Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 2 Peter 2 John
1 John 1
Concise Complete
The apostle prefaces his epistle to believers in general,
with evident testimonies to Christ, for promoting their happiness and joy. (1-4)
The necessity of a life of holiness, in order to communion with God, is shown.
(5-10)
Verses 1-4 That
essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning,
from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human
nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the
apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while they witnessed
his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love and mercy, during some years,
till they saw him crucified for sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead.
They touched him, so as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine
Person, the Word of life, the Word of God, appeared in human nature, that he
might be the Author and Giver of eternal life to mankind, through the redemption
of his blood, and the influence of his new-creating Spirit. The apostles
declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts
and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a
happy experience of the truth in their souls, and showed its excellence in their
lives. This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and
kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are
not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but
the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any
number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their
fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same
blessedness.
Verses 5-10 A
message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all
gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure
and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must
be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect
holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk
in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly
fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. There is no truth in their
profession; their practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the
eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from our sins in his
own blood, and procures for us the sacred influences by which sin is to be
subdued more and more, till it is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy
walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in
Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with
equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are
sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given
testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual
Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers
themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to
apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God,
be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess
all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through
the righteousness of Christ, for a free and full forgiveness, and our
deliverance from the power and practice of sin.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 2 Peter 2 John
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
