magnificence in houses, equipage, and dress; and the pride of life founded on titles, offices, and riches; is not of the Father, but is of the world: These evil affections are not produced in us by the Father, but by the things of the world exciting them in us. 17 Now, the wicked men of the world shall perish, and the objects of their lust in like manner. But he who doth the will of God by mortifying his worldly lusts, shall live happily for ever. 18 Young children, it is the last hour.1 And as ye have heard that the antichrist cometh,2 (xat, 212.) So now there are many antichrists, 3 whence know that it is the last the flesh, chap. iv. 3. cometh before hour. 18 Young children, be not terrified by the rage of the unbelieving Jews: It is the last hour of the Jewish commonwealth. And as ye have heard that the antichrist, who denieth the appearing of Christ in we the destruction of Jerusalem, so now there are many such antichrists; from which we know that it is the last hour of the Jewish state. 4. And the pride of life. "H anasovera rou Biov, literally Jactantia vitæ, the boasting of life. John means all the things pertaining to this life, of which the men of the world boast, and by which their pride is gratified; such as titles, offices, lands, noble birth, honourable relations, and the rest, whose efficacy to puff up men with pride and to make them insolent, is not of God. 5. Is not of the Father, but is of the world. These inordinate lusts, do not, as wicked men pretend in excuse for their indulging them, proceed from the Father, but from the things of the world exciting the lusts and passions of wicked men, who are at no pains to restrain them. The Father hath stored this earth, with objects suited to the natural desires which he hath implanted in men's minds; and the enjoyment of these objects is innocent, provided they are used in moderation. But inordinate desires, called by the apostle lusts, and their power to tempt men, proceed from the wicked them |