Christ is our advocate. We must keep his commandments and love one another. We must not love the world nor give ear to new teachers, but abide by the spirit of God in the church.
If any sinne mortally, he must not dispaire. 3 To knovv God rightly, is not to beleeue onley, but to keepe his commaundements: 7 and that this is no nevv doctrine, but the very primitiue, though a nevv life it is. 9 Therfore he that beleeueth must also loue his brethren: 12 and that men must not loue the vvorld but doe that vvhich God vvilleth. 18 Many are gone out of the Church and become Seducers al the ministers of Antichrist: but true Christians must continue in their old faith, considering the revvard, and that they neede not goe to schole to any Heretike, the Holy Ghost himself being the scholemaster of the Church, 29 he doth earnestly inculcate iustice and good vvorkes.
1My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just.Figliuolini miei, scrivo a voi queste cose, affinchè non pecchiate. Che se alcuno avrà peccato, un avvocato abbiamo presso del Padre, Gesù Cristo giusto:My litle children, these things I vvrite to you, • that you sinne not. But & if any man shal sinne, vve haue • an aduocate vvith the Father, IESVS Christ the iust:Filioli mei, hæc scribo vobis, ut non peccetis. Sed et si quis peccaverit, advocatum habemus apud Patrem, Jesum Christum justum: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.Ed egli è propiziazione pe' nostri peccati: né solamente pe' nostri, ma anche per quelli di tutto il mondo.and he is the propitiation for our sinnes: and not for ours only, but also • for the vvhole vvorldes.et ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris: non pro nostris autem tantum, sed etiam pro totius mundi. 3And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments.E da questo sappiamo, che lo abbiam conosciuto, se osserviamo i suoi comandamenti.And in this vve know that vve haue knovven him, if vve obserue his commaundements.Et in hoc scimus quoniam cognovimus eum, si mandata ejus observemus. 4He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar: and the truth is not in him.Chi dice che lo conosce, e non osserva i suoi comandamenti, è bugiardo, e non è in costui verità.• He that saith he knovveth him, and keepeth not his cōmaundements: is a lier and the truth is not in him:Qui dicit se nosse eum, et mandata ejus non custodit, mendax est, et in hoc veritas non est. 5But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him.Ma chi osserva la parola di lui, in questo veramente è perfetta la carità di Dio: e da questo sappiamo, che siamo in lui.But he that keepeth his vvord, in him in very deede the charitie of God is perfited: in this vve knovv that vve be in him.Qui autem servat verbum ejus, vere in hoc caritas Dei perfecta est: et in hoc scimus quoniam in ipso sumus. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.Chi dice di stare in lui, dee batter la strada, che quegli battè.He that saith he abideth in him: ought euen as he walked, him self also to vvalke.Qui dicit se in ipso manere, debet, sicut ille ambulavit, et ipse ambulare. 7Dearly beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard.Carissimi, io non vi scrivo un comandamento nuovo, ma un comandamento vecchio, quale voi riceveste da principio: il comandamento vecchio è la parola, che udiste.My deerest, I vvrite not a nevv cōmaundement to you, but an old cōmmaundemēt vvhich you had from the beginning. The old cōmaundement is the vvord vvhich you haue heard.Carissimi, non mandatum novum scribo vobis, sed mandatum vetus, quod habuistis ab initio. Mandatum vetus est verbum, quod audistis.
8Again a new commandment I write unto you: which thing is true both in him and in you, because the darkness is passed and the true light now shineth.Pel contrario un comandamento nuovo scrivo a voi, il quale è vero in lui, ed in voi: dappoiché sono passate le tenebre, e il vero lume già splende.Againe a nevv commaundement vvrite I to you, vvhich thing is true both in him and in you: because the darkenesse is passed, and the true light novv shineth.Iterum mandatum novum scribo vobis, quod verum est et in ipso, et in vobis: quia tenebræ transierunt, et verum lumen jam lucet. 9He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now.Chi dice se essere nella luce, e odia il proprio fratello, è tuttora nelle tenebre.He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother: is in the darkenesse euen vntil novv.Qui dicit se in luce esse, et fratrem suum odit, in tenebris est usque adhuc. 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light: and there is no scandal in him.Chi ama il proprio fratello, sta nella luce, e non vi ha in lui scandalo.He that loueth his brother, abideth in the light, and scandal is not in him.Qui diligit fratrem suum, in lumine manet, et scandalum in eo non est. 11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth: because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.Ma chi odia il proprio fratello, è nelle tenebre, e nelle tenebre cammina, e non sa, dove vada: perché le tenebre hanno accecati gli occhi di lui.But he that hateth his brother: is in the darkenesse, and vvalketh in the darkenesse, and knovveth not vvhither he goeth, because the darkenes hath blinded his eies.Qui autem odit fratrem suum, in tenebris est, et in tenebris ambulat, et nescit quo eat: quia tenebræ obcæcaverunt oculos ejus. 12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.Scrivo a voi, figliuolini, che vi sono rimessi i peccati pel nome di lui.I vvrite vnto you litle children, because your sinnes are forgiuen you for his name.Scribo vobis, filioli, quoniam remittuntur vobis peccata propter nomen ejus. 13I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.Scrivo a voi, padri, che avete conosciuto colui, che è da principio. Scrivo a voi, giovinetti, che avete vinto il maligno.I vvrite vnto you fathers, because you haue knovven him vvhich is from the beginning. I vvrite vnto you yong men, because you haue ouercome the vvicked one.Scribo vobis, patres, quoniam cognovistis eum, qui ab initio est. Scribo vobis, adolescentes, quoniam vicistis malignum.
14I write unto you, babes, because you have known the Father. I write unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.Scrivo a voi, fanciulli che avete conosciuto il Padre. Scrivo a voi, o giovinetti, che siete forti, e la parola di Dio sta in voi, ed avete vinto il maligno.I vvrite to you infantes, because you haue knovven the Father. I vvrite vnto you yong men, because you are strong, and the vvord of God abideth in you, & you haue ouercome the vvicked one.Scribo vobis, infantes, quoniam cognovistis patrem. Scribo vobis juvenes, quoniam fortes estis, et verbum Dei manet in vobis, et vicistis malignum. 15Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.Non vogliate amare il mondo, né le cose del mondo. Se uno ama il mondo, la carità del Padre non è in lui.Loue not the vvorld, nor those things vvhich are in the vvorld. If any man loue the vvorld, the charitie of the Father is not in him.Nolite diligere mundum, neque ea quæ in mundo sunt. Si quis diligit mundum, non est caritas Patris in eo: 16For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, which is not of the Father but is of the world.Dappoiché tutto quello, che è nel mondo è concupiscenza della carne, concupiscenza degli occhi, e superbia della vita: la quale non viene dal padre, ma dal mondo.because al that is in the vvorld, is the concupiscence of the flesh, & the concupiscence of the eies, and the pride of life, vvhich is not of the Father, but is of the vvorld.quoniam omne quod est in mundo, concupiscentia carnis est, et concupiscentia oculorum, et superbia vitæ: quæ non est ex Patre, sed ex mundo est. 17And the world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever.E il mondo passa, e la di lui concupiscenza. Ma chi fa il volere di Dio, dura in eterno.And the vvorld passeth and the concupiscence thereof. But he that doeth the vvil of God, abideth for euer.Et mundus transit, et concupiscentia ejus: qui autem facit voluntatem Dei manet in æternum. 18Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour.Figliuolini, ell'è l'ultima ora: e siccome udiste, che l'Anticristo viene, anche adesso molti sono diventati Anticristi: donde intendiamo, che è l'ultim'ora.Litle children, it is the last houre, & as you haue heard, that Antichrist commeth: now there are become • many antichristes: vvhereby vve knovv, that it is the last houre.Filioli, novissima hora est: et sicut audistis quia antichristus venit, et nunc antichristi multi facti sunt; unde scimus, quia novissima hora est.
