1 John 3

1. The Apostle showeth the dignity of believers, that they are now children of God, although their glory shall not fully be revealed until the coming of Christ, 3. And exhorts them to cleanse themselves, 5. For which end Christ was revealed; 7. That thereby the children of God, and the children of the Devil are dinstinguished, 9. Because the children of God give not themselves to sinning. 11. He exhorts them also to love one another. 12. And to flee the example of Cain. 14. Teacheth that love is a true evidence, that we are delivered from death, and that he that hateth his neighbor, is a murderer before God. 16. Sets forth the love Christ towards us, and exhorts us to imitate it, 17. Not with words only, but in deed and truth; 19. Teaching that thereby we are more and more assured that we are true Christians, 22. And that our prayers shall be heard by God. 23. That this is the sum of Christ’s Commandments to believe in him, and to love our neighbor, 24. Which if we do, we have communion with him, and are assured thereof by his Spirit.

1. Behold how great [Or what manner of, i.e. how great a benefit of his love towards us. He speaketh thus to show the first cause of our blessedness, 1 John 4:10.] love the Father hath given us, (namely) that we should be called [that is, should be, namely, so that we have the name with the thing, vers. 2. See the like Luke 1:32.] children of God, [namely, by gracious adoption to be children and heirs of God, whereas before we were children of wrath. See Hosea 1:10. Romans 8:14, 15, 16, 17. See also Ephes. 1. 5. And chapter 2. 3.] therefore the world [that is, worldly, and unbelieving persons, the multitude of those that are without Christ] knoweth us not, [namely, for children of God] because it knoweth not him. [Namely, God, who is our Father, John 16:3.]

2. Beloved, now are children of God, [That is, in this life we have already the right of God, and the assurance of it, John 1:12.] and [that is, but,] it is not yet revealed, [that is, this glory which is prepared for the children of God, is not yet made perfectly known to us., although some descriptions thereof are made here and there in Scripture] what we shall be, [that is, with how great glory we shall be endued] but we know that when (he) [namely, Christ, as appears out of chapter 2. 28. And Colossians 3:4. Others understand thereupon it, namely, that which we shall be] shall be revealed, we shall be like him; [namely, in glory, in body and soul, yet so that Christ the head, as it is sitting, shall far excel his members in glory. See the annot. On Philippians 3:21] for we shall see him as he is. [Namely, in his full glory, sitting at the right hand of his Father: which shall be a great part of our blessedness, Psalms 16:11. Revelation 22:5.]

3. And every one that hath this hope [Namely, that he shall enjoy the glory of the children of God] in him, [that is, in Christ, that he shall bring him this glory at his coming, as having merited the same for him] he purifieth himself, [that is, he doth not abuse this hope, to sin the more freely thereupon, but seeks after this, that he may possess his body and soul, both which shall be so exceedingly glorified in purity and glory, 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Thes. 4. 4.] even as he is pure. [namely, Christ, See v. 5. i.e. setting before himself the example of Christ as a pattern of purity, to imitate the same, although this cannot be done perfectly in this life.]

4. Every one that committeth sin, [That is, who gives himself to a sinful life, and lets sin reign over him: as also v. 8. And some following. Namely, what manner of persons soever they be, and how little soever they be esteemed by men] he also committeth unrighteousness: [that is, he committeth the transgression of the Law, or he breaketh the Law] For sin is unrighteousness. [Gr. Anomia, whereby is signified whatsoever agreeth not with the Law, is contrary to the Law, or breaketh the Law.]

5. And ye know that he [Namely, Christ] was manifested, [namely, by his first coming in the flesh. See chapt. 1. 2.] that he might take away our sins; [or, take upon him to carry away. See the annotate. on John 1:29.] and no sin is in him.

6. Every one that abideth in him, [That is, who hath communion with him by a true faith] he sinneth not: [that is, he giveth not himself to an evil and sinful life: he lets not sin reign over him. For otherwise true believers also sometimes indeed fall into sin, 1 Kin. 8. 46. Psal. 19. 13. Proverbs 20:9. James 3:2. 1 John 1:8. Therefore by the word to sin and to do sin, John understand here that which Paul calls walking after the flesh, Romans 8:1. And bring servants of sin, Romans 6:17. See also John 8:34.] every one that sinneth, he hath not seen him, [namely, with the eyes of true faith, i.e. not rightly known him, as the following words declare] neither hath known him.

7. Little children let no man seduce you. [Namely, making you believe that a true faith may consist with an evil and sinful life] He that doth righteousness [this is opposed to doing of sin, and therefore signifieth to lead a godly and righteous life, and to be diligent, and exercise oneself in all good works] he is righteous, [that is, an upright and godly man, as this word is every where so taken. See 1 Pet. 3. 12. And 4. 18. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8.] even as he is righteous. [this is not understood of such an equality, which should agree in all things, for so none is like unto Christ amongst men: But such a likeness as there is, between a perfect pattern, and betwixt a work made according to it, although not perfectly expressing the pattern.]

8. He that doth sin [That is, he that makes it his work to sin. See the exposition of v. 6.] is of Devil, [that is, he takes after the Devil, as children do after their fathers. See John 8:44.] for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. [that is, even as he immediately after he was created good, gave himself to sinning and continually abides and proceeds therein, so the unregenerate and ungodly men also do nothing else but sin] For this purpose was the son of God manifested, [namely, in the flesh. See v. 5.] that he might break down [Gr. Dissolve, or undo; which he did, when he suffered the punishment of them for believers, Hebrews 2:14, 15. And doth is also when he regenerates them by his Spirit, whereby he delivereth them from the domination and slavery of sin, and makes of them a people that is zealous in good works, Titus 2:14.] the works of the Devil. [that is, sin, whereof the Devil was the first Author.]

