Vv. 6,7. The, heresy of Antinomian- ism, represented by the Nicolaitans (cf. Introd. Ῥ. 156). ἐὰν εἴπωμεν, a gentle
and charitable hypothesis. He does not charge his readers with actually hold- ing this pernicious doctrine, and he includes himself (νε, not ‘‘ ye”).
περιπατεῖν, Heb. “J Prt, of the whole
course of life. The Greek phrase is ἀναστρέφεσθαι (conversari). God is light and sin darkness, peccata tenebre sunt (Aug.), and it is impossible to be living in sin or compromising with it and at the same time be enjoying fellowship with God. ψευδόµεθα: we may believe the lie, being self-deceived (ver. 8) ; for disobedience to the Truth blinds us to it. Knowledge comes by doing (cf. John vii. 17). τὴν ἀλήθειαν, see note on ver. 8. ‘* Walking in the light ” has two blessed results: (1) ‘‘fellowship with one another,” which may mean either fellow- ship with God—He with us and we with Him (Aug., Calv.), or communion of saints—our fellow-believers with us and we with them. In fact the one idea im- plies the other. They are inseparable. Communion with our brethren is the consequence and evidence of communion with God. Cf. iv. 20. (2) ‘‘ Cleansing in the blood of Jesus.” τὸ αἷμα Ἴησου, God’s Infinite Sacrifice for the sin of the world—a N.T. phrase of peculiar poig- nancy and fragrance. Cf. Ignat. ad’ Rom. vii.: τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ, ὅ ἐστιν ἀγάπη ἄφθαρτος. When we walk in the light, that demonstration of the length to which God has gone in sacrifice for our sakes, is ever before us, and the amazing spectacle subdues our hearts, takes pos- session of them, and drives out every evil affection. Cf. Catherine of Siena: ‘‘ The blood and tears ofthe Divine Son are able