13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, w look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned 9 and unstable wrest, 10 a as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being с 9 labour earnestly. Rh. be careful. Pu. unwise. Wi. 10 pervert. Co. Ma. Bi. Gen. v Ver. 10. Mic. i. 4: And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. w See on ROM. viii. 19. * See on 1 COR. i. 8. y Ver. 9. See on Roм. ii. 4. ROM. viii. 19: The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 1 COR. XV. 24: Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1. THES. iv. 15: This we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. a See on HEB. V. 11. b MARK, xiii. 23: Take ye heed: behold, L have foretold you all things. 2 PET. i. 12: Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. EPH. iv. 14: That ye henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. d e 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever." Amen. "into the day of eternity. Rh. to the everlasting day. Pu. they lie in wait to deceive. 2 PET. i. 10, 11: Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 PET. ii. 18. : EPH. iv. 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. CoL. i. 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. I PET. ii. 2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. See on ROM. xvi. 27. THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF John. ALTHOUGH the name of the apostle St. John is not prefixed to this epistle, it was never doubted in the church but that it was his, as we learn from Origen and Eusebius. We find here the same expressions as in his Gospel, the frequent repetitions of the same words, and certain terms peculiar to him, as light, truth, love, and like. The principal design of this epistle is to declare that it is not sufficient to know Jesus Christ, unless we also keep his commandments, and follow the example of his holy life; and that benevolence, or brotherly love, is one great part of Christianity. There seems to have been some persons, who perverted the Gospel the apostles preached, which they pretended to have embraced; and this appears to have given occasion to the writing of this epistle. Some of these seem even to have denied that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ. It does not appear to whom this epistle was addressed. The Latin version calls it the Epistle to the Parthians. On this account, some of the ancients, as well as some of the moderns, think it was addressed to the Jewish Christians residing be yond the river Euphrates. Others think it was addressed to the Christians residing in Galilee, just before the destruction of Jerusalem but the concluding admonition, chap. v. 21, Little children, keep yourselves from idols, does not seem to suit with this opinion, as idolatry did not prevail there. Most probably it was directed to all Christians, wheresover dispersed. Some indeed, as it begins with no address, nor hath any of the salutations common to the apostolical epistles, look upon it rather as a written discourse, than as properly an epistle. It is uncertain in what year it was written; but, from some passages in it, most probably about the year of Christ 67, though some think several years later. CHAP. I. 1 He describeth the person of Christ, in whom we have eternal life, by a communion with God: 5 to which we must adjoin holiness of life, to testify the truth of that our communion and profession of faith, as also to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins by Christ's death. A. D. 90. THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; e 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you CHAP. I. a 1 JOHN, ii. 13. See on do. i. 1. See on 2 PET. i. 16. : d JOHN, i. 4: In him was life; and the life was the light of men. do. xi. 25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. do. xiv. 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ROM. xvi. 26: But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. 1 JOHN, iii. 5: And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. See on JOHN, i. 14. f JOHN, xxi. 24: This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. ACTs, ii. 32: This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us ;) 3 That which we have seen and heard de clare we unto you, that ye also may k have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your 1joy may be full. m 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is "light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:2 7 But if we I wander. Wi. walk in the light, as he is in the 2 according to the truth. Pu. 8 JOHN, xvii. 3: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 1 JOHN, v. 20: This is the true God, and eternal life. See on JOHN, i. 1, 2. I ACTs, iv. 20: For we we have seen and heard: cannot but speak the things which See on ACTs, xxii. 14. k JOHN, xvii. 11: And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. See on 1 COR. i. 9. See on JOHN, xv. 11. m1 JOHN, ii. 7. do. iii. 11: This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 2 JOHN, 5: And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I. wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 1 TIM. vi. 16: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. See on JOHN, viii. 12. 2 COR. vi. 14: What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 1 JOHN, ii. 4. P JOHN, xii. 35: Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. VOL. IV. r light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. S 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we "confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar,3 and his word is not in us. CHAP. II. 1 He comforteth them against the sins of infirmity: 3 rightly to know God is to keep his commandments, 9 to love our brethren, 15 and not to love the world: 18 we must beware of seducers: 20 from whose deceits the godly are safe, preserved by perseverance in faith, and holiness of life. MY little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: a с : 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 false. Pu. 1 JOHN, ii. 2. See on Acтs, xx. 28. r 1 COR. vi. 11: Such were some of you : but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 8 JOB, XV. 14: What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? do. xxv. 4: How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? See on JAMES, iii. 2. t1 JOHN, ii. 4. u JOB, xxxiii. 27, 28: He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. See on 1 COR. xi. 31. ▾ Ps. li. 2: Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. See on ver. 7. CHAP. II. a See on ROM. viii. 34. b. 1 JOHN, i. 7. See on Roм. iii. 25. JOHN, i. 29: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto |