Narrative Commentary for Sunday, 13 July 2014 to Sunday, 3 August 2014 on 1 John 1:1--2:2; 4:1-21 by Craig R. Koester Preaching Series on 1 John

Narrative Commentary for Sunday, 13 July 2014 to Sunday, 3 August 2014 on 1 John 1:1--2:2; 4:1-21 by Craig R. Koester
Preaching Series on 1 John
1 John 1: 1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to 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 the darkness, we lie, and don’t tell the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 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 righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor[1 John 2:1 Greek παρακλητον: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter.] with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 2 And he is the atoning sacrifice[1 John 2:2 “atoning sacrifice” is from the Greek “ιλασμος”, an appeasing, propitiating, or the means of appeasement or propitiation—the sacrifice that turns away God’s wrath because of our sin.] for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. 8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. 9 By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice[1 John 4:10 “atoning sacrifice” is from the Greek “ιλασμος”, an appeasing, propitiating, or the means of appeasement or propitiation—the sacrifice that turns away God’s wrath because of our sin.] for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary:
1 John 1:1-2:2; 4:1-21
Verse 1
[1] 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;
That which was — Here means, He which was the Word himself; afterwards it means, that which they had heard from him.
Which was — Namely, with the Father, verse 2, before he was manifested.
From the beginning — This phrase is sometimes used in a limited sense; but here it properly means from eternity, being equivalent with, "in the beginning," John 1:1.
That which we — The apostles. Have not only heard, but seen with our eyes, which we have beheld - Attentively considered on various occasions.
Of the Word of life — He is termed the Word, John 1:1; the Life, John 1:4; as he is the living Word of God, who, with the Father and the Spirit, is the fountain of life to all creatures, particularly of spiritual and eternal life.
Verse 2
[2] (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
For the life — The living Word.
Was manifested — In the flesh, to our very senses.
And we testify and declare — We testify by declaring, by preaching, and writing, 1 John 1:3,4. Preaching lays the foundation, 1 John 1:5-10: writing builds there on.
To you — Who have not seen.
The eternal life — Which always was, and afterward appeared to us. This is mentioned in the beginning of the epistle. In the end of it is mentioned the same eternal life, which we shall always enjoy.
Verse 3
[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
That which we have seen and heard — Of him and from him.
Declare we to you — For this end.
That ye also may have fellowship with us — May enjoy the same fellowship which we enjoy.
And truly our fellowship — Whereby he is in us and we in him.
Is with the Father and with the son — Of the Holy Ghost he speaks afterwards.
Verse 4
[4] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full — So our Lord also, John 15:11; 16:22. There is a joy of hope, a joy of faith, and a joy of love. Here the joy of faith is directly intended. It is a concise expression.
Your joy — That is, your faith and the joy arising from it: but it likewise implies the joy of hope and love.
Verse 5
[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.
And this is the sum of the message which we have heard of him - The Son of God.
That God is light — The light of wisdom, love, holiness, glory. What light is to the natural eye, that God is to the spiritual eye.
And in him is no darkness at all — No contrary principle. He is pure, unmixed light.
Verse 6
[6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
If we say — Either with our tongue, or in our heart, if we endeavour to persuade either ourselves or others. We have fellowship with him, while we walk, either inwardly or outwardly, in darkness - In sin of any kind.
We do not the truth — Our actions prove, that the truth is not in us.
Verse 7
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
But if we walk in the light — In all holiness. As God is (a deeper word than walk, and more worthy of God) in the light, then we may truly say, we have fellowship one with another - We who have seen, and you who have not seen, do alike enjoy that fellowship with God. The imitation of God being the only sure proof of our having fellowship with him.
And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son — With the grace purchased thereby.
Cleanseth us from all sin — Both original and actual, taking away all the guilt and all the power.
Verse 8
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we say — Any child of man, before his blood has cleansed us.
We have no sin — To be cleansed from, instead of confessing our sins, 1 John 1:9, the truth is not in us - Neither in our mouth nor in our heart.
Verse 9
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But if with a penitent and believing heart, we confess our sins, he is faithful - Because he had promised this blessing, by the unanimous voice of all his prophets.
Just — Surely then he will punish: no; for this very reason he will pardon. This may seem strange; but upon the evangelical principle of atonement and redemption, it is undoubtedly true; because, when the debt is paid, or the purchase made, it is the part of equity to cancel the bond, and consign over the purchased possession.
Both to forgive us our sins — To take away all the guilt of them.
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness — To purify our souls from every kind and every degree of it.
Verse 10
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Yet still we are to retain, even to our lives' end, a deep sense of our past sins. Still if we say, we have not sinned, we make him a liar - Who saith, all have sinned.
