1 John 5

1 John 5:1

WHosoever believeth, &c.] See on chap. 4. 2.

is born of God] Chap. 3. 9. & 4. 7. John 1:12-13.

loveth him that is begotten also] Loveth Christ, or all Gods children, chap. 4. 21.

1 John 5:2

we love the children of God, when we love God] Gods children bearing Gods image, we cannot love God, but we must needs love them: And our love to God, shews that we love them in and for God.

his commandments] Whereof six, to wit, all of the second table, require love of the brethren.

1 John 5:3

The love of God] Wherewith we love him, not wherewith he loveth us.

his commandments are not grievous] Because Gods Spirit gives us power and will to do them, Matthew 11:30. Romans 8:2; Romans 8:4. Philippians 2:12-13. And because we love him, we will readily obey him. And God removeth rubs, and maketh our way smooth before us, Proverbs 4:11-12. Isaiah 26:7.

1 John 5:4

is born of God] Vers. 1.

overcometh the world] See chap. 2. 15. Or, Satans temptations, who worketh by the world. Or, that which savours of the world, against God, or right reason. These he hath overcome in part already, and shall wholly, as sure as if he had already done it. So the Scripture speaketh of things to come, as past, to shew the certainty of them, Hosea 10:7. Revelation 14:8. and Revelation 18:2.

the victory] The means whereby we have begun to conquer, and shall finish it.

our faith] Whereby we lay hold on Christ, and apply his victory to us, John 16:33. 1 Corinthians 15:57. Revelation 12:11. Chap. 4. 4. and get strength from him to go on in this spirituall warfare, till we have fully overcome all Satans temptations, Romans 16:20. 1 Peter 5:9.

1 John 5:5

Who is he, &c.] Not that every one that believeth this, overcometh the world, but none else do it. See on chap. 4. 2.

1 John 5:6

that came by water and blood] That shed water and blood out of his side, Joh. 19. 34, 35. Or, that observed the legal washings and sacrifices. Or, that appointed two sacraments, one in water, the other in wine, a type of his blood. Or, that washeth away the filth of our sins by his Spirit, and the guilt of them by his Blood. Of the first, the legal washings were a type: of the second, the sacrifices.

it is the Spirit that leareth witnesse] By descending on Christ like a dove, Matthew 3:16. John 1:32-33. Or, by raising him from the dead, Romans 1:4. Or, by working miracles by him. Or, by assuring us of it in the word, and in our consciences: for, the Spirit is of Gods privie councel, John 14:26. and John 15:26. and John 16:13. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.

the Spirit is truth] And therefore cannot bear false witnesse of Christ to us, as being truth it self.

1 John 5:7

For there are three] The sixth verse may be in a parenthesis; and this verse may give a reason of the end of the fifth verse, that Christ is the Son of God: of which, not the Spirit alone, but the Father and the Son bear witnesse also.

that bear record in heaven] Or, in heaven, that bear record: To wit, to us men on earth, that Christ is the Messias, or Son of God. The Father, John 5:32. and John 8:18. by voice, Matthew 3:17. The Son, by miracles, John 5:36. The holy Ghost, by cloven tongues, Acts 2:3-4; Acts 2:33.

the word] Christ himself, chap. 1. 1. John 1:1.

these three are one] In essence, though they be three distinct persons, John 10:30. and agree in their testimony concerning Christ.

1 John 5:8

There are three that bear witnesse in earth] Or, There are three in earth, that bear witnesse.

the Spirit, &c.] See on v. 6. Some understand it of the spirit which he sent forth on the crosse at his death, Matthew 27:50. which, with the water and blood coming out of his side, shewed him to be true man.

these three agree in one] Gr. are for one thing: or, are for that one thing: To wit, to testifie of Christ, as the heavenly witnesses did, v. 7.

1 John 5:9

This is the witnesse of God] Testified by the three heavenly and earthly witnesses, v. 7, 8. Of Christ, and of salvation by him, v. 11, 12.

1 John 5:10

The witnesse] Or, That witnesse, mentioned, v. 9, 11.

a lyer] Chap. 1. 10. He believeth that he doth, or at least, that he can lye. He hath made him a lyer: To wit, in his heart: for he would not have doubted of the truth of his testimony, if he had not first suspected the truth of God himself.

