- Mar 12, 2017
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INTRODUCTION
In addition to the Gospel, three Epistles have come to us from the pen of the beloved Apostle. Of these the First is the longest and most important. In form it is more like an essay or treatise than a letter; it bears no salutation nor signature. But if there were no other evidence, its similarity in phrase and thought to the Fourth Gospel would practically decide the question of authorship. Whichever was written first, the relation between the two is perfectly clear and has been aptly expressed by Bishop Westcott: “The theme of the Epistle is, the Christ is Jesus; the theme of the Gospel is, Jesus is the Christ.” The bearing of the Epistle upon practical living is also very plain. It shows that fellowship with the Father and the Son is realized in love of the brethren.
The Second and Third Epistles are very brief, and are private and personal rather than doctrinal. They have been called by Jerome “twin sisters.” In style and spirit they markedly resemble the First Epistle. There is the same emphasis upon love, truth, and obedience. While we are without exact information as to their date, they rank unquestionably among the latest documents in the New Testament.
God Is Love
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].
1Jn 4:8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
1Jn 4:9 By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
1Jn 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God's requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.
1Jn 4:17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God's judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God's love].
1Jn 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.
1Jn 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
1 John 4:1-11
THE TOKEN OF GOD’S LOVE
In those days the intense ferment of men’s minds wrought many delusions and heresies which were fraught with temptation to young converts, and the Apostle wished to give tests for determining which voice spake from God. The confession of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word, a spirit of love and gentleness, and the willingness to abide in the doctrine of the Apostles, were signs that the speaker was commissioned by Christ.
Wouldst thou overcome the world? Let Christ enter, and the world will have no charms for thee. There is only one source of pure, divine love, and wherever that love is present, you know that the possessor has found its source in God. God’s love is absolutely selfless. He loves the unloving to make them love, putting away their sin and perfecting their union with Himself.
1 John 4:7
let: 1Jn_4:20-21, 1Jn_2:10, 1Jn_3:10-23, 1Jn_5:1
love is: 1Jn_4:8; Deu_30:6; Gal_5:22; 1Th_4:9-10; 2Ti_1:7; 1Pe_1:22
every: 1Jn_4:12, 1Jn_2:29, 1Jn_3:14, 1Jn_5:1
and knoweth: Joh_17:3; 2Co_4:6; Gal_4:9
In addition to the Gospel, three Epistles have come to us from the pen of the beloved Apostle. Of these the First is the longest and most important. In form it is more like an essay or treatise than a letter; it bears no salutation nor signature. But if there were no other evidence, its similarity in phrase and thought to the Fourth Gospel would practically decide the question of authorship. Whichever was written first, the relation between the two is perfectly clear and has been aptly expressed by Bishop Westcott: “The theme of the Epistle is, the Christ is Jesus; the theme of the Gospel is, Jesus is the Christ.” The bearing of the Epistle upon practical living is also very plain. It shows that fellowship with the Father and the Son is realized in love of the brethren.
The Second and Third Epistles are very brief, and are private and personal rather than doctrinal. They have been called by Jerome “twin sisters.” In style and spirit they markedly resemble the First Epistle. There is the same emphasis upon love, truth, and obedience. While we are without exact information as to their date, they rank unquestionably among the latest documents in the New Testament.
God Is Love
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].
1Jn 4:8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
1Jn 4:9 By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
1Jn 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God's requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.
1Jn 4:17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God's judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God's love].
1Jn 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.
1Jn 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
1 John 4:1-11
THE TOKEN OF GOD’S LOVE
In those days the intense ferment of men’s minds wrought many delusions and heresies which were fraught with temptation to young converts, and the Apostle wished to give tests for determining which voice spake from God. The confession of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word, a spirit of love and gentleness, and the willingness to abide in the doctrine of the Apostles, were signs that the speaker was commissioned by Christ.
Wouldst thou overcome the world? Let Christ enter, and the world will have no charms for thee. There is only one source of pure, divine love, and wherever that love is present, you know that the possessor has found its source in God. God’s love is absolutely selfless. He loves the unloving to make them love, putting away their sin and perfecting their union with Himself.
1 John 4:7
let: 1Jn_4:20-21, 1Jn_2:10, 1Jn_3:10-23, 1Jn_5:1
love is: 1Jn_4:8; Deu_30:6; Gal_5:22; 1Th_4:9-10; 2Ti_1:7; 1Pe_1:22
every: 1Jn_4:12, 1Jn_2:29, 1Jn_3:14, 1Jn_5:1
and knoweth: Joh_17:3; 2Co_4:6; Gal_4:9