19They went out from us but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us: but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us.Sono usciti di tra noi, ma non erano de' nostri: perché se fossero stati de' nostri, si sarebbon certamente rimasi con noi: ma si dee far manifesto, che non tutti sono de' nostri.• They vvent out from vs: but they vvere not of vs. for if they had been of vs, they vvould surely haue remained with vs: but • that they may be manifest that they are not al of vs.Ex nobis prodierunt, sed non erant ex nobis, nam, si fuissent ex nobis, permansissent utique nobiscum: sed ut manifesti sint quoniam non sunt omnes ex nobis. 20But you have the unction from the Holy One and know all things.Ma voi avete l'unzione dal santo, e sapete ogni cosa.But you haue the vnction from the Holy one, and • knovv al things.Sed vos unctionem habetis a Sancto, et nostis omnia. 21I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth.Non vi ho scritto come ad ignoranti la verità, ma come a tali, che la sanno: e che nissuna bugia vien dalla verità.I haue not vvritten to you as to them that knovv not the truth, but as to them that knovv it: and that no lie is of the truth.Non scripsi vobis quasi ignorantibus veritatem, sed quasi scientibus eam: et quoniam omne mendacium ex veritate non est. 22Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son.Chi è bugiardo se non colui, che nega, che Gesù sia il Cristo? Costui è un Anticristo, che nega il Padre, e il Figliuolo.Vvho is a lier, but he vvhich denieth that IESVS is not Christ? This is Antichrist vvhich denieth the Father and the Sonne.Quis est mendax, nisi is qui negat quoniam Jesus est Christus ? Hic est antichristus, qui negat Patrem, et Filium. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.Chi nega il Figliuolo, non ha nemmeno il Padre: chi confessa il Figliuolo, ha anche il Padre.Euery one that denieth the Sonne, neither hath he the Father. He that confesseth the Sonne, hath the Father also.Omnis qui negat Filium, nec Patrem habet: qui confitetur Filium, et Patrem habet. 24As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.Quello, che voi udiste da principio, stia fermo in voi: se in voi starà fermo quello, che udiste da principio, anche voi starete fermi nel Padre, e nel Figliuolo.You, that vvhich you haue heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If that abide in you vvhich you haue heard from the beginning, you also shal abide in the Sonne & the Father.Vos quod audistis ab initio, in vobis permaneat: si in vobis permanserit quod audistis ab initio, et vos in Filio et Patre manebitis.
25And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life everlasting.E questa è quella promessa, che egli ha fatto a noi, la vita eterna.And this is the promis vvhich he promised vs, life euerlasting.Et hæc est repromissio, quam ipse pollicitus est nobis, vitam æternam. 26These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you.Queste cose vi ho scritto riguardo a quelli, che vi seducono.These things haue I vvritten to you concerning them that seduce you.Hæc scripsi vobis de his, qui seducant vos. 27And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you: but as his unction teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.Ma resti in voi l'unzione, che avete da lui ricevuta. Né avete bisogno, che alcuno vi ammaestri: ma siccome l'unzione di lui insegna a voi tutte le cose, ed è verace, e non bugiarda. E siccome ha a voi insegnato: statevi in lui.And you, the vnction vvhich you haue receiued from him, let it abide in you. And you haue no neede that any man teache you: but as his vnction teacheth you of al things, and it is true, and it is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.Et vos unctionem, quam accepistis ab eo, maneat in vobis. Et non necesse habetis ut aliquis doceat vos: sed sicut unctio ejus docet vos de omnibus, et verum est, et non est mendacium. Et sicut docuit vos: manete in eo. 28And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be confounded by him at his coming.Adesso adunque, figliuolini, state in lui: affinchè quand'egli apparirà, abbiamo fiducia, e non siamo nella sua venuta svergognati da lui.And now litle children abide in him: that vvhen he shal appeare, vve may haue confidence, and not be cōfounded of him in his cōming.Et nunc, filioli, manete in eo: ut cum apparuerit, habeamus fiduciam, et non confundamur ab eo in adventu ejus. 29If you know that he is just, know ye, that every one also who doth justice is born of him.Se sapete, che egli è giusto, sappiate eziandio, che chiunque pratica la giustizia, è nato di lui.If you know that he is iust, knovv ye that euery one also vvhich doeth iustice, is borne of him.Si scitis quoniam justus est, scitote quoniam et omnis, qui facit justitiam, ex ipso natus est.
2:1
That you may not sin, or not lose the grace of God by any considerable sin.
Witham
But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father, who being made man to redeem us from sin, is our great Advocate, our chief Mediator, and only Redeemer, by whose merits and grace we have been reconciled, after we had lost and forfeited the grace and favour of God by our offences. He is the only propitiation for the sins of the whole world; for, as St. Paul says, (Hebrews 10:14.) Christ, for one oblation on the cross, hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. All remission of sins, all sanctification, is derived from the merits and satisfaction of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ; not but that the Angels and saints in heaven, and virtuous persons upon earth, when they pray to God for us, may be called advocates, mediators, and intercessors (though not redeemers) in a different sense, and in an inferior manner, without any injury, but on the contrary with an honour done to Christ; because what they pray and ask for us, is only begged and hoped for through Christ, and by his merits. St. Augustine[Ver. 1. Sed dicet aliquis, says St. Augustine on this place, ergo sancti non petunt pro nobis. Ergo episcopi et praepositi non petunt pro populo; sed attendite scripturas, etc.] in his commentary on this epistle, on these very words, we have an advocate, etc. prevents and answers this very objection of the late pretended reformers: (tom. iii, part 2. p. 831. Nov. Edit.) "Some one will say: therefore the saints do not ask for us, therefore the bishops and governors of the Church do not ask for the people." He denies that this follows, the saints being advocates in a different sense. Though God be our protector and defender from dangers, this does not hinder us from owning the Angels to be our defenders in an inferior manner under God, as the Church of England acknowledges in the common prayer book on the feast of St. Michael, and all Angels, which runs thus: "mercifully grant, that as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." (Witham)
The calling and office of an advocate is in many things proper to Christ, and in every condition more singularly and excellently applying to him than to any Angel, saint, or living creature, though these also may be truly so called without any derogation from Christ. To him solely it belongs to procure us mercy before God, by the general ransom of his blood for our delivery; hence he is our only advocate of redemption, though others may be and are advocates of intercession. Hence St. Irenaeus (lib. 3:chap. 33. and lib. V. post med.) says: "the obedient Virgin Mary is made the advocate of the disobedient Eve." Our Saviour declares that Angels are deputed for the protection of infants; (Matthew xviii.) and frequent are the examples we find in the old Scripture, such as Genesis 48:16.; Tobit 5:27.; Tobit 12:12.; Daniel 10. See also the common prayer book, in the collect of Michaelmas day.
