PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John
Alfred Plummer [1841-1926] · 166,203 words · 177 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 61
unto you, little children, because your sins are foro-iven you," etc. Our text teaches: 1. 7'1,at the revel,a,tions of ndemptive truth are ad"apted to every season qf human life. St. John writes to little children, to young men, and to fathers. To each of theso clnsses the Bible has much to say, and much that is app…
884 wordsSECTION 62The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 62
They had received this Word, and it was prized by them; they retained it as a treasure (cf. Pe. cxix. 162). It dwelt within them (1) as an illuminating force (cf. Ps. xix. 7, 8; cxix. 105, 130; Prov. vi. 23); (2) as a regulative force (cf. Ps. xxxvii. 31; cxix. 1-11, 101). 3. The attainment of spiritual victory. '' Ye …
881 wordsSECTION 63The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 63
pre~ent century, under modern conditions. It has grown in wealth. It has bccomo ci,·ilized and refined. LRw hns become a mightier thing. The glory of science wa~ never half so bright. Dut, looking close in, we still fiud the old facts-a dislike of God and love of fin, pride and self-sufficiency, a godless and selfis…
885 wordsSECTION 64The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 64
the Iloly One, and ye know all things. , , , But the anointing which ye har& received," etc. I. THE NATUilE OF THIS BLESSING. "Ye have an anointing from the Holy One." The" unction," or" anointing," does not signify the act of anointing, but the material which is used in the anointing-the oil, or ointment, or unguent.…
874 wordsSECTION 65The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 65
adrnntng-es l!,n'.e bcen,of the slightest, whose powers and opportunities for study have been mo~t hm1tcd, wllo yet have a cle:tr and comprehensive acquaintance with the esseutial truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the reason of this is, they" have nn anointing from the Holy One," they arc enlightened by the …
879 wordsSECTION 66The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 66
doth claily break them in thought, word, nnrl rleed." This applies even to those who are assisted by grace. Onr nature is not t_horoughly renewed, nud so, as the language bears here, there are acts of sin which, accordmg to a former thought, we have to confess to God. How, then, wHh the constantly recurring consciousne…
960 wordsSECTION 67The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 67
0f all believers in this life-this is the heavenly ndl"Ocacy that we are to t0.ko advautnge of. Our minds may t~ro to the inexhausted power of Christ's work ou earth. Ilut, acc01d1ng to what 1s 1:ud down bore, we are to turn our minds more immeJiatcly to our Saviour's advocacy. The high priest did not stop with the …
959 wordsSECTION 68The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 68
for the sako of so righteous an Advocate? (2) His worlc. "And he is the Propitia- tion for our sins." 'l'he character of Christ had to do with his work. J t was because ho always ple!lsed tho F11thor that his work could have value, lie is here called "t.he l'ropiLiation." He was also the Propitiator, but he is called t…
928 wordsSECTION 69The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 69
in. horticulture. So we have to apply the maxims of past experi~nce and Divine wisdom to o~r conduct from momont to moment. We are to see to their having their proper 11lace m regard to the development of our life. (1) Issue of disobedience. "He that snith, I know him, and keepeth not bis commandments, is a liar, an…
943 wordsSECTION 70The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 70
this but the new light of Christianity, viz. the light introduce<l by Christ an<l spread nrnong Christians? Grantetl that the dut.y had been known before, it had been greatly obscured, What an obscuration had there been of it in heathen life! And the light that had been shining in the land of the Jews had been partial…
855 wordsSECTION 71The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 71
an,l dc>ath-t.he lo,e this which passeth knorl'ledge. Those who hM·e nttnined to this <'XJ'<'l'll'nce may well he 11ppmled to agninst thinking of substituting for it n morn w,,r!,ilr cxperwnce. (3) Younge1· section. "I write unto yon, young men because yo 110,e o,l'rcome the e,il one." There are t.hose who have not …
939 wordsSECTION 72The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 72
the world too much; " what the writer of this Epistle says is, "Love it not at all." Nay, ho is yet more explicit. With re~ard to the various thinus which constitute the world, as though each passed before him in succession, he says7 with the same per- emptoriness," Love them not at all." 2. Worldliness incompatible v,…
