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xxxii. 5, xix. 13, xc. 8. — y/i'wo'/cs/, knows ) nor however does He con- demn (xarayivuMsi). In the Greek there is a pleasant change1 of the word.
21. Mfi xaraynuitxpf does not condemn) either as never injured, or as again appeased. — Kappqsiav, confidence) in asking. This is re- peated, cli. v. 14, 15. This confidence far excels that tranquility which is expressed by the verb miffo/utv, we shall tranquilize.
23. Tw bvafiar) on the name. Comp. Heb. vi. 10. — as) This particle belongs to the verbs, we should believe and love.2
24. E/c tov Uvs-jfjLarog, from or by the Spirit) This is the first men- tion of the Holy Spirit in this Epistle, in accordance with the Divine economy here, as also in the Gospel of John, ch. xiv. 1-3, 26. And in this verse there is a kind of transition to the discussion respecting the Holy Spirit, which follows immediately in the beginning of ch. iv. It is given to us by the Spirit, and it is the Spirit which is given.
1. Uavri) every spirit , which presents itself. — <rvev[iari) spirit , by which any teacher is influenced. — doxifAafyre, try) according to the rule, which is given in ver. 2 and 3. — noWo) many , as at other times, so in that age also. A dreadful crop of heresies sprung up in those times. John zealously contends against them. If he were alive at this day, he would be called by some too severe. — -^sudonpo- ffircu, false prophets) 2 Pet. ii. 1 ; Matt. xxiv. 11, 24. — s^sXTjXvdaffiv, have gone out) from their places. They have entered into the world : 2 John, ver. 7. — jcoV/aov, the world) which is easy to be de- ceived : ver. 4 and 5.
2. r^ffxgrs,3 ye know) Eespecting the heresies of that age there
1 An instance of the figure Paregrnenon, by which cognate words, both simple and compound, are joined together. See Appendix.
2 vipc7v, to us) This pronoun, though expressed in the Germ. Vers., is re- garded by the margin of both Greek Editions as spurious. — E. B.
ABC Vulg. Memph. Lucif. add ypth : so Lachm. Tiscli. omits it, with inferior authorities. — E.
3 The reading yivaox.irot.1 (is to be known), which in the margin of both Ed. is left to the decision of the reader, is preferred in the Germ. Vers. — E. B.
YrjMKiTou is read by Vulg. and Syr. of the oldest authorities ; but yivGwy.iTi,
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