2:3
Challoner
We have known him, if we keep his commandments. He speaks of that practical knowledge by love and affection, which can be only proved by our keeping his commandments; and without which we cannot be said to know God, as we should. (Challoner)
2:4
Witham
He that says he knoweth him, etc. To know, in this and many other places, is not taken for a speculative knowledge alone, but is joined with a love of God, and an earnest desire of serving him and keeping his commandments. (Witham)
2:5
The charity of God is truly perfect.[Ver. 5. Perfecta est, teteleiotai. This must only be understood of charity so perfected as to be true charity, but not a perfect degree of charity.] Notwithstanding his lesser failings, he retains the habit of charity and grace, by which he remains united to God.
Witham
And by this we know that we are in him; that is we are morally, though not absolutely, certain that we are in the state of grace. (Witham)
2:7
Witham
An old commandment....and again, a new commandment. He means the commandment of charity, or of the love of God and the love of our neighbour. This he calls both an old and a new precept. It may be called old, not only as being a precept of the law of nature, and always obligatory, but because St. John and the other apostles had delivered it to them long ago, that is when these persons were first converted. It may also be called a new precept, St. John recommending it anew to them in this epistle, and declaring it to be enjoined in a particular manner by our Saviour Christ, after it had been misconstrued and neglected, especially as it regards our neighbour, that is, every one without exception; so that if any one hate another, it is in vain that he pretends to walk in the light of the gospel. (Witham)
Challoner
A new commandment; viz. the commandment of love, which was given in the old law, but was renewed and extended by Christ. See John 13:33. (Challoner)
2:12
Witham
I write to you, little children, etc. St. Augustine and divers others think that by these different words, he only means Christians more or less instructed and advanced in the knowledge and practice of the Christian faith. Others expound it with a regard also to their different ages and advancement in years. (Witham)
2:15
Witham
If any man love the world, this wicked world, or any thing in it, as pleasures, riches, honours, so that his affections be more upon these then upon God, the charity of the Father (or of God) is not in him. (Witham)
2:16
All that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, under which is comprehended all that pleaseth the senses, or the concupiscence of the eyes; that is a longing after such things which enter by the eyes, as of riches in gold and silver, in apparel, in houses and palaces, train and equipage, etc. curiosity as to vain arts and sciences; or, the pride of life, as to honours, dignities, and preferments. But the world passeth away, and all these things that belong to it.
Witham
He that doth the will of God, abideth for ever, with God in heaven. (Witham)
2:18
It is the last hour. That is, according to the common interpretation, the last age of the world, from the coming of Christ to the day of judgment, and the end of the world, which St. Paul calls the end and consummation of ages. (Hebrews 9:26.)
Witham
And as you have heard that antichrist (the great antichrist) cometh, or is to come in this last age: now there are already many antichrists; that is as the word signifies, many adversaries to Christ, who are forerunners of the great and last antichrist. (Witham)
Challoner
Many antichrists; that is, many heretics, enemies of Christ and his Church, and forerunners of the great antichrist. (Challoner)
Ep. lxxvii. ad Magnum
St. Cyprian says all are called antichrists that have divided themselves from the charity and unity of the Catholic Church. (Ep. lxxvii. ad Magnum.)
Witham
Whereby we know that it is the last hour, it being foretold that many false prophets should rise in the latter days. (Matthew 24:11. etc.) (Witham)
2:19
Witham
They were not of us, true and profitable members; though it can scarce be doubted but that some of them, at least for some time, truly believed: and by their going off, God was pleased to make it manifest that they were not of his faithful members. Such were Simon Magus, Cerinthus, Ebion, Nicolas of Antioch, etc. (Witham)
Challoner
They, etc. That is, they were not solid, steadfast, genuine Christians, otherwise they would have remained in the Church. (Challoner)
The true note or mark of heresy, is the going out of or leaving the Catholic Church. God permitteth some to go out, that the true and tried faithful may be known.
2:20
Witham
You have an unction from the holy one. You are sufficiently instructed by the grace and spirit of God against such false teachers. (Witham)
Challoner
An unction, etc. That is, grace and wisdom from the Holy Ghost. (Challoner)
Witham
And you know all things, as to what you ought to believe and practise, and therefore I have not written to you as to ignorant persons. (Witham)
Challoner
The true children of God's Church, remaining in unity, under the guidance of their lawful pastors, partake of the grace of the Holy Ghost, promised to the Church and her pastors; and have in the Catholic Church all necessary knowledge and instruction, so as to have no need to seek it elsewhere, since it can be only found in that society of which they are members. (Challoner)
2:22
He who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist: is in a special manner an adversary of Christ and the Christian religion, when he denies Jesus to be the Messias, or to have been from eternity the true Son of God.
Witham
He who denieth him to be the Son, neither hath he the Father. He who denies either of these truths denieth both. He who denies the Son of God to be the eternal Son, denies the Father to be the eternal Father. (Witham)
2:24
Witham
Let that (faith) which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you: when you received the Christian faith, and were baptized in the name of the three divine Persons. The promise which was then made to you, was life everlasting. (Witham)
2:27
Challoner
You have no need, etc. You want not to be taught by any of these men, who, under pretence of imparting more knowledge to you, seek to seduce you, (ver. 26) since you are sufficiently taught already, and have all knowledge and grace in the Church, with the unction of the Holy Ghost, which these new teachers have no share in. (Challoner)
Witham
His unction teacheth you concerning all things. Unction here signifies the doctrine which they received together with the Holy Ghost or Spirit of God; in which he exhorts them to remain, as being sufficient for their instruction, and to make them avoid the new teachers of false doctrine. (Witham)
2:3
We have known him, if we keep his commandments.... He speaks of that practical knowledge by love and affection, which can only be proved by our keeping his commandments; and without which we can not be said to know God as we should do.
2:8
A new commandment.... Viz., the commandment of love, which was first given in the old law; but was renewed and extended by Christ. See John 13.34.
2:18
It is the last hour.... That is, it is the last age of the world. Many Antichrists; ... that is, many heretics, enemies of Christ and his church, and forerunners of the great Antichrist.
