ble exertion of divine love upon an object, and by the response of the object. The love of God is perfected or completed by the perfect establishment of the relation of love between God and man. When man loves perfectly, his love is the love of God shed abroad in his heart. His love owes both its origin and its nature to the love of God.
The word verily (4An3a@s) is never used by John as a mere formula of affirmation, but has the meaning of a qualitative adverb, expressing not merely the actwal ewistence of a thing, but its existence in a manner most absolutely corresponding to dAnIeva truth. Compare John i. 48; viii. 31. Hath been perfected. John is presenting the ideal of life in God. “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments.” There- fore whosoever keepeth God’s word, His message in its en- tirety, realizes the perfect relation of love.
We are in Him. Compare Acts xvii. 28. See note on ii. 15.
6. He abideth in Him (év adto péverv). To abide in God is a more common expression with John than éo be in God, and marks an advance in thought. The phrase is a favorite one with John. See John xv. 4 sqq.; vi. 56; 1 John ii. 24, 27, 28; iii. 6, 24; iv.12sq.; 15 sq. Bengel notes the gradation in the three phrases “to know Him, to be in Him, to abide in Him ; knowledge, fellowship, constancy.”
Ought (éde/de). An obligation, put as a debt. See Luke xvii. 10, and on debts, Matt. vi. 12. The word expresses a special, personal obligation, and not as ded must, an obligation in the nature of things. See John xx. 9, and compare 1 John ii16: Iv, 11 <2 5:J Oni .o.
He (éxeivos). Always of Christ in the Epistles of John.
See éxelvns, referring to duaptia sin, 1 John v. 16.
7. Brethren (déeAdol). The correct reading is ayamntoi beloved. The first occurrence of this title, which is suggested by the previous words concerning the relation of love.