846 wordsSECTION 73The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 73
mdichrislia.n manifestation. John is the only New Testament ,vriter who uses the- term "autichrist," Paul's designation is" he who opposeth himself." Antichrist is morn than opro~cr; he is one who opposes under the guise of Christ. He is ono who would supplant. Christ by Msuming to be and to do what Christ is and do…
892 wordsSECTION 74The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 74
doing, ~o we are said to be omniscient within the sphere of our knowing, As in the one case we must think of what is proper for us to do, so in the other case we must think of what is proper for us to know. We are to regard this as guarantee against deception. "For there shall arise false Christa and false prophets, an…
905 wordsSECTION 75The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 75
I written unt-0 you concerning them that would lead you astray. And M for you, tho 11.noiuting which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you ; hut as bis anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and ie trtie, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide iu him." 'l'be nntich…
838 wordsSECTION 76The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 76
We are children of Gorl; Father or Christ, and so also with reu;i,-,l Therefore tho world knows us not; to it<,ivos. 'l'h<, best way is to tnke ;&7,;; For the world knows not Got!. o.s God, and '"''""' as Christ: this n!rree·s But we must beware of supposing that every with ah7&v in ver. 2, with IKE'i11oi in v~r. 5,…
1,052 wordsSECTION 77The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 77
Yer. 6.-Every one that abideth in Christ B1ai1'1ere1·, asin Job i. an<l ii. (comp. John xiii. ips<' facto sinneth not; for, if he sins, he 2; Rev. ii. 10; xii. 9, 12; xx. 2, 10). The ce1toes to abide in him. Just in so far as he devil sinneth from the begiD.D.ing ( ,i,r' abides, be does not sin. Or it may mean aexii…
1,057 wordsSECTION 78The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 78
sin," but ob 56va.,.,u dµap.,.J.v,iv, "cannot be o. is my brother? The answer iR the srime nR ■inner." An not is difforent from a sto.le of to the question, "And who iR my neigh- 1ln. Thie is o.n ideal to which every Chris- bour?" Mankind at large. 'fhe meaning tian is bound to 1tspi!Jl-inability to sin. cannot be l…
1,022 wordsSECTION 79The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 79
you. Here only does St. John use the St John to guard it with npostolic chivalry; a.cldrrss. "brethren," which is appropriate but 11lso this revelation of the heo.rt of God to the subject of brolh<'rly love. :Elsewhere melts him into tenderness townrds tllo rnco his rea,lcrs nre "children" or "beloved." which Jesus …
1,074 wordsSECTION 80The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 80
tliffcrcnc<', ns if A6-y'I' expressed tLe instru- knows our sins; but lio also kno1,s r.nr 111cut, flll(l '" fp-yrp the clcm1:11t or Bf hero. temptations, our etrugglca, our sorrow, an,l 'l'liia i11truducc~ n fo]ijo nntitl10-iP, liko "Do our Jove. noL <lig wilh n et,ck, but dig in tho earth." Ver. 21.-Baloved (eh. ii. …
1,238 wordsSECTION 81The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 81
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1, 2.-" W7uit 'IMnner of love 1" Connecting link: The apostle has just spoken about being "born of God." This suggests the thought that, if born of God, then are we cldldren ! A relation so nen.r and dear• a privilege so great, inspires him with a rapturous joy. He lingers exultingly on tlie thoug…
672 wordsSECTION 82The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 82
loves ua eo. See thnt baby-boy in his crndle. Say, over and above the instinctive fondness ol' pnrent,i for their childrrn, are there not big hopes that gn.th8r ronn<l tLe little one's bend? It is not merely for what he is to-day that he is loved like this; but for what he is to be I So with us. "It doth not yet appen.…
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Yer. 3.-Thc hope: ih5 1nw~fying JJowe1·. Connecting link: The apostle hns just J>ointPrl out, the blessedness which gathers rounrl the new relationship of children of God, both as !o !ts prcrnnt p1:ivilege and as to its fnture glory. Aud if any one should rng-gest that _it 1s very questionable doctrine, to a~~ert me…
1,817 wordsSECTION 84The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 84
~ce<l. of another life is in him. 4-. It is impossible to a child of God. "He cannot ein, hecausc be is born of God." Impossibility of sinning is one mark of tho new birth. "He can~ot sin." Ble~se<l. inability I Cannot be sinning, or living a life out of harmony with Gods will 11nd \Vord. Cannot! \Vhy? Because in th…