2:19
They were not of us.... That is, they were not solid, steadfast, genuine Christians: otherwise they would have remained in the church.
2:20
The unction from the Holy One.... That is, grace and wisdom from the Holy Ghost. Know all things.... The true children of God’s church, remaining in unity, under the guidance of their lawful pastors, partake of the grace of the Holy Ghost, promised to the church and her pastors; and have in the church all necessary knowledge and instruction; so as to have no need to seek it elsewhere, since it can be only found in that society of which they are members.
2:27
You have no need, etc.... You want not to be taught by any of these men, who, under pretence of imparting more knowledge to you, seek to seduce you (ver. 26), since you are sufficiently taught already, and have all knowledge and grace in the church, with the unction of the Holy Ghost; which these new teachers have no share in.
2:1
1. That you sinne not.] S. Iohn (saith V. •ede vpon his place) is not contrarie to him self, in that he seeketh here to make them vvithout sinne. vvhom he said in the last chapter could not be vvithout al sinnes. but in the former place he vvarned vs only of our frailety, that vve should not arrogate to our selues perfect innocencie: here he prouoketh vs to vvatchfulnes and diligence in resisting and auoiding si•nes, specially the greater, vvhich by Gods grace may more easily he repelled.
1. An aduocate.] Hovv Christ is our only Aduocate. The calling and office of an Aduocate, is in many things proper to Christ, and in euery condition more singularly and excellently agreing to him then to any Angel, Sainct, or creature liuing. though these also be rightly and cruely so called, & that not onely vvithout al derogation, but much to the honour of Christs aduocation. To him soly and onely it agreeth to procure vs mercie before Gods face, by the general ransom, price, & paiment of his bloud for our deliuerie, as is said in the sentence folovving, And he is the propitiation for our sinnes, and n•t for ours onely, but for the vvhole vvorlds. In vvhich sort he is our onely aduocate, because he is our onely redeemer, and herevpon he alone immediatly, by and through him self. and vvithout the aide or assistance of any other. man or Angel, in his ovvne name, right, and merites, confidently dealeth in our causes before God our iudge, & so procureth our pardon, vvhich is the highest degree of aduocation that can be.
Al vvhich notvvithstanding. How Angels, Saincts, & men aliue are our aduocates. yet the Angels, and Saincts. and our fellovves aliue, may and do pray for vs, and in that they deale vvith God by intercession to procure mercie for vs, may iustly be called our aduocates: not so as Christ is, vvho demaundeth al things immediatly by his ovvne merites, but as secondary intercessors, vvho neuer aske nor obtaine any thing for vs, but per Christum Dominum nostrum, by and through Christ our common Lord, Aduocate, and Redeemer of mankinde. And behold hovv S. Augustine (tract. 1 in ep. Io. vpon these very vvordes) preuented the Heretikes cauillations. Sed dicit aliquis &c. But some man vvil say, Do not the Saincts them pray for vs? do not Bishops then or Prelates and Pastors pray for the people? Yet• saith he: Marke the Scriptures, and you shal finde that the Apostles praied for the people, and againe desired the people to pray for them, and so the head praieth for al, Sainctes in heauen pray for vs. and the members one for an other. And likevvise (lest the Heretikes should say, there is a difference betvvixt the liuing and the dead in this case) thus the same holy father vvriteth vpon the 85 Psalme in fine. Our Lord Iesus Christ doth yet make intercession for vs, al the Martyrs that be vvith him, pray for vs: neither vvil their intercession cease. til vve cease our gronings.
In this sense therfore vvhosoeuer praieth for vs, either aliue or dead, is our aduocate. as S Augustine (ep. 59 to Paulinus circa med.) calleth Bishops, the peoples aduocates, vvhen they giue them their benediction or blessing. So doth the holy Church call our B. Lady our aduocate, by the very vvordes of S. Irenaeus, Iren. li. 3. c. 33. & li. 5 post med. that you may see such speaches be no nevv inuentions of the later ages, The B. virgin is our aduocate. but Apostolical. The obedient Virgin MARIE (saith he) is made the aduocate of the disobedient virgin Eue. And to confound the Protestāts plainely, in that they thinke or pretend that the aduocation or patronage of Saincts should be iniurious to Christ, remēber that our Sauiour acknovvledgeth Angels to be deputed for the protection (vvhich is nothing els but aduocation) of infants before the face of God, D. Hiero. in Mat. c. 18. besides the plaine examples in the old Testament Gen. 48. v. 16. Tob. 5. v. 27. &c. 12. v. 12. Dan. 10. And this not onely the Catholike Church, Angels are our protectors. but the very English Protestants them selues in their seruice booke and in the Collect of Michelmas day, professe, and pray for the same protection or aduocation of Angels, and defend the same against their yonger brethren the Puritanes.
〈Greek〉
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2. For the vvhole vvorlds.] S. Augustine gathereth hereof against the Donatistes, and al other Heretikes, The Catholike Church is the only true Church. that vvould driue the Church into corners or some certaine countries, from the vniuersalitie of al Nations (vvhereof it vvas named by the Apostles, Catholike) that the true religion, and Church, and consequently the effect of Christs propitiation, death, and aduocation, pertaineth not to one age, nation, or people, but to the vvhole vvorld. S. Augustine vpon this place to. 9. tract. 1 in ep. Io.
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4. He that saith he knovveth.] Not only faith To knovv God here, signifieth (as it doth often in the Scriptures) to loue, that is, as in the last chapter, to be in societie vvith him, and to haue familiar and experimental knovvledge of his graces. If any vaunt them selues thus to knovv God, and yet keepe not his commaundements, he is a lier, as al Caluinistes and Lutherans, that professe them selues to be in the fauour of God by onely faith: affirming, that they neither keeper not possibly can keepe his commaundements.
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Concordance Io. 13, 34 15, 12.
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Concordance • Io. 3, 14.
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Hovv al sinne & tentation procede of these three, see S. Thomas Summe. 1. 2. quaest. 77. art. 5.
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18. Many antichrists.] Al Heretikes are antichrists the forerūners of the great Antichrist. The holy Apostle S Iohn (saith S. Cyprian) did not put a difference betvvixt one heresie or schisme and an other, not meant any sort that specially separated them selues, but generally called al vvithout exception, antichristes, that vvere aduersaries to the Church, or vvere gone out from the same. And a litle after, It is euident that al be here called antichristes, that haue seuered them selues from the charitie and vnitie of the Catholike Church. So vvriteth he ep. 76. nu. 1 ad Magnum. Vvhereby vve may learne, that al Heretikes, or rather Arch-heretikes be properly the precursors of that one and special Antichrist, vvhich is to come at the last end of the vvorld, & vvhich is called here immediatly before, 〈Greek〉, that peculiar and singular Antichrist.
