These are the two commandments of God, the fundamental and all-embracing Christian duties—love God and love the brotherhood. And faith in the Incarna- tion (ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν 6 Χριστός) is an inspiration for both.
πιστεύων Corresponds to πίστις (νετ. 4). The lack of a similar correspondence in English is felt here as in many other passages (e.g., Matt. viii. το, 13; ix. 28, 29). Latinis similarly defective: ‘‘ omnis qui credit,” “ fides nostra”.
Ver. 3. ἢ ἀγ.τ. Θεοῦ, here objective genitive; contrast ii. 5. ἵνα ecbatic (see
194 ΙΩΑΝΟΥ A ice 3
μα. αὐτοῦ τηρῶμεν : καὶ ‘at ἐντολαὶ αὐτοῦ βαρεῖαι οὐκ εἰσίν. 4. ὅτι 1 € αι John § πᾶν τὸ * γεγεννηµένον ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ, νικᾷ τὸν κόσμον ΄ καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν eed ea νίκη ἡ νικήσασα τὸν κόσμον, ἡ πίστις ἡμῶν. 5. τίς ἐστιν ὃ 6 κο κ τες κῶν τὸν κόσμον, εἰ μὴ 6 πιστεύων ὅτι "Ingots ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ 1 Heb. ix. Θεοῦ;
Ii, 12. a xix. 6, Οὗτός ἐστιν 6 ἐλθὼν | δι᾽ "' ὕδατος καὶ αἵματος,ὸ Ιησοῦς 6
6
'Punct. εισιν, οτι edd. ἔημων ΝΔΒΚΡ, Vg., edd. ; Όμων L, Aeth.
Sais εστιν AL, Vg., Sah., Tisch., Nest.; τις εστι δε B, WH (δε brack.); Syrve quis enim, Aeth. εἰ quis.
4 © χριστος ο vios two minusc., Arm.
ὅκαι αιµατος BKL, Syrvs, Vg., Tert. (de Bapt., 16: venerat enim per aquam et sanguinem, sicut Ioannes scripsit), edd.; add. και πνευµατος ΜΑΡ, many minusc., Syrph, Cop., Sah.
®o om. ΜΑΒΙ,, Arm., edd.
Moulton’s Gram. of N. T. Gk., i. pp. of God” (ver. 1). So now he asks: 206-9), where the classical idiom would ‘Who is he that conquereth the world require τὸ ἡμᾶς τηρεῖν. Cf. Johnxvii.3; but he that hath faith that Jesus is the Luke i. 43. τὰς évt., the two command- Son of God?” (‘Son of God” being ments—‘“ love God” and ‘‘love one an- synonymous with “ Christ,” 7.e., ‘‘ Mes- other” (cf. iii, 23, where see note; iv. 21). siah”. Cf. John xi. 27, xx. 31). His καὶ ai ἐντ., κ.τ.λ.: cf. Herm. Past. doctrine therefore is that faith in the M. xii. 4, § 4: ot δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς χείλεσιν Incarnation, believing apprehension of ἔχοντες τὸν κύριον, τὴν δὲ καρδίαν αὐτῶν the wonder and glory of it, makes easy πεπωρωµένην, καὶ μακρὰν ὄντες ἀπὸ τοῦ the commandments of God, {.ε., love to κυρίου, ἐκείνοις αἱ ἐντολαὶ αὗται σκληραί God and love to one another. The τε- εἰσι καὶ δύσβατοι. Aug. In Foan. Ev. membrance and contemplation of that
Tract. xlviii. 1: ‘‘ Nostis enim qui amat amazing manifestation drive out the non laborat. Omnis enim labor non affection of the world and inflame the amantibus gravis est.” heart with heavenly love. ‘‘ What else
Ver. 4. The reason why “‘ His com- can the consideration of a compas:ion mandments are not heavy”. Punctuate so great and undeserved, of a love so οὐκ εἰσίν, ὅτι wav, κ.τ.. The neut. free and in such wise proved, of a con- (wav τὸ yey.) expresses the universality descension so unexpected, of a gentleness of the principle, “' driickt die unbedingte so unconquerable, of a sweetness so Allgemeinheit noch starker aus als ‘Jeder, amazing—what, I say, can the diligent der aus Gott geboren ist’” (Rothe). Cf. consideration of these things do but John iii. 6. τὸν κόσμον, the sum of all deliver utterly from every evil passion the forces antagonistic to the spiritual the soul of him that considers them and life. ‘Our faith” conquers the world hale it unto them in sorrow, exceedingly by clinging to the eternal realities. affect it, and make it despise in compari- ‘Every common day, he who would be son with them whatsoever can be desired a live child of the living has to fight the onlyin their despite?” (Bern. De Dilig. God-denying look of things, to believe Deo). ‘‘ There is no book so efficacious that, in spite of their look, they are towards the instructing of a man in all God’s, and God is in them, and work- all virtue and in abhorrence of all sin as ing his saving will in them” (Geo. the Passion of the Son of God” (Juan de MacDonald, Castle Warlock, xli.). St. Avila). ‘ Fix your eyes on your Crucified John says first “15 conquering ” (νικᾷ) Lord, and everything will seem easy to