The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 28

norisl)? Five nuswers e.re given. (a) Tho 1 write this Epistle: Rcasrma for wriliHg it: chcmgo is mncle for emphasis: "I write; I 1. To all of you. You have been for- wroto; thero is nothing more to be Mid." Dut in this cnso the pint tense should como given. 2. To the old o.mong You have knowledge first: "I wrote; I writo it again." Morc- you. of the Worrl. OTer, we should expect tho perfect rather than 3, To the young You have conquerecl the aorist, ns in t, 1l-ypa.<f,a. -yl-ypa.<f,a., (b) "I among you. the evil one. write" refers to who.t follows; "I wrote," to what precedes. And some have even tried to 1 UJrote my Gospel: ReaMnsforwriting it: find out the three different portions in each I. To all of yon(?). You have knowledge po.rt of the Epistle; e.g. "I v,rite to you, of the Father. little children" (eh. ii. 15-17); ''to you, 2. To the old among You have knowledge fathers" (eh. ii. 18-27); "to you, young you. of the Word. men" (eh. ii. 28-iii. 22): "I wrote to you, 3. To the young Yon have strength, children" ( eh. i. 5-7); " to you, fathers" among you. have God's revela- (eh. i. 8-ii. 2); '' to you, young men" (eh. tion in your hea1·ts, ii. 3-11). llut this is fanciful and very and have conquered arbitrary; and in this ease o.lso the pnst the evil one. tense should come first: '' I have written thus far to you; again I proceed to writo to Ver. 12.-I am writing to you, little chil- you." (c) "I write" refers to the whole dren (see on ver. l), because, etc. Beyond rea- Epistle; "I wrote," to what precedes. This sonable doubt, 8n is "because," not " that," answer has the s1inction of the 'Speaker's iu vers. 12-14; it gives the reason for his Commentary;' but it seems to be quite writing, not tbe substance of what he haa to frivolous. What could induce St. John first say (cf. ver. 21). For hie Name's s2.ke must of all to tell each class that he writes the refer to Christ, not only because of the con- whole Epistle to them, and then to tell them text, but also of the instrumental ~ui (cf. eh. that he wrote the first pa1·t of it to them? iii. 23; v. 13; John i.12); and Christ's Name There would be little enough sense in first means his char-.icter, especially as Saviour. saying that he wrote the beginning to them, Because they have already partaken of the and then th1it ho writes the whole to them; ll\a.o-µ&s (ver. 2), =d ham hnd their sins but there is no sense in the former state- wnshed away in the blootl. of Christ ( eh. i. ment if it comes ofter the latter. (d) "I nm 7), therefore be writes to them this Epistle. writing " is from St. John's point of vieto, 11s Note the perfects throughout, indicating tho he pens the growing lette1·. " I wrote " is permanent result of pnst action: J.cpew11-ra.,, from tlie readers' point of 11iew, as they i-yv~1<a.Te, v,1111<,f1<a.TE. pernso the completed letter. But whot is Ver. 13.-:Because ye know (literally, hare gained by this change of standpoint? Is it come to know, as in vers. 3, 4) him that is probable that St. John woulu make three from the bagimling (Tov .,..• apxiis). The distinct addresses in the position of the context respecting Christ's Name 1md 'II ,lv writer of the Epistle, nnd then solemnly h' clpx11s (eh. i. 1) show that the Word and repeat them in the position of the recipients not the Father is meant. A more perfect of it? (e) The Epistle is written as a com- knowledge of Jesus a.s the Eterno.1 Word, and po.nion to tho Gospel : therefore " I write " no mere won or emo.notion from the Deity, refers to the Epistle, which he is in the net is the special prerogative of the aged Chris- of composing; "I wrote," to the Gospel, which tian; ond such are fit recipients of the lies completed before him, and on which the a-y-yel\Ca. of the apostle. No less fit, but for Epislle serves as 11 commentary. 'l'his seems a different reason, are the younger among to be the roost satisfactory explanation (see bis rc,1ders. To fight is the lot of the youug on eh. i. 4). (2) Who ai·e indicated by tho soldier ; a.nd o. victorious v.-11rfnre against three classes 1 In the first triplet, 'TE1<11la, as Satan is the distinction of youthful Chris- elsewhere in the Epistle (vers. 1, 28; eh. iii. tians. They barn got the Letter of tl111t evil 18; iv. 4, 5, 21), refers to his reatle1·s as a one in wh0se power the whole world lies whole, of whom 1rd.-r,p« nl1(1 11rnvlo-Ko1 are (eh. iii. 12; v. 18, 19; John xii. 31; xiv; two component divisions. This is probably 30; xvi. 11). Not that the warfare is over, the case in the second triplet also, althou:,.:h but tha.t it is henceforth warfo.re with 11 de- the cha.nge from TEKvfa. to 1ra.,ola. renders this feated enemy. Hence they also have o. right a little doubtful (see on ver. 13). (3) Does to share in the o.postolic message. I wrote the difference between "fathe1·s" and "young (or, have written) to you, ohildren, beoause men" refer to age as men or age as Clu-istians 1 ye know (or, have come to know) the Father. Probably the former. In both Gospel and The reading (-yp,.,j,a must be preferred to Epistle St. John writes to mature o.nd well- -ypa<f,w, on overwhelming evidence, both ex- instructed Chrislinns. The following table ternal and internal. The second triplet begins 'Will illustrato the view takeu :- here, and this sentence should ho.ve been  2-i THE FlRS'l' EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOUN. [en, 11. 1-20.