〈Greek〉
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19. They vvent cut from vs.] An euident note and marke, vvhereby to conuince al Heretikes and false teachers. The marke of al heretikes is, their going out of the Catholike societie. to vvit, that being once of the common Catholike Christian fellovvship, they forsooke it, and vvent out from the same. Simon Magus, Nicolas the Deacon, Hymenaeus, Alexander, Philétus, Arîus, Macedonius, Pelagius, Nestorius, Eutyches, Luther, Caluin, and the like, vvere of the common societie of al vs that be Christian Catholikes, they vvent out from vs vvhom they savv to liue in vnitie of faith and religion together, and made them selues nevv conuenticles. therfore they vvere (as the Apostle here shevveth) antichristes, and vve and al that abide in the auncient fellovvship of Christian religion, that vvent not out of their fellovvship, in vvhich vve neuer vvere, nor out of any other societie of knovven Christians, can not be Schismatikes or Heretikes, but must needes be true Christian Catholike men. Let our aduersaries tel vs, out of vvhat Church vve euer departed, The Catholikes can not be proued to haue gone out. vvhen, and vvhere, and vnder vvhat persons it vvas that vve reuolted, as vve can tel them the yere, the places, the Ringleaders of their reuolt.
19. They vvere not of vs.] He meaneth not, that Heretikes vvere not, or could not be in or of the Church, before they vvent out or fel into their heresie or schisme: but partly that many of them vvhich aftervvard fall out, Hovv Heretikes are of the Church, before they fall. though they vvere before vvith the rest, and partakers of al the Sacraments vvith other their fellovves, yet in deede vvere of naughtie life and conscience vvhen they vvere vvithin, and so being rather as if humors and superfluous excrements, then true and liuely partes of the body, after a sort may be said not to haue been of the body at al. So S. Augustine expoundeth these vvordes in his commentarie vpon this place. tract. 3. but els vvhere, more agreably as it seemeth, that the Apostle meaneth, that such as vvil not tarie in the Church, but finally forsake it to the end, in the prescience of God, and in respect of the small benefite they shal haue by their temporal smal abode there, be not of or in the Church, though according to this present state, they are truely members thereof. Li. de corrept. & gr. c. 9 & de dono perseuer. c. 8.
19. That they may be manifest] God permitteth heresie to be, that such as be permanent, constant, By heresies constāt Catholikes are knovven. and chosen members and children of the Catholike Church, onely knovven to God before, may novv also be made manifest to the vvorld, by their constant remaining in the CHVRCH, vvhen the vvinde and blast of euery heresie or tentation driueth out the other light and vnstable persons.
They vvere of vs for the time, that is, of and in the Church: otherwise they could not haue gone out. but they vvere not of the cōstāt sort, or of the elect & predestinat: for then they had taried within, or returned before their death.
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20. Knovv al things.] Euery good Catholike is sufficiently taught by the Church to saluation. They that abide in the vnitie of Christes Church, haue the vnction, that is, the Holy Ghost, vvho teacheth al truth, not that euery member or man thereof hath al knovvledge in him self personally, but that euery one vvhich is of that happie societie to vvhich Christ promised and gaue the Holy Ghost, is partaker of al other mens giftes and graces in the same holy Spirit, to his saluation. Neither neede any to seeke truth at Heretikes handes or others that be gone out. vvhen it is vvithin them selues and onely vvithin them selues in Gods Church. If thou loue vnitie (saith S. Augustine) for thee also hath he, vvhosoeuer hath any thing in it, take avvay enuie, it is thine vvhich I haue, it is mine vvhich thou hast. &c. Tract. 32 in Euang. Ioan.
〈Greek〉 Chrisma. whereof Christ & Christiās
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Keepe that firmely & constantly vvhich you haue heard euen from the beginning, by the mouth of the Apostles: & not that only vvhich you haue receiued by vvriting.
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or, in it.
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Vve see it is Apostolical doctrine, that men may do or vvorke iustice, and that so doing they be iust by their workes proceding of Gods grace, & not by faith or imputation onely.
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St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 3.17.3
… Wherefore we have need of the dew of God, that we be not consumed by fire, nor be rendered unfruitful, and that where we have an accuser there we may have also an Advocate,
Tertullian † AD 220 On Modesty 19
… For see yet again: “If we say,” he says, “that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” All the more fully: “Little children, these things have I written to you, lest ye sin; and if ye shall have sinned, an Advocate we have with God the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and, He is the propitiation for our sins.”
Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis 2.7.4
… And since we have made mention of the Paraclete, and have explained as we were able what sentiments ought to be entertained regarding Him; and since our Saviour also is called the Paraclete in the Epistle of John, when he says, “If any of us sin, we have a Paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins;”
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 1.23
… for He was before me.” And in his Catholic Epistle John says that He is a Paraclete for our souls with the Father, as thus:
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 1.38
But none of the names we have mentioned expresses His representation of us with the Father, as He pleads for human nature, and makes atonement for it; the Paraclete, and the propitiation, and the atonement. He has the name Paraclete in the Epistle of John:
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 6.37
… is well founded,—the Apostles, too, were for the same reason the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things, —what and how great things must be said of the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for this very reason, that He might take away the sin not of a few but of the whole world, for the sake of which also He suffered? If any one sin, we read,
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 51.18
… yea, he shall stand, for God is able to make him stand.” John also proves that Jesus Christ the Lord is our Advocate and Intercessor for our sins, saying, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Supporter: and He is the propitiation for our sins.”
St Peter of Alexandria † AD 311 The Canonical Epistle, with the Commentaries of Theodore Balsamon and John Zonaras 11
… and He is the propitiation for our sins.”
St Basil the Great † AD 379 De Spiritu Sancto 18
… any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Hence He alone worthily glorifies the Lord, for, it is said, “He shall glorify me,” not as the creature, but as “Spirit of truth,” clearly shewing forth the truth in Himself, and, as Spirit of wisdom, in His own greatness revealing “Christ the Power of God and the wisdom of God.” And as Paraclete
St Gregory of Nazianzus † AD 389 Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen 30
… For He still pleads even now as Man for my salvation; for He continues to wear the Body which He assumed, until He make me God by the power of His Incarnation; although He is no longer known after the flesh —I mean, the passions of the flesh, the same, except sin, as ours. Thus too, we have an Advocate,
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Holy Spirit 1.13
157. So, then, the Son is one Paraclete, the Holy Spirit another Paraclete; for John called the Son a Paraclete, as you find: “If any man sin, we have a Paraclete [Advocate] with the Father, Jesus Christ.”