941 wordsSECTION 85The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 85
Vere. 13-15.-The world's hatred of Christians. Connecting link: In setting forth the broad contrast between sin and righteousness, the apostle bad taken occasion to refor to Cain as the earliest illustration of the wide gulf between the two. The violent contrast between him a.ad bis bPOther generated as violent an anti…
891 wordsSECTION 86The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 86
according to the st:mdpoint of tlie individual. The worldling will hnte the dcmnnde for a life consecrated to Christ 'l'he formalist will hate what ho calls "Puritanism." The easy-going man will hate the call to strive to enter in at the strait gate. Tho rntionalist, will hate the doctrine of the atonement. 'l'hc ma…
916 wordsSECTION 87The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 87
progresR. 'fo seo men perfect (cf. Eph. v. 25-28; Col. i. 26-28; Titus ii. 14). '!'Lis-this is lovo; this is the love; herein is love. This is the supreme lesson tanizht us in Cbrist.-t!t,,t the supreme energy is infinite, eternal, bonnrlless, ont-gushing love! Mr. Herbert Spencer tells u~ that "amid the myPteries whic…
905 wordsSECTION 88The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 88
the "i_mit&tion of God" (Eph. v. 1) who takes some distinctive part in removing stumbhng:blocks out of the people's way, and in leading them, by the grace of God, to repent of em, t-0 turn to God,_ and to live on the Lord Jesus for power to trend the right ~ay •. Let each one choose bis own department of duty, and b…
920 wordsSECTION 89The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 89
III. A 0ONFIDING EYE, 'Eµ,rpo"9•v ab'l'oii, "before him; " a.s in hiR Right. As a loving, trustful child aiming to pleaRe his father looks up with placid confidence to catch th0 glance of his father's eye, delighted to think or its loving vigilance, so the child of God lives as before the eye of his Father in hea.ven, …
881 wordsSECTION 90The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 90
Yers, 23, 24.-0utwa,·d precept ~M inward life, Connecting linlc: The word b.-o,\¾ wh'.ch marked the precedmg verse, 1s ca,1ght up in this, and the life of obedionce thereto, which ha,l. been shown to be the condition of freedom in fellowship with God and of auccess in .P1:1Lyer, is _here dec)ared to be the seal and …
845 wordsSECTION 91The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 91
let us meditate upon the love of the Divino Father to us as it is exhibited in the toxt. I. LovE Oll' IMMEASURABLE coNDESCENBlON. "Behold what manner of love the Father bath bestowed upon us I" '.l.'he Creator gave his love to his creature whom he ha.d created in his own likeness. He me.de him capable of fellowship…
993 wordsSECTION 92The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 92
Vers. 2, 3.-The present and the future of the good. " Beloved, now are we children of God," etc. Here is- I. A GLORIOUS FACT OF PRESENT EXPERIENCE. IC Beloved, now are we children of God." 1. As sharing in his life. 1 2. .As morally resembling him. 3. .As possessing the filial spirit. II. A GRACIOUS MYSTERY AS TO …
714 wordsSECTION 93The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 93
Like_ ~ill:! too, in some reApects, corporeally; for he "shall fashion anew the body of our bum1hatlon, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory" (Phil. iii. 21). 2. Of the viBion of God in Christ. "For we shall see him even as he is." Some measure of likeness to him is indispensable to our seeing him. Spiritu…
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calls sin, and _th1;1s end~avour to get rid of guilt. Ilut misdirection implies a misdi- rector; I hat rnmhrcctor 1s man. Aud sin is more than misdirection; it is tho infraction of the holy Law and beau~iful order of the Supreme. The sacred Scripture~ everywhere nsi:ert this._ ~'he cherubim and the fla.ming sword of…
913 wordsSECTION 95The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 95
ever einneth ha.th not seen him, neither knoweth him," The sight and knowledge hero spoken of nro not merely intellectual, but spiritual; not theoretical, but experimental. .And the" einnelh" does not denote sin as an occasional and exceptional thing, but as grnernl nnd habitual. He who lives in the practice of sin the…
1,035 wordsSECTION 96The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 96
Vers. 16-18.-The exhibition and obligation of true love. "Hereby perceive ,ve the love of God, because be la.id down his life for us," etc. Our subject naturally divides itself into two main branches. I. Tim EXHIBTTtoN OF THE NATURE OF TRUE LOVE. "Hereby know we love, because he lai,i <lown bis life for us." "The m…
