Shineth (daiver). See on John i. 5. Compare Apoc. i. 16; viii, 12; xxi. 23; 2 Pet.i.19. See also Rom. xiii. 11 sqq.; Diteei ell 14:
9. Hateth (uwoa@v). The sharp issue is maintained here as in Christ’s words, “ He that is not with me is against me” (Luke xi. 23). Men fall into two classes, those who are in fellowship with God, and therefore walk in light and love, and those who are not in fellowship with God, and therefore walk in darkness and hatred. ‘A direct opposition,” says Bengel; where love is not, there is hatred. ‘The heart is not empty.” See John iii. 20; vii. 7; xv. 18 sqq.; xvii. 14. The word hate is opposed both to the love of natural affection (purely), and to the more discriminating sentiment—love founded on a just estimate (aya- mav). For the former see John xii. 25; xv. 18, 19; compare Luke xiv. 26. For the latter, 1 John iii. 14, 15; iv. 20; Matt. v. 43; vi. 24; Eph. v. 28, 29. “In the former case, hatred, which may become a moral duty, involves the subjection of an instinct. In the latter case it expresses a general determina- tion of character ” (Westcott).
His brother (Tov ddeddov). His fellow-Christian. The sin- gular, brother, is characteristic of this Epistle. See vv. 10, 11; iii. 10, 15, 17; iv. 20, 21; v.16. Christians are called in the New Testament, Christians (Acts xi. 26; xxvi. 28; 1 Pet. iv. 16), mainly by those outside of the Christian circle. Dzsciples, applied to all followers of Christ (John ii. 11; vi. 61) and strictly to the twelve (John xiii. 5 sqq.). In Acts xix. 1, to those who had received only John’s baptism. Not found in John’s Epistles nor in the Apocalypse. Brethren. The first title given to the body of believers after the Ascension (Acts i. 15, where the true reading is ddekdav brethren, for paInrav disciples). See Acts ix. 80; x. 23; xi.29; 1 Thess. iv. 10; v. 26; 1 John iii. 14; 3 John 5, 10; John xxi. 23. Peter has 7 aderporns the brotherhood (1 Pet. ii. 17; v. 9). The believers. Under three forms: The believers (oi mioroi; Acts x. 45; 1 Tim. iv. 12); they that believe (of mucrevovres; 1 Pet. ii. 7; 1 Thess. i. 7; Eph. i. 19); they that believed (oi muctevcartes ;