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 2.2
… I imagine too that all sin is of the devil. Now John confesses himself a sinner, and hopes for forgiveness of sins after baptism. My friend Jovinianus says, “Touch me not, for I am clean.” What then? Does the Apostle contradict himself? By no means. In the same passage he gives his reason for thus speaking:
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Of Holy Virginity 50
… and, if one shall have sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and Himself is a propitiation of our sins.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Reply to Faustus the Manichæan 19.7
… And in this also He fulfills the law; for what we fail in through weakness is supplied by His perfection, who is the Head, while we are His members. Thus John says: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not; and if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: He is the propitiation for our sins."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.106
… but for that Priest who is the Master and Lord of the apostles is prayer not made. Hear John confessing this, and saying, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 3.15
… And yet the Lord prescribed to them to say in their prayer, “Forgive us our debts.” For all the pious, therefore, who lie under this burden of a corruptible flesh, and groan in the infirmity of this life of theirs, there is one hope: “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 52.9
… And if he sometimes wounds us, we have the remedy at hand. For as the combatants are told, “These things I write unto you, that ye sin not:” so those who are wounded have the sequel to listen to, “And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 74.4
4. But when He says, “I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Paraclete,” He intimates that He Himself is also a paraclete. For paraclete is in Latin called advocatus (advocate); and it is said of Christ, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 87.2
… “The Son of man came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” And John says in his epistle: “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also [for those] of the whole world.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.7
… To thine own hurt thou wouldest be secure; thou must be solicitous. For “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,” provided thou always displease thyself, and be changing until thou be perfected. Accordingly, what follows? “My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 139.20
… for even “if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 141.8
… For all these daily sins then what is our hope, save to say with humble heart in the Lord’s Prayer, while we defend not our sins, but confess them, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;” and to “have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” that He may be “the propitiation for our sins”?
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
… but some [He saves], converting them by punishments; others, however, who follow voluntarily [He saves] with dignity of honour; so “that every knee should bow to Him, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth;”
Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus 3.49
… but it invites also others who are very different from these, since Christ is the Saviour of all men, and especially of them that believe, whether they be intelligent or simple; and “He is the propitiation with the Father for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus 4.28
… For He Himself is said to be the Saviour of all men, especially of them that believe; and His Christ to be the “propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Origen † AD 254 Origen Against Celsus 8.13
… Accordingly, we worship with all our power the one God, and His only Son, the Word and the Image of God, by prayers and supplications; and we offer our petitions to the God of the universe through His only-begotten Son. To the Son we first present them, and beseech Him, as “the propitiation for our sins,”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Two Homilies on Eutropius 2.6
… or of its relationship to God a daughter; and to express its productiveness it calls her barren who has borne seven: in fact it employs countless names to represent its nobleness. For as the master of the Church has many names: being called the Father, and the way, and the life, and the light, and the arm, and the propitiation,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 93.32
… and, on the other hand, Christ “is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 5.9
… the world, when the word is used in praise, is heaven and earth, and the works of God that are in them; whence it is said, “And the world was made by Him.” Also, the world is the fullness of the earth, as John himself hath said, “Not only for our sins is He the propitiator, but (for the sins) of the whole world:”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 34.25
… “And they that hate the righteous one” (saith he) “shall perish.” What righteous one, but “Him that justifieth the ungodly”? Whom, but our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also “the propitiation for our sins”?
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 3 . “And by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” For the Gnostic
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 24
… teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” And the Apostle John, remembering this charge, subsequently lays it down in his epistle: “Hereby,” says he, “we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith he knoweth Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.9
9. “And in this,” saith he, “we do know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
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St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 2.2
… If we give Christ a lodging-place in our hearts, we banish the devil from thence. If we sin and the devil enter through the gate of sin, Christ will immediately withdraw. Hence David after sinning says: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,” that is, the joy which he had lost by sinning.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 3.6
… These names departed not out of their mouths, but so far forth as the sound only and the clatter of the tongue, for the heart was empty of truth. Still they cried, “Truth, Truth,” and spoke much about it to me, “yet was it not in them;”
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 Register of the Epistles of St. Gregory the Great 7.15
… For it is evident that after the incarnation of the Lord no one can be saved, even of those who hold His faith, who have not the life of faith; since it is written, They acknowledge that they know God , but in deeds they deny Him ( Tit. i. 16 ). And John says, He that saith that he knows Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar (
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 5 . “But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him,”—by faith and love.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.9
9. “And in this,” saith he, “we do know Him, if we keep His commandments.” What commandments? “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” But still thou askest, What commandments? “But whoso,” saith he, “keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.”
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Tertullian † AD 220 On Monogamy 3
… When, however, he turns their minds back to continence, (“But I will you all so to be,”) “I think, moreover,” he says, “I too have the Spirit of God;” in order that, if he had granted any indulgence out of necessity, that, by the Holy Spirit’s authority, he might recall. But John, too, when advising us that “we ought so to walk as the Lord withal did,”
Origen † AD 254 Origen De Principiis iv.section24
… “He that saith that he believeth in Christ, ought so to walk, as He also walked.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 55.1
… For this is to wish to be found with Christ, to imitate that which Christ both taught and did, according to the Apostle John, who said, “He that saith he abideth in Christ, ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Dress of Virgins 7
… It is written, and it is read and heard, and is celebrated for our example by the Church’s mouth, “He that saith he abideth in Christ, ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Advantage of Patience 9
9. But if we also, beloved brethren, are in Christ; if we put Him on, if He is the way of our salvation, who follow Christ in the footsteps of salvation, let us walk by the example of Christ, as the Apostle John instructs us, saying, “He who saith he abideth in Christ, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.12
… but having a good conversation among the Gentiles, that while they detract from you as if from evildoers, yet, beholding your good works, they may magnify God.” Of this same thing in the Epistle of John: “He who saith he abideth in Christ, ought himself also to walk even as He walked.”
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 14.6
… Repeatedly does He proclaim, “If any one will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” If I load myself with gold can I think that I am following Christ? Surely not. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.”
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 54.2
… for in it I shall but recognize a name given to my Lord. But one thing is certain. I do not sever the daughter from the mother, I do not use the words of the gospel: “let the dead bury their dead.” For whosoever believes in Christ is alive; and he who believes in Him “ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.”
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 1.8
… We, because we are men, cannot imitate our Lord’s nativity; but we may at least imitate His life. The former was the blessed prerogative of divinity, the latter belongs to our human condition and is part of human effort. I would that all men were like me, that while they are like me, they may also become like Christ, to whom I am like. For
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 51.12
… And those, therefore, are the servants of Jesus Christ, who seek not their own things, but the things that are Jesus Christ’s. For “let him follow me” is just this: Let him walk in my ways, and not in his own; as it is written elsewhere, “He that saith he abideth in Christ, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.9
… now they drank it while they believed. “In this we know that we are in Him, if in Him we be made perfect.” Touching the very perfection of love of enemies, the Lord admonishing, saith, “Be ye therefore perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect. He,” therefore, “that saith he abideth in Him, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.”
Pope St Leo I the Great † AD 461 Sermons 90
… In Him therefore we find our Model of patience, in Whom we have our Hope of life eternal; for “if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him ,” since, as the Apostle says, “he that saith he abideth in Christ ought himself also to walk as He walked
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 7 . “I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye had from the beginning,”—through the Law, that is, and the prophets; where it is said, God is one. Accordingly, also, he infers, “For the old commandment is the word which ye have heard.”