813 wordsSECTION 97The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 97
for our brethren. 2. Readiness to relieve the needs of our "brethren. "But whoso hath the world's goods, n.nd beholdeth his brother in need," etc. (ver. 17). True love ei.presses itself not only in great and heroic acts, but io little deeds of thoughtful kmdness, in lowly ministries to the poor and needy. Our Lord not …
868 wordsSECTION 98The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 98
"r t.J;e faint{'st- sh11dow. The greatness of his mercy towards the sinner docs nut lead him t:i excuse any .sin. If om· heart conrlemn us, how much more dues he? If our conscience, which is but II faint and imperfect echo of his voice, condemn us, how much more ?oes ,,be? 2. 0o'1S~ce "!lay rwt take cog~izance of etJ…
924 wordsSECTION 99The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 99
not." If we shnro the immo nnture with Gnd, why are 011r circ11m8tanccs so unli!cc our origin? 'l'he reason given is that " the world knoweth us not," i.e. cannot detect th6 Divine imo.ge in us. Our thoughts, our delights, our motives and ways of acting, are all 11. riddle to men of the world. That this reason holds go…
958 wordsSECTION 100The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 100
of purification. He who does not observe the rules, does not use the means does not e~cRpe moral judgrnent or characterization. His whole doing takes the ch~racter of lawlessness: and sin, it is added, is lawlessness. Sin ~opposes a law which has aut.hority over us, whether revealed simply in the conscience or in Ch…
936 wordsSECTION 101The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 101
panicd with daily falls into sin, for which forgiving grace is needed; still, it is his principle not to sin. Whosoever sinneth, i.e. makes it his principle to sin, makes self the centre of his thoughts and life-hath not seen Mm, neither knoweth him. IIe hath not yet truly cast bis eye on Christ, neither is he in the …
955 wordsSECTION 102The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 102
we hR,·e n~ed ~.o be jealous over ourselves with a godly jealousy. Lot us not please ours,•l,cs with 11luswns, but let us keep close to reality. The apostle gives us II mnrk here by whkh we may be helped to classify ourselves. According to his manner, ho catches up the former idea of doing righteousness, but only to fi…
921 wordsSECTION 103The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 103
hntrecl is cfJectu!llly exclnclcd. "Whosoever hatcth his brother [there seems to be a limitntion to the Ohristinn circle] is a murderer." He has the feeling of the murderer, in so fnr as he is not sorry to seo the happiness of his brother dimini,hed. If he is a murderer to any extent-, then-according to the old law-…
956 wordsSECTION 104The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 104
is 011c who professes to be e. Christian, Nature does not refuse him assistnnce. The ~pectaclc of e. brother's poverty oi"l0ns his heart in compassion. Dnt he selfishly shuts 1t-g0cs aw1ty, and finds prndenL1al reasons for not making the little sacrifice that his feelings un~hcck~ :wo~1ld lead him to m:tke: have we …
937 wordsSECTION 105The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 105
Having stnrted the thought of aesumnce, John emphasizes it by putting forward tho cnlamitoneaess of its opposite. If our heart condemn us, i.e. if, from the presence of unloving feelings and from other evidences, we do not have good ground for thin kin~ that we have yet come into a covenant relationship to God, then ou…
1,017 wordsSECTION 106The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 106
EXPOSITION, CHAPTER IV. and "prove" (ver. 1), or inrlicntive, in harmony with" we know" (eh. iii. 16, [19,] Ver. 1-<lh. v. 12.-(2) The rource of 80ft• 24). • ship. Posse1,sion of the Spirit. 'Ver. R.-Every spirit (not so much the Yers. 1-6.-Confession of the Incarna- personal teacher as the princi pie or tendency t…
842 wordsSECTION 107The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 107
fact (comp. John xvi. 83). But it ia or "never knew God.'' The m11.n's not better to take the eto.temon t literally. By loving his brc,ther shows that in no real refusing to listen to the fa.lee teachers (eh. sense hM he ever in the past known Gori : x. 8) the sheep lrnve conquere<l them: the he is of the worlrl (eh…
1,066 wordsSECTION 108The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 108
c-ovc>rs both thc> q unllty Rnd the quantity of verse, A.II of eh. l. 1, 8, would be etrnincd the Jove. Kai belongs solely to ;,µ,'is: "we and rather unroal in one who ha,l not seen nlso on our pnrt ought to love one another." the Christ in the flesh. Noto that .,...,-rijpa "'e should have expe<.•ted e.s the npodosi…