9. Every one that is born of God, [That is, regenerated by the word and the spirit of God. See John 1:13.] he doth not commit sin: [see the annotate on v. 6] for his seed [that is, God’s seed, whereby he is born again, namely the word of God, 1 Pet. 1. 23. John 3:5, 6.] abideth in him: [that is, doth not totally perish, but abideth thenceforward working the fruits of regeneration once begun in them, Philippians 1:6.] and he cannot sin, [that is, give himself to a sinful life; as before v. 6, 8.] for he is born of God. [or, because he is born of God. For by the grace of regeneration, the dominion of sin in him is taken away. So that to be regenerated, and to lead a sinful life are inconsistent.]

10. Herein the children of God and the children of the Devil are manifest. [That is, discernable and distinguishable one from another] whosoever doth not righteousness [see v. 7.] he is not of God, [namely, born, or born again, vers. 9.] and he that loveth not his brother.

11. For this is the declaration [Or, message, which ye, etc. See chapter 1. 5.] which ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12. Not as Cain (who) was of the evil one, [That is, a child of the Devil. See v. 10. And John 8:44.] and murthured [Gr. Show] his brother. [namely, Abel] and of what cause did he murder him? Because his own works were wicked, and his Brothers righteous. [that is, of mere envy and ill will, because he could not endure that God should give Abel, who lived piously, testimony, that he was accepted with him, and that Cain’s sacrifice displeased him, seeing he led an evil life. See Hebrews 11:4.]

13. Marvel not [Namely, as if it were a strange and unheard of thing. For that it was so from the beginning of the world, the example of Cain and Abel teacheth in the former verse] my brethren if the world hate you. [that is, worldly and unregenerate men.]

14. We know that we are passed over [That is, brought over, carried over: Namely, by God, John 5:24.] Colossians 1:13.] out of death [that is, out of spiritual and out of eternal death] into life, seeing we love the brethren. [hereby is not showed the meritorious cause of life, but the evidence whereby we are assured of life. See also Luke 7:47.] He that loveth not (his) brother abideth in death.

15. Every one that hateth his brother is a murderer. [Gr. A man-killer. Namely, before God, seeing in his heart, which God especially regardeth, he hath as much as in him lies already murthured his neighbor. See Matth. 5. 22.] And ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. [that is, being, i.e. it is not in him.]

16. Hereby we have known love, [That is, the power and greatness of love. In some Books it is read, known the love of God] That he [namely, Jesus Christ] hath laid down his life for us: [Gr. His soul. See Matth. 20. 28. John 10:15. i.e. died for us] and we ought [namely, when the glory of God, and the edification of the Church, and the necessity of our brethren requires this] to lay down our life [Gr. Our souls, as before] for the brethren.

17. Now who so hath the good of the world [Gr. The life, i.e. the livelihood, Mark 12:44. Luke 8:43. And 21. 4.] and seeth his brother have need, and shuts up [namely, that he doth not open the same to helpfulness and liberality] his heart [Gr. His bowels. See Luke 1:78. 2 Cor. 7. 15. Philippians 2:1. Philem. ver. 7.] before him [Gr. From him, i.e. That he doth not assist him in his need] how abideth [that is, is, or can be] the love of God in him? [he here nameth the love of God, and not of our neighbor, although he here speak of the same, because we cannot love God, if we love not our neighbor. See chapter 4. Ver. 20. 21.]

18. My little children let us not love with word, nor with the tongue, [Namely, only, as Romans 2:28.] but indeed [that is, by showing actually the works of love to our neighbor] and truth. [that is uprightness of heart without hypocrisy, or ambition to be seen of men. See Matth. 6. Ver. 1. Etc.]

19. And hereby [Namely, by the showing of sincere love to our neighbor] we know that we are of the truth, [that is, are true and sincere Christians, who rightly understand, believe, and live according to the truth of the Gospel] and we shall assure [that is, quiet: by this evidence assuring ourselves that we are true children of God. See Matth. 5. 45. 2 Pet. 1. 10. And here ver. 10. And chapter 4. Ver. 6. 17.] our hearts [that is, our consciences] before him. [namely, Jesus Christ, who shall judge us, that we may boldly stand before him at his coming, and not be ashamed. See chapter 2. 28.]

20. For if our heart [That is, our conscience, every one his own] condemned (us) [that is, accuse, convince, and condemn us, that we do not sincerely love God and our neighbor, and therefore are no true Christians] God is [or God is truly greater & c.] greater [that is, mightier to condemn us] than our heart, and he knoweth all things. [that is, he knoweth all things, and much better how it is with us than our own conscience. See John 9:4. And chapter 11. 6. Etc. and chapter 28. Ver. 23. 24. Psalms 94:7. Etc. Isaiah 40:13. Etc. Acts 1:24. And chapter 15. 8. Hebrews 4:13.]

21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [Namely, that we are hypocrites: but that the holy Spirit witnesseth with our spirit that we are true children of God. Romans 8:16.] we have boldness [that is, a bold confidence, Hebrews 4:16.] toward God: [namely, that he will acknowledge us for his true children.]

22. And what soever we pray for, [Namely, that is necessary for us to salvation, and is agreeable to his will. See chapter 5. 14.] we receive of him: seeing we keep his commandments, and do that which is pleasing before him.

23. And this is his commandment, that we believe [That is, that we must believe etc.] in the name of his son Jesus Christ, [that is, in his son Jesus Christ. See chapter 2. 12.] and love one another, even as he hath given us a commandment.

24. And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him [That is, hath intimate communion with him. See chapter 1. 3.] and he in the same. And hereby know we that he abideth in us, (namely) from the spirit [that is, by the testimony, the operation, and moving of the Holy Ghost. See Romans 8:9, 14, 15, 16.] which he hath given us.