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 De Decretis. (Defence of the Nicene Definition.) 2
… For Abel too in this way witnessed, knowing what he had learned from Adam, who himself had learned from that Lord, who said, when He came at the end of the ages for the abolishment of sin, “I give no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye have heard from the beginning
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.10
10. “Dearly beloved, I write unto you no new commandment, but the old commandment which ye had from the beginning.”
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 8 . “This is the commandment; for the darkness” of perversion, that is, “has passed away, and, lo, the true light hath already shone,”—that is, through faith, through knowledge, through the Covenant working in men, through prepared judgments.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.10
… Not as pertaining to the old man. But why? “Which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard.” Old then, in this regard, that ye have already heard it. And the selfsame he showeth to be new, saying, “Again, a new commandment write I unto you.”
2:9
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 9 . “He that saith he is in the light,”—in the light, he means in the truth,—“and hateth,” he says, “his brother.” By his brother, he means not only his neighbour, but also the Lord. For unbelievers hate Him and do not keep His commandments. Therefore also he infers:—
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On Jealousy and Envy 11
… and ye know that no murderer hath life abiding in him.” And again: “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.4
… first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift at the altar.” Also in the Epistle of John: “God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” Also in the same place: “He who saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is a liar, and walketh in darkness even until now.”
St John Chrysostom † AD 407 Homilies on 1 Timothy 7
… i. 16 .) And again, “He hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” ( 1 Tim. v. 8 .) And, “If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater” ( 1 Cor. v. 11 .), such a man honors not God. And, “He that hateth his brother, knoweth not God.” (
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 4.13
… for "the Lord knoweth them that are His," and "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." There is also "no communion between light and darkness," not only without, but also within the Church; for "he that hateth his brother is still in darkness."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 5.19
27. He makes an assumption, then, not "of mere custom," but "of the reason of truth itself," when he says that the sacrament of God cannot be turned to error by the error of any men, since it is declared to exist even in those who have erred. Assuredly the Apostle John says most plainly, "He that hateth his brother is in darkness even until now;"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 5.21
… If "whosoever cannot give the Holy Spirit cannot baptize," why does the murderer baptize within the Church? Or how has the murderer the Holy Spirit, when every one that has the Holy Spirit is filled with light, but "he who hates his brother is still in darkness?"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 6.14
… and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." How then do the wicked baptize within, who cannot remit sins? How also is it that they baptize the wicked whose hearts are not changed, whose sins are yet upon them, as John says, "He that hateth his brother is in darkness even until now?"
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 32.3
… Whereas if thou hate, and wouldest correct him, how dost thou improve his light, when thou hast lost thine own light? For the same Scripture, where it is written, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer,” hath expressly told us this also. “He that hateth his brother is in darkness even until now.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.11
11. “He that saith he is in the light”—now he is making all clear that he has been saying—“he that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 55.7
7. “Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and darkness hath covered me” ( ver. 5 ). “And I have said,” “He that hateth his brother, is in darkness until now.”
2:10
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 10 . “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light; and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Holy Trinity 8.8
… What therefore does love love, except that which we love with love? But this, to begin from that which is nearest to us, is our brother. And listen how greatly the Apostle John commends brotherly love: “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Grace and Free Will 35
… for love shall cover the multitude of sins.” The Apostle James also says, “If ye fulfil the royal law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.” So also the Apostle John says, “He that loveth his brother abideth in the right;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.12
12. “He that loveth his brother abideth ( manet ) in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 8.4
4. But perchance it will have struck some of you all along, while we have been expounding to you this epistle of blessed John, why it is only “brotherly” love that he so emphatically commends. “He that loveth his brother,” saith he: and, “a commandment is given us that we love one another.”
2:11
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 1.11
16. To these we reply, following the Scriptures, by asking them to answer themselves what they ask of us. For I beg them to tell us whether there is any remission of sins where there is not charity; for sins are the darkness of the soul. For we find St. John saying, "He that hateth his brother is still in darkness."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 25.5
… “It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.” As the end of the world approaches, errors increase, terrors multiply, iniquity increases, infidelity increases; the light, in short, which, by the Evangelist John himself, is fully and clearly shown to be charity, so much so that he says, “Whoso hateth his brother is in darkness;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 1.13
13. “For he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 5.7
… let him teach us; lest haply I may have rashly said that the sin here is the violation of charity, because he said above, “He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 7.19
… but the other He made not, but yet He ordered this too. But now that sins are signified by darkness, so is it seen in the Prophet, who says, “And thy darkness shall be as the noon day:” and in the Apostle, who says, “He that hateth his brother is in darkness:”
Anonymous A Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian by an Anonymous Bishop 13
… read, that “God destroys the remembrance of the proud, and does not forsake the memory of the lowly?” Hast thou not read, that “with what judgment a man shall judge he must be judged?” Hast thou not read, that “he who hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes?”
2:12
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
… and calls those whose sins have been forgiven, for the Lord’s name’s sake, “little children,” for many believe on account of the name only. He styles “fathers” the perfect, “who have known what was from the beginning,” and received with understanding,—the Son, that is, of whom he said above, “that which was from the beginning.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.4
4. “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you through His name.”
2:13
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Festal and Personal Letters of Athanasius 14
… And if enemies afflict us and persecute us, He again, instead of Moses, will encourage us with better words, saying, ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the wicked one
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.5
… why, before Noe? why, before Adam? Hear the Scripture: “Before the day-star have I begotten Thee.” In fine, before heaven and earth. Wherefore? Because “all things were made by Him, and without Him was nothing made.” By this know ye the “fathers:” for they become fathers by acknowledging “That which is from the beginning.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.7
… “I write unto you, young men.” Again and again consider that ye are young men: fight, that ye may overcome: overcome, that ye may be crowned: be lowly, that ye fall not in the fight. “I write unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
2:15
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 15 . “For the world,” he says, “is in the wicked one.” Is not the world, and all that is in the world, called God’s creation and very good? Yes. But,
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 12.36
… If therefore any one of us wishes to be taken by Jesus, and led up by Him into the high mountain, and be deemed worthy of beholding His transfiguration apart, let him pass beyond the six days, because he no longer beholds the things which are seen, nor longer loves the world, nor the things in the world,
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Dress of Virgins 7
… For all that is in the world, is lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not from the Father, but is of the lust of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as God also abideth for ever.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Lord's Prayer 14
… For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the ambition of life, which is not of the Father, but of the lust of the world. And the world shall pass away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as God also abideth for ever.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Mortality 24
… For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but of the lust of the world. And the world shall pass away, and the lust thereof; but he who doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as God abideth for ever.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.12
… Because everything which is in the world is lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and the ambition of this world, which is not of the Father, but of the lust of this world. And the world shall pass away with its lust. But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as God abideth for ever.”
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 7.14
… For if we call on Him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, let us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear , loving not the world, neither the things that are in the world: for if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 108.19
… The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord:” and Saint John’s words, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof.”
