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expression : in ver. 6, with Him , understand from ver. 7, and among ourselves [and one with another ] : in ver. 7, among us [one with an- other~\ , understand from ver. 6, with Him. Comp. John xiv. 10, note. — xu) rh cJ/£a, and the blood) Fellowship with the Son of God is described. Respecting the blood, comp. ch. v. 6; John vi. 53-56; Apocal. i. 5. — '/.aQa,p/Z)ti t\[Jj ug} cleanseth us) by remission and taking away : comp. ver. 9. — all) original and actual.
8. ‘ A/jjapr/uv, sin) There is an opposition between those who say, We have no sin , and those who confess their sins (plural). He is therefore speaking of actual sins, which flow from original sin. In proportion as each person has contracted less or more, so he deems it necessary to confess less or more ; Prov. xxviii. 13; and that either respecting the past, ver. 10, or the present, ver. 8. John comprises in his discourses all to whom that declaration comes, both good and bad ; without distinction, according to their measure. But there were even then some who extenuated sin, and therefore also dis- paraged grace. — h aXqOzia, the truth) John often comprises faith also together with the notion of truth : ch. ii. 4. HDX and roiDK are conju- gate words. — ovx Ur iv h tj^Tv, is notin us) is not in our heart, and therefore not in our mouth. The fault is in us ; is ours : the glory belongs to God : ver. 9.
9. ’Eat* bfjjokoywfitv rug ufLuprlac fifiuv, if we confess our sins) This verse is placed between two antithetical sentences, as ch. ii. 10. For it is antithetical to say, I have no sin , and, I have not sinned , ver. 8 and 10. The former is concerning the guilt of sin, which still remains ; the latter is concerning the actual commission. By the former, ice deceive ourselves ; by the latter, we make Him a liar. It is the best plan to confess before God, who holds us guilty as sinners, ver. 10 ; and the universal necessity of this confession is here asserted : so that John not only says, that if we have sinned we must confess ; but that all have reason to say, I have sin , and I have sinned , and ought to confess that, although with different degrees : otherwise we should not need cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ. — ‘TMfrbg, faithful) He makes good all things, which we promise our- selves respecting the goodness of God. — Un, is) so that wTe expe- rience it, and do not make Him a liar. — xui dlxu/og , and just) so as to spare the sinner, and abolish the sins. Thus also Jesus Christ is called the righteous , ch. ii. 1. — ap?j, to remit) while He takes away the guilt. — xaQap'nty j, to cleanse) so that we sin no more.
10. Yeuffrvjv rroioxi^iv avrov, we make Him a liar) God says, Thou hast sinned ; to deny this is impious. Comp. ch. v. 10. — 6 Xoyog auroO,