And his word is not in us — We do not receive it; we give it no place in our hearts.
Verse 1
[1] 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:
My beloved children — So the apostle frequently addresses the whole body of Christians. It is a term of tenderness and endearment, used by our Lord himself to his disciples, John 13:33. And perhaps many to whom St. John now wrote were converted by his ministry. It is a different word from that which is translated "little children," in several parts of the epistle, to distinguish it from which, it is here rendered beloved children. I write these things to you, that ye may not sin - Thus he guards them beforehand against abusing the doctrine of reconciliation. All the words, institutions, and judgments of God are levelled against sin, either that it may not be committed, or that it may be abolished.
But if any one sin — Let him not lie in sin, despairing of help.
We have an advocate — We have for our advocate, not a mean person, but him of whom it was said, "This is my beloved son." Not a guilty person, who stands in need of pardon for himself; but Jesus Christ the righteous; not a mere petitioner, who relies purely upon liberality, but one that has merited, fully merited, whatever he asks.
Verse 2
[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
And he is the propitiation — The atoning sacrifice by which the wrath of God is appeased.
For our sins — Who believe.
And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world — Just as wide as sin extends, the propitiation extends also .
Verse 1
[1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Believe not every spirit — Whereby any teacher is actuated.
But try the spirits — By the rule which follows. We are to try all spirits by the written word: "To the law and to the testimony!" If any man speak not according to these, the spirit which actuates him is not of God.
Verse 2
[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Every spirit — Or teacher.
Which confesseth — Both with heart and voice.
Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God — This his coming presupposes, contains, and draws after it, the whole doctrine of Christ.
Verse 3
[3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Ye have heard — From our Lord and us, that it cometh.
Verse 4
[4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Ye have overcome these seducers, because greater is the Spirit of Christ that is in you than the spirit of antichrist that is in the world.
Verse 5
[5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
They — Those false prophets.
Are of the world — Of the number of those that know not God.
Therefore speak they of the world — From the same principle, wisdom, spirit; and, of consequence, the world heareth them - With approbation.
Verse 6
[6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
We — Apostles.
Are of God — Immediately taught, and sent by him.
Hereby we know — From what is said, 1 John 4:2-6.
Verse 7
[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Let us love one another — From the doctrine he has just been defending he draws this exhortation. It is by the Spirit that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. Every one that truly loveth God and his neighbour is born of God.
Verse 8
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
God is love — This little sentence brought St. John more sweetness, even in the time he was writing it, than the whole world can bring. God is often styled holy, righteous, wise; but not holiness, righteousness, or wisdom in the abstract, as he is said to be love; intimating that this is his darling, his reigning attribute, the attribute that sheds an amiable glory on all his other perfections.
Verse 12
[12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
If we love one another, God abideth in us — This is treated of, 1 John 4:13-16.
And his love is perfected — Has its full effect.
In us — This is treated of, 1 John 4:17-19.
Verse 14
[14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
And in consequence of this we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son - These are the foundation and the criteria of our abiding in God and God in us, the communion of the Spirit, and the confession of the Son.
Verse 15
[15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Whosoever shall, from a principle of loving faith, openly confess in the face of all opposition and danger, that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him.
Verse 16
[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
And we know and believe — By the same Spirit, the love that God hath to us.
Verse 17
[17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Hereby — That is, by this communion with God.
Is our love made perfect; that we may — That is, so that we shall have boldness in the day of judgment - When all the stout-hearted shall tremble.
Because as he — Christ.
Is — All love.
So are we — Who are fathers in Christ, even in this world.
Verse 18
[18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
There is no fear in love — No slavish fear can be where love reigns. But perfect, adult love casteth out slavish fear: because such fear hath torment - And so is inconsistent with the happiness of love. A natural man has neither fear nor love; one that is awakened, fear without love; a babe in Christ, love and fear; a father in Christ, love without fear.
Verse 19
[19] We love him, because he first loved us.
We love him, because he first loved us — This is the sum of all religion, the genuine model of Christianity. None can say more: why should any one say less, or less intelligibly?
Verse 20
[20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Whom he hath seen — Who is daily presented to his senses, to raise his esteem, and move his kindness or compassion toward him.
Verse 21
[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
And this commandment have we from him — Both God and Christ.
That he who loveth God love his brother — Every one, whatever his opinions or mode of worship be, purely because he is the child, and bears the image, of God. Bigotry is properly the want of this pure and universal love. A bigot only loves those who embrace his opinions, and receive his way of worship; and he loves them for that, and not for Christ's sake.
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