St Jerome † AD 420 Against Jovinianus 1.40
… And yet that handsome monk so fat and sleek, and of bright appearance, who always walks with the air of a bridegroom, must either marry a wife if he is to show that virginity and marriage are equal: or if he does not marry one, it is useless for him to bandy words with us when his acts are on our side. And John agrees with this almost to the letter:
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 220.6
… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, as God abideth for ever.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 220.9
… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 14.7
… And if any one fancy that amor is no doubt used both of good and bad loves, but that dilectio is reserved for the good only, let him remember what the psalm says, “He that loveth ( diligit ) iniquity hateth his own soul;” and the words of the Apostle John, “If any man love ( diligere ) the world, the love ( dilectio ) of the Father is not in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Patience 14
… With regard to which the Apostle John saith; “Love not the world, neither the things that be in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him: because all that is in the world, is lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and pride of life; which is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On the Morals of the Catholic Church 21
39. To this New Testament authority, requiring us not to love anything in this world,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Marriage and Concupiscence 1.20
… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as also God abideth for ever.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Grace and Free Will 4
… “Do not err, my beloved brethren . . . and have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect to persons;” and, “Do not speak evil one of another.” So also John in his Epistle writes, “Do not love the world,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 46.0
On the words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 34 , “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself,” etc. And on the words
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 46.7
… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 62.6
… let him look well to it that he die not by an inward famine. Attend to John, the holy Apostle and Evangelist; “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 9.7
… For the Holy Spirit is not that of the Father only, nor of the Son only, but the Spirit of the Father and of the Son. For it is written,” If any man love the world, the Spirit of the Father is not in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 87.4
… It hates, therefore, the true nature that is in it, and loves the vice: it hates what it is, as made by the goodness of God, and loves what has been wrought in it by free-will. And hence also, if we rightly understand it, we are at once forbidden and commanded to love it: thus, we are forbidden, when it is said to us, “Love not the world;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.8
… if he finds the field cleared, he plants it. He would plant a tree there, charity. And what is the wood he would root up? Love of the world. Hear him, the rooter up of the wood! “Love not the world,” (for this comes next,) “neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.9
… Make clear riddance of the woods. A mighty seed ye are about to put in: let there not be that in the field which shall choke the seed. These are the uprooting words which he hath said: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.14
… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all the things that are in the world, is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world:”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 8.13
… Now these three kinds of vice, namely, the pleasure of the flesh, and pride, and curiosity, include all sins. And they appear to me to be enumerated by the Apostle John, when he says, “Love not the world; for all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Conferences of John Cassian 23.8
… If any man love the world, the love of God is not in him: for everything that is in the world is the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, which is not of the Father but of the world. And the world perisheth and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
2:16
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 16 . “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the ambition of the world,” which arise from the perversion of life, “are not of the Father, but of the world,” and of you.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 5.3
… For they seek not religiously whence they have the ability where-with they seek out these things. And finding that Thou hast made them, they give not themselves up to Thee, that Thou mayest preserve what Thou hast made, nor sacrifice themselves to Thee, even such as they have made themselves to be; nor do they slay their own pride, as fowls of the air,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 10.30
41. Verily, Thou commandest that I should be continent from the “lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 10.34
51. There remain the delights of these eyes of my flesh, concerning which to make my confessions in the hearing of the ears of Thy temple, those fraternal and devout ears; and so to conclude the temptations of “the lust of the flesh”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 10.35
… This longing, since it originates in an appetite for knowledge, and the sight being the chief amongst the senses in the acquisition of knowledge, is called in divine language, “the lust of the eyes.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 The Confessions 10.37
… for then I inquire of myself how much more or less troublesome it is to me not to have them. Riches truly which are sought for in order that they may minister to some one of these three “lusts,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 145.2
… For this world is more dangerous to us in pleasant than in painful hours, and is to be guarded against more when it allures us to love it than when it warns and constrains us to despise it. For although “all that is in the world” is “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Patience 15
… come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is that “love of God” which “is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” But the concupiscence of the bad, by reason of which there is in them a false patience, “is not of the Father,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin 1.21
… but he is likewise able to have cupidity, which makes the tree evil. This human cupidity, however, which is a vice, has for its author man, or man’s deceiver, but not man’s Creator. It is indeed that “lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.14
… while the union of the two pertains to the procreation of children; and their fruitfulness to the blessing pronounced on the marriage institution. But all these things are of God; yet amongst them he was unwilling to name that “lust of the flesh, which is not of the Father, but is of the world;”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.16
… So that from Him comes the union of bodies, from whom first came the creation of bodies.” We have already furnished an answer to this statement, when we said that these bodies are of God. But as regards the disobedience of the members of these bodies, this comes through the lust of the flesh which “is not of the Father.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Marriage and Concupiscence 2.17
… Who can deny this statement, especially if he be a catholic Christian? A man is God’s work; but carnal concupiscence (without which, if sin had not preceded, man would have been begotten by means of the organs of generation, not less obedient than the other members to a quiet and normal will) is not of the Father, but is of the world.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 74.4
… for it is not subject to the law of God; neither indeed can be;” just as if we were to say, Unrighteousness cannot be righteous. For in speaking in this passage of the world, He refers to those who love the world; and such a love is not of the Father.
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 2.10
10. “For all that is in the world, is the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 7.9
… He therefore seeth our cares, who searcheth the heart. He seeth too the ends of cares, that is delights, who narrowly searcheth the reins; that when He shall find that our cares incline neither to the lust of the flesh, nor to the lust of the eyes, nor to the pride of life,
2:17
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 17 . “Therefore also the world shall pass away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God” and His commandments “abideth for ever.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.20
… but he who doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Also according to Luke: “But that servant which knoweth his Lord’s will, and obeyed not His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” In the Epistle of John: “But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever, even as He Himself also abideth for ever.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 20.24
… And, indeed, in the sacred writings which are peculiar to ourselves, and not common to the Hebrews and us,—I mean the evangelic and apostolic books,—the following expressions are used: “The figure of this world passeth away;” “The world passeth away;”
2:18
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 3.16.5
… They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but [they departed], that they might be made manifest that they are not of us. Know ye therefore, that every lie is from without, and is not of the truth. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist.”
St Irenaeus of Lyons † AD 202 Against Heresies 4.pref.3
… then, the ideas of the apostles as to all these points have been set forth, [to the effect] that not only did they, “who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word” of truth, hold no such opinions, but that they did also preach to us to shun these doctrines, foreseeing by the Spirit those weak-minded persons who should be led astray.
Tertullian † AD 220 On Fasting 11
… And how is it that he enjoins duties which belong to our God, and enjoins them to be offered to none other than our God? Either contend that the devil works with our God, or else let the Paraclete be held to be Satan. But you affirm it is “a human Antichrist:” for by this name heretics are called in John.
St Hippolytus † AD 235 A discourse by the most blessed Hippolytus, bishop and martyr, on the end of the world, and on Antichrist, and on