1 John 2

 

 1 My (1) little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an (a) Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just.

 

(1) It followeth not hereof that we must give our wicked nature bridle, or sin so much the more freely, because our sins are cleansed away by the blood of Christ, but we must rather so much the more diligently resist sin, and yet we must not despair because of our weakness, for we have an Advocate and a purger, Christ Jesus the Just, and therefore acceptable unto his Father.
(a) In that be nameth Christ, he shutteth forth all others.

 

 2 And he is the (b) reconciliation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the (c) whole world.

 

(b) Reconciliation and intercession go together, to give us to understand that he is both advocate and high Priest.
(c) For men of all sorts, of all ages, and all places, so that this benefit belongeth not to the Jews only, of whom he speaketh, as appeareth in 1 John 2:7; but also to other nations.

 

 3  (2) And hereby we are sure that we (d) know him, (e) if we keep his commandments.

 

(2) He returneth to the testimony of our conjunction with God, to wit, to sanctification, declaring what it is to walk in the light, to wit, to keep God's commandments, whereby it followeth that holiness doeth not consist in those things which men have devised, neither in a vain profession of the Gospel.
(d) This must be understood of such a knowledge, as has faith with it, and not of a common knowledge.
(e) For the tree is known by the fruit.

 

 4  (3) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

(3) Holiness, that is, a life ordered according to the prescript of God's commandments, how weak soever they be, is of necessity joined with faith, that is, with the true knowledge of the Father in the Son.

 

 5  (4) But he that keepeth his word, in him is the (f) love of God perfect indeed; hereby we know that we are in (g) him.

 

(4) He that keepeth God's commandments loveth God indeed. He that loveth God, is in God, or is joined together with God. Therefore he that keeps his commandments, is in him.
(f) Wherewith we love God.
(g) He meaneth our conjunction with Christ.

 

 6  (5) He that saith he remaineth in him, ought even so to walk as he hath walked.

 

(5) He that is one with Christ, must needs live his life, that is, must walk in his steps.

 

 7  (6) Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning; this old commandment is that word, which ye have heard from the beginning.

 

(6) The Apostle going about to expound the commandment of charity towards another, telleth first, that when he urgeth holiness bringeth no new trade of life (as they used to do who devise traditions one after another) but putteth them in mind of the same Law which God gave in the beginning, to wit, by Moses, at the time that God began to give Laws to his people.

 

 8  (7) Again, a new commandment I write unto you, that (h) which is true in him, and also in you, for the darkness is past, and that true light now shineth.

 

(7) He addeth that the doctrine indeed is old, but it is now after a sort new both in respect of Christ, and also of us; in whom he through the Gospel, engraveth his Law effectually, not in tables of stone, but in our minds.

(h) Which thing (to wit, that the doctrine is new of which I write unto you) is true in him and in you.

 

 9  (8) He that saith that he is in that light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness, until this time.

 

(8) Now he cometh to the second Table, that is, to charity towards another, and denieth that, that man hath true light in him, or is indeed regenerate and the son of God, which hateth his brother; and such a one wandereth miserably in darkness, brag he of never so great knowledge of God, for that wittingly and willingly, he casteth himself headlong into hell.

 

 10  (*) He that loveth his brother, abideth in that light, and there is none occasion of evil in him.

 

(*) 1 John 3:14 .

 

 11 But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

 

 12  (9) Little children, (i) I write unto you, because your sins are forgiven you for his (k) Name’s sake.

 

(9) He returneth again from sanctification to remission of sins, because that free reconciliation in Christ is the ground of our salvation, whereupon afterwards sanctification must be built as upon a foundation.

(i) Therefore I write unto you, because you are of their number whom God hath reconciled to himself.
(k) For his own sake; and in that he nameth Christ, he shutteth out all others, whether they be in heaven or earth.

 

 13  (10) I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. (11) I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome that wicked one. (12) I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

 

(10) He sheweth that this doctrine agreeth to all ages, and first of all speaking to old men, he sheweth that Christ and his doctrine are passing ancient, and therefore they be delighted with old things, nothing ought to be more acceptable unto them.
(11) He advertiseth young men, if they be desirous to shew their strength, that they have a most glorious combat set here before them, to wit, Satan the worst enemy, who must be overcome; willing them to be as sure of the victory as if they had already gotten it.
(12) Finally, he sheweth to children, that the true Father, from whom they have to look for all good things, is set forth unto them in the Gospel.

 

 14  (13) 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 abideth in you, and ye have overcome that wicked one.

 

(13) He addeth afterward in like order, as many exhortations; as if he should say, Remember, your Fathers, as I wrote even now, that the everlasting Son of God is revealed to us. Remember ye young men, that that strength whereby I said that you put Satan to flight, is given you by the word of God, which dwelleth in you.

 

 15  (14) Love not this (l) world, neither the things that are in this world. If any man love this (*) world, the (m) love of the Father is not in him.

