127
4. 'O toiu/v tyi v afiapriav, he that committeth sin) There is an anti- thesis to this in, he that doeth righteousness , ver. 7. UoisTv is to do, to exercise. — xai, also) by that very fact. — rr\v dvofilav, iniquity) dvo^/a, iniquity , has a somewhat more dreadful sound, especially in the ears of those who greatly esteem the law and will of God, than d^apn'a, sin. From the law is the knowledge of sin. There is a kindred expression, ch. v. 1 7, all unrighteousness is sin. A crooked line is seen of itself ; but it is more conspicuous when compared with the ruler. By this expression the philosophical [ notion of~\ sin is most befittingly refuted. — xa /, and) Nay indeed, not only is the nature (principle) of sin closely connected with that of iniquity , but it is the same. Thus xai, and , ch. v. 4, and yap, for, ch. v. 3. — rt d^apna Igtiv r\ uvo/j,ia, sin is iniquity) Sin is the subject, inasmuch as the whole discourse treats of it. The antithesis is, He that doeth righteousness is righteous : he that doeth righteousness, is not considered dvo^og, unrighteous, but he has the testimony and praise of righteousness : ver. 7, comp, with Gal. v. 23 ; 1 Tim. i. 9.
5. ’’EpavipwOri, ivas manifested) in the flesh. — rag d^apriag yi/JjUV, our sins) inasmuch as they are especially displeasing to Him. — app, He might take away) John i. 29, note. — h avrfi, in Him) The sentence, He is righteous, ver. 7, has reference to this.
6. Oby a/xa pram, sinneth not) In him the good of righteousness is not overcome by the evil of sin. — ou y sdbpaxsv avrov) hath not seen Him in spirit ; although perhaps, as to personal appearance, he hath seen Him in the flesh : or even, though he hath seen Him in spirit, at the very moment of sin he becomes such, as though he had never seen Him in any way. — ovds eyvwxsv avrov, nor known Him) in truth ; although perhaps he hath formerly known Him personally. Light and knowledge produce likeness to God : ver. 2.
7. M Yidztg nhavaro), let no man lead you astray) He deceives, who thinks that he can be accounted righteous without the deeds of righteousness. — [p'rxaibg son, is righteous) Deut. vi. 25. — V. g.]
8. Ex rov diafioXov, of the devil) as a son : ver. 10. The word born is not however here employed, nor seed, but works. For from the devil there is not generation, but corruption. — an dpyfg, from the beginning) from the time when the devil is the devil. He seems to have kept his first estate but a very short time. — d/xaprdvsi, sins) An abbreviated expression : that is, has sinned from the beginning, and is the cause of all sins, and still goes on sinning : he sins (with guilt becoming heavier from day to day), and induces others to sin : he
128