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Epistles of John

I John Ch. IV

Verses 21

1

1 to 3. Warning against false prophets and Antichrist. Every spirit confessing that Jesus is come in the flesh, is of God. Every d o not d o is not. This is the spirit of Antichrist, already in the world.

2

4 Ye are of God and have overcome them: because he that is in you is greater than he in the world.

3

5. 6. ‘They are of the world … the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us: he that is not of God, heareth not us. ib. V. 19. D o and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

4

7 to 21. Quibbles about love and God. Love is of God and is God: as he loved us so ought we one another. He sent his son to be a propitiation for our sin.

5

12 (Mark the connection) ‘No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

6

13 to 17. More about two persons each dwelling in the other. ‘God is love, he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.

7

18 to 21. Perfect love casteth out fear. We love him because he first loved us. If a man

say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.

I John Ch. V.

Verses 21

1

1 to 5. If we keep God’s commandments we are born of God and overcome the world by faith.

2

6. 7. 8. Nonsense about spirit, water and blood. text. Three that bear record in heaven Father, Word &Holy Ghost: these three one. Three bear witness on earth, spirit, water and blood: these agree in one.

3

9. to 13. Nonsense about witnessing God and his son and being made a liar by not believing and having the son, and having life.

4

14. 15. Ask and have.

5

16. 17. 18. 19. Stark nonsense about sin unto and not unto death. All unrighteousness is sin. We know that are in God all the world lieth in wickedness.

6

20. 21. The son of God is come, and we are in him. He is eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

N.B. The whole so nonsensical and desultory that by nothing but an exact copy can any tolerably adequate account be given of it, viz. of this whole Epistle.

II John Ch. I the only one

Verses 13.

1

1 to 4 The elder unto the elect Lady, and her children — Compliments — her children walk in truth.

2

5. 6. Now as before I beseech you, that we love one another. Walking after God’s commandments in love.

3

7 to 11. Old story about unnamed deceivers.

If any come, and bring not the doctrine of Christ, receive him not unto your House: bidding him God speed, you are a partaker of his evil deeds.

4

12. 13. I write the less, meaning to come to you. ‘The children of the elect sister greet thee.

III. John Ch. I the only one

Verses 14.

1

1 The elder unto the well— beloved Gaius.

2

2. 3. 4. I wish you well because you walk in truth.

3

5 to 8. Gaius commended for his ‘charity before the Church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou doest well. Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow—helpers to the truth.’

4

9. 10. 11. Vituperation of Diotrephes ‘prating against us with malicious words, he receiveth not the brethren, he forbiddeth them that would, and casteth thee out of the Church.

5

12. Laud of Demetrius. All report well, and John testifies well, of him.

6

13. 14. Much be writing but that I shall soon see you. Peace and salutations.