1 John 5:11

And this is the record] Or, Even this is the record. So the particle is used, Mark 4:25. For the tenth verse may be in a parenthesis, as not including the testimony, (which is recorded in this verse) but shewing who have this testimony in them. See the like on v. 7.

this life is in his Son] The originall of it is in Christ. We have it for his merits, and derived unto us from him by his Spirit, John 10:10.

1 John 5:12

He that hath the Son] By faith dwelling in his heart, Eph. 3. 17.

hath life] Is raised from death to life, chap. 3. 14. and hath in him a principle of eternall life, John 3:36.

1 John 5:13

These things have I written] John 20:31. On the Name of the Son of God, chap. 3. 23.

that ye may have eternall life] A right to it, and earnest of it, here, and the thing it self in heaven, in perpetuall joy and happinesse.

and that ye may believe] That ye may persevere, encrease and grow strong in faith.

1 John 5:14

This is the confidence] This faith, v. 13. is the ground of our confidence in prayer. Or, we not onely believe, as v. 13. but also have confidence in prayer.

in him] In Christ. Or, concerning him.

he heareth us] And will give us what we ask, v. 15. chap. 3. 21, 22.

1 John 5:15

we know that we have the petitions] That we shall have them granted, as surely as if we had the things already which we pray for. See on v. 14. Joh. 14. 13, 14. and 16. 23, 24, 26. Gods hearing us, then, is granting our requests.

1 John 5:16

his brother] Therefore he must pray for him, because he is his brother.

a sin which is not unto death] Which doth not necessarily bring damnation (though it deserve it) as the sin against the holy Ghost doth, because God will not give repentance to any that committeth that sin, Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 6:6.

he shall ask] Or, let him ask, Pardon for that sinner.

he shall give him] Christ, mentioned v. 13.

life] Salvation, or deliverance from destruction, when his sin is pardoned at the others request, Job 42:8. which sheweth that he deserved hell.

for them] Not for one onely, but for many such sinners.

there is a sin unto death] The sin against the holy Ghost, which is unpardonable, Matth. 12. 31, 32. Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 6:6.

I do not say that he shall pray for it] I do not advise him to pray for pardon for any that hath committed that sin: or, I forbid him to do it.

1 John 5:17

All unrighteousnesse is sin] As chap. 3. 4.

and there is] Or, but there is; as chap. 4. 3. Or, yet there is; as chap. 2. 1.

a sin not unto death] Which may be repented of, and forgiven. See on v. 16.

1 John 5:18

is born of God] Chap. 3. 9.

sinneth not] That sin to death, v. 16. Or, liveth not in a sinfull course; as chap. 3. 6, 9.

keepeth himself] From that sin unpardonable.

that wicked one] The devil, Matthew 6:13. Chap. 2. 13, 14. and 3. 12.

toucheth him not] So as to bring him to that sin, and to hell. Or, cannot do him the least hurt, Job 2:5.

1 John 5:19

We are of God] Chap. 4. 6.

the whole world lieth in wickednesse] All men out of Christ, John 17:9; John 17:16. are altogether buried in sin: or, lie in it, as in a deep dungeon, or a dead sleep.

1 John 5:20

And we know] Or, But we know; as v. 17.

that the Son of God is come] See chap. 4. 2.

and hath given us understanding] Jeremiah 24:7.

him that is true] The true God, v. 19. as followeth in this verse, opposed to idols, v. 21. Or, Christ, spoken of before in this verse.

even in his Son] Or, and in his Son. We are in the Father, and in the Son, chap. 2. 24.

this is the true God] Christ is the true God, John 17:3. Titus 2:13. and Titus 3:4. Jude v. 25.

and eternall life] The authour of it, v. 11. Chap. 1. 2. Joh. 6, 68, 69.

1 John 5:21

Little children] See on chap. 2. 1.

keep your selves from idols] From image-worship: for, idol and image signifie the same thing, but onely the one is a Greek word originally, and the other a Latine. This overthroweth popish serving God in images, and adviseth men to be carefull to avoid not onely palpable idolatry, but all dealing with idols.

Amen] See on Matthew 6:13. Jude v. 25.