 

(14) The world which is full of wicked desires, lusts or pleasures, and pride, is utterly hated of our heavenly Father. Therefore the Father and the world cannot be loved together; and this admonition is very necessary for green and flourishing youth.
(l) He speaketh of the world, as it agreeth not with the will of God, for otherwise God is said to love the world with an infinite love, John 3:16; that is to say, those whom he chose out of the world.

(*) Lamentations 4:4 .
(m) Wherewith the Father is loved.

 

 16 For all that is in this world, (as the lust of the (*) flesh, the (♣) lust of the eyes, and the (♦) pride of life) is not of the Father, but is of this world.

 

(*) To live in pleasure.

(♣) Wantonness.

(♦) Ambition and pride.

 

 17  (15) And this world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that fulfilleth the will of God abideth forever.

 

(15) He sheweth how much better it is to obey the Father's will, than the lusts of the world, by both their natures and unlike event.

 

 18  (16) (n) Little children, (17) it is the last time, (18) and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

 

(16) Now he turneth himself to little children, which notwithstanding are well instructed in the sum of religion, and willeth them by divers reasons to shake off slothfulness, which is too familiar with that age.
(n) He useth this word (little) not because he speaketh to children, but to allure them the more by using such sweet words.
(17) First, because the last time is at hand, so that the matter suffereth no delay.
(18) Secondly because Antichrists, that is, such as fall from God, are already come, even as they heard that they should come. And it was very requisite to warn that unheedy and wariless age of that danger.

 

 19  (19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, (o) they should have continued with us. (20) But this cometh to pass, that it might appear, that they are not all of us.

 

(19) A digression against certain offences and stumbling blocks, whereat that rude age especially might stumble and be shaken. Therefore that they should not be terrified with the soul falling back of certain, first he maketh plain unto them that although such as fall from God and his religion, had place in the Church, yet they were never of the Church; because the Church is the company of the elect which cannot perish, and therefore cannot fall from Christ.
(o) So then the elect can never fall from grace.
(20) Secondly, he sheweth that these things fall out to the profit of the Church, that hypocrites may be plainly known.

 

 20  (21) But ye have an (p) ointment from that (q) Holy one, and know all things.

 

(21) Thirdly, he comforteth them to make them stand fast, in so much as they are anointed by the holy Ghost with the true knowledge of salvation.
(p) The grace of the holy Ghost, and this is a borrowed kind of speech taken from the anointing used in the Law.
(q) From Christ who is peculiarly called Holy.

 

 21  (22) I have not written unto you, because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

 

(22) The taking away of an objection. He wrote not these things as to men which are ignorant in religion, but rather as to them which do well know the truth, yet so far forth that they are able to discern truth from falsehood.

 

 22  (23) Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is (r) that Christ? The same is that Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.

 

(23) He sheweth now plainly the false doctrine of the Antichrist's, to wit, that either they fight against the person of Christ, or his office, or both together and at once. And they that do so in vain boast and brag of God, for that in denying the Son, the Father also is denied.
(r) Is the true Messiah.

 

 23  (s) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. (*)

 

(s) They then are deceived themselves, and also do deceive others, which say that the Turks and other infidels worship the same God that we do.

(*) But he that confesseth the Son, hath also the Father.

 

 24  (24) Let therefore abide in you that same which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning, shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

 

(24) The whole preaching of the Prophets and Apostles is contrary to that doctrine; therefore it is utterly to be cast away, and this wholly to be holden and kept, which leadeth us to seek eternal life in the free promise, that is to say, in Christ alone, who is given to us of the Father.

 

 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even that eternal life.

 

 26  (25) These things have I written unto you, concerning them that deceive you.

 

(25) The same Spirit which endueth the elect with the knowledge of the truth and sanctifieth them, giveth them therewithal the gift of perseverance, to continue to the end.

 

 27 But that (t) anointing which ye received of him, dwelleth in you, and ye (u) need not that any man teach you; but as the same (x) anointing teacheth you of all things, and it is true and is not lying, and as it taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

(t) The Spirit which you have received of Christ, and which hath led you into all truth.
(u) You are not ignorant of these things, and therefore I teach them not as things that were never heard of, but call them to your remembrance as things which you do know.
(x) He commendeth both the doctrine which they had embraced, and also highly praiseth their faith and the diligence of such as taught them, yet so, that he taketh nothing from the honor due to the holy Ghost.

 

 28  (26) And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may be bold, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

 

(26) The conclusion both of the whole exhortation, and also of the former treatise.

 

 29  (27) If ye know that he is righteous, know ye that he which doeth righteously, is born of him.

 

(27) A passing over to the treatise following, which tendeth to the same purpose, but yet is more ample, and handleth the same matter after another order, for before he taught us to go up from the effects to the cause, and in this that followeth, he goeth down from the causes to the effects. And this is the sum of the argument: God is the fountain of all righteousness, and therefore they that give themselves to righteousness, are known to be born of him, because they resemble God the Father.

Steve

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