Julian Period, 4799. in him; and he that does not conform himself to his Asia Minor. Image, has no reason to expect the eternal Life obtained Vulgar Era, through Christ. 96. 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. : 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one 38. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. St. John writes these things to them, that they may ascer- 36 The arguments of Mr. Nolan, and of the present Bishop of Salisbury, convince me that this passage is genuine. Julian Period, 4799. Vulgar Æra, 96. any Man see his Brother afflicted for a Sin of Infirmity Asia Minor. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death : I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. Julian Pe 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and Asia Minor. riod, 4799. hath given us an understanding, that we may know him Vulgar Era, that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 96. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN. St. John writes this Epistle to caution a Christian Mother 39 The second and third epistles of John may be regarded as an epitome of the first epistle, containing very little which is not to be found in the former. The thoughts and style of both are so similar to those of the first epistle, that almost all critics attribute them to St. John; and suppose in all probability they were written about the same time as that epistle. Various reasons have been assigned to account for the doubts entertained of their authenticity by the primitive Church. Michaelis thinks they originated from the address, in which the author neither calls himself John, nor assumes the title of an apostle, but simply names bimself the "elder" (ò πрɛσbʊтεрoc); which title the apostle John might with great propriety assume, as by reason of his great age, he was probably the only remaining apostle. It is however most probable, that, being letters to private persons, they had been kept by the descendants of the families to whom they were written, and were not discovered till long after the apostle's decease. In which case, on their first discovery, all the immediate vouchers for their genuineness must have departed this life; and the Church of Christ, vigilantly on its guard against imposture, hesitated to receive them into the number of canonical Scriptures, until it was fully ascertained that they were divinely inspired. The second epistle is cited by Irenæus, and received by Clemens of Alexandria. Origen mentions all three epistles, and remarks that the second and third were not allowed to be genuine by all persons. Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, speaks of them as being ascribed to St. John. The second epistle was quoted by Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria; and the three epistles were received by Athanasius, by Cyril of Jerusalem, by Epiphanius, by Jerome, by Ruffinus, and all those writers who received the same canon of the New Testament that we do. Commentators are greatly divided respecting the person to whom the second epistle is addressed. Some suppose it to have been written to an individual, others to some particular Church. Archbishop Newcome, Wakefield, Macknight, and the translators of our authorized version, make εкλεKTй to be an adjective, and render the inscription" to the elect (or excellent, or chosen) Lady;" the Vulgate version, Clemens of Alexandria, Calmet, Wolf, and Wetstein, consider EKλEKTI to be a proper name, and translate it, "To the Lady Electa;" Schleusner, Rosenmüller, and Benson, take Kupta to be a proper name, and the epistle to be addressed to Kyria the Elect. Michaelis supposes Kupia to be an ellipsis of Julian Period, 4799. Vulgar Era, 96. § 13. 2 JOHN 1-3. The Salutation. 1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. Kupia Ekkλnoia, which, among the ancient Greeks, signified an Macknight thinks this epistle was written to confute the Asia Minor. Julian Pe riod, 4779. 96. §14. 2 JOHN 4, to the end. Valgar Era, The Apostle mentions his Joy at finding some of her Children conducting themselves according to the pure Doctrines of the Gospel-He exhorts her to Christian Love, not as in obedience to a Command never before delivered, but to a Command which was given from the very Beginning, and which the Apostles constantly preached -The great Proof of Love to God is Obedience and Conformity to his Commands; and this is the great Commandment, that they should believe in Him whom God hath sent (John vi. 19.)-These Doctrines were preached to them from the Beginning, that they might have proper Motives and Principles for their Love and Obedience→→ It is now particularly necessary to remind them of these, because many Deceivers are gone out into the World, who deny that Jesus Christ had come in the Flesh, regarding his Death and Suffering as Appearances, and not as Realities-Every Teacher who teaches such Doctrine is the false Prophet, and the Antichrist, foretold by Jesus Christ (1 John ii. 18.)-He therefore beseeches the elect Lady and her Children, not to be deceived by them-Whoever transgresses by teaching other Doctrines than those taught by Christ and his Apostles, hath no Communion with God as their Father-But he that continues in these Doctrines, hath Communion with God as his Father, and the Son of God as his Saviour Any Teacher who holds not the Doctrine, that Christ came and suffered in the Flesh for Man, is not to be received into the House, nor Salutations of good Success offered to him-For he that treats such as a Christian Brother, by giving him Protection and Encouragement, accredits his Ministry, and becomes a Partaker of the Mischief he may commit. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who' confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Asia Minor. |