World. The threefold repetition of the word has a certain solemnity. Compare i. 10; xv. 19.
18. Is condemned already (75 xéxputac). Rev., more cor- rectly, hath been judged already. Unbelief, in separating from Christ, implies judgment. He has been judged in virtue of his unbelief.
19. This. That is, herein consists the judgment. The pref- acing a statement with ¢hés is, and then defining the statement by ére or iva, that, is characteristic of John. See xv. 12; xvii. 38; 1 Johni. 5; v.11, 14; 3 John 6.
Light (70 das). Rev., correctly, the light. See i. 4, 9. Men (oi dvSparro.). Lit., the men. Regarded as a class.
Darkness (7d cxdtos). See on i. 5. Rev., correctly, the darkness. John employs this word only here and 1 John i. 6. His usual term is cxotéa (i. 5; viii. 12; 1 Johni. 5, etc.), more commonly describing a state of darkness, than darkness as opposed to light.
Were (jv). Habitually. The imperfect tense marking con- tinuation.
Evil (ovnpa). Actively evil. See on Mark vii. 22; Luke ii. 19.
20. Doeth (7pacowv). The present participle, indicating habit and general tendency.
Evil (daira). Rev., od/. A different word from that in the previous verse. Originally, light, paltry, trivial, and so worth- less. Evil, therefore, considered on the side of worthlessness. See on Jas. iii. 16.
Lest his works should be reproved (iva py édeyy9h Ta ya avtod). Rather, in order that his works may not be re-
proved. Edéyyw, rendered reprove, has several phases of meaning. In earlier classical Greek it signifies to desgrace or put to shame. Thus Ulysses, having succeeded in the trial of the bow, says to Telemachus, “the stranger who sits in thy halls disgraces (édéyyer) thee not” (“ Odyssey, xxi., 424). Then, to cross-examine or question, for the purpose of convine- ing, convicting, or refuting ; to censure, accuse. So Herodotus : ‘In his reply Alexander became confused, and diverged from the truth, whereon the slaves interposed, confuted his state- ments (7Aeyxov, cross-questioned and caught him in falsehood), and told the whole history of the crime” (i., 115). The mes- senger in the “ Antigone” of Sophocles, describing the consterna- tion of the watchmen at finding Polynices’ body buried, says: “Evil words were bandied among them, guard accusing (edéyyov) guard” (260). Of arguments, zo bring to the proof ; prove; prove by a chain of reasoning. It occurs in Pindar in the general sense of to conquer or surpass. “ Having descended into the naked race they surpassed (#Aey£av) the Grecian band in speed (“ Pythia,” xi., 75).
In the New Testament it is found in the sense of reprove (Luke iii. 19; 1 Tim. v. 20, ete.). Convince of crime or fault (1 Cor. xiv. 24; Jas. ii. 9). To bring to light or expose by con- viction (Jas. iii. 20; Eph. v. 11, 13; John viii. 46; see on that passage). So of the exposure of false teachers, and their ref- utation (Tit. i. 9,135; 11.15). To test and expose with a view to correction, and so, nearly equivalent to chasten (Heb. xii. 5). The different meanings unite in the word convict. Convic- tion is the result of examination, testing, argument. The test exposes and demonstrates the error, and refutes it, thus convinc- ing, convicting, and rebuking the subject of it. This conviction issues in chastening, by which the error is corrected and the erring one purified. If the conviction is rejected, it carries with it condemnation and punishment. The man is thus con- victed of sin, of reght, and of judgment (John xvi. 8). In this passage the evil-doer is represented as avoiding the light which tests, that light which is the offspring of love (Apoe. iii. 19), and the consequent exposure of his error. Compare Eph. v. 13; Johni. 9-11. This idea of loving darkness rather than