1,050 wordsSECTION 109The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 109
repulsion; therefore fear exists not in love. ciple of love." To take &-ya.,,.wµ,v a.~ snh- Lovo hero monne tho principle of love in junetive in the sense "let us love" is less genernl ; it must not be limited to God's forcible. St. John slake es a fact what. lovo to us, or our lovo to Goel, or our love ought to be …
955 wordsSECTION 110The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 110
J. THE BIG ITT OF "'rRnNG TTIF. SPIRITS" DET.ONGB TO EVERY Ct1RIBTIAN AND 18 INALIE1'ADLE: A Christian is under no oblijp1tion to let any new prophet. 'gain hia 11cceptancc without severely testing him. 1. 'l he Lord Jesus Christ himself h::ul ncv1·r called for a blind_11cce_ptan_ce ?f his claims. He courted inquiry…
935 wordsSECTION 111The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 111
Christian cnmp, "JesuR Christ is Lord." There is no halting-place betweer, the two. It ia aijked: 8. Is there, then, to bo no progress in the cour,e of the a::;es ? is all other ■cience lo advance and Christian knowledge remain stationary, eo that in the nineteenth century the sume test of truth applies a~ at the first…
919 wordsSECTION 112The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 112
the h11~iness (If this emba~sy to deny the trulh. The first lie W!\S, "Ye sh!\ll not surely <lie." 'l'hc supreme lie (If !\ntichri~t now is, "Jesus is not the Son of God." Wherever that lie flourishes, no saving truth can live. The forms in which it is now put are legion! V. 'l'HESE Ennon-INSPIRED SPIRITS OWE THEIR…
899 wordsSECTION 113The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 113
his own. The matter, for it gathers round a few koy-wor<ls-" light," "life," "love." The style, for it is not like Paul's, cumulative; it is rather radiative. V/e have no specimens of prolonged and closely connective argument; but a series r,f rich anrl beautiful teachings throughout a paragraph, on one of his key-w…
855 wordsSECTION 114The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 114
YJ. ".IIEN DEING BCIR:S- OF GoD, WE LOVE LIKE IIIM, WE ABE BROUGHT IN'l'O F~L1,0wsmp 'll""ITII H!M· (Vers. 12, 13.) When God hath given us of hie own Spirit oJ l<>rn, s,1 tLat we m our measure come to love like God, then we know that "we cln:cll _in him, and be in _us." There is a loving and abiding intercommunion. …
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It snbjectivcly in man. H is tbe last-named act which is specified here. 1. The Spirit of God comes within man,freely. "Given." The gift of the S1,irit witl,in id ns gratuitous on God's part BR the gift of his clear Son. lie is bcstowe•l by the ;:ion, as the Gift of the FRthcr'e love (Luke xi. 13; John i. 33; xiv. 1…
1,297 wordsSECTION 116The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 116
Vers. 15, 16.-Divine love a home for the soul, and a force within it. Connecting link: There is a connection between the several verses on which we are now dwelling (vers, 7 -19). But it is not 1<0 much a connection of thoughts that follow consecutively one from another, as a connection such as exists between glowing…
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'rhore nre bare two etnlemeLts in reply to this question. The apostle says," Whosoever ehnll confess that J esns is the Son of God " is thus blessed; and that "he that d welleth in love" is so also. We must elucidate this by offeriag, first, a word or two on each pbrnse, and then by showing the connection that exists b…
915 wordsSECTION 118The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 118
Yers. 17, 18.-Love's /,oldness in the day of judgment. Connecting link: 'fho Bpostle hn,1 boen spea~ing of God's love being porfocted in 11s. He now glances forward to the outlook of believers, ns_ bounded by the ,ra.pova-lc& and the rcpfou, and in so doing he shows that, as lo\'e alt:uns its perfection, all dread w…
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text: e~>..aSela. (II·:b. xii. 28) is very different from cp&fJor. The fe~r which is incon- slstont with perfod love is tho fear of the slave dreading the lash, or tho culprit dreading the verdict. But if the love of Goel is within ns, sweetly subduing- us with its tenderness, and if through tl111t love sin is pardon…
902 wordsSECTION 120The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 120
thrmld through the faith of the Churob. "He first loved us." Whl\t ia love? It is righteousness and benevolence acting in h1umony. Now, here is love's orio-in. He first loved. That is, God loved. Note: The word "love" is current coin thfoughout the universe of God, and means with him \'l'hat it means with us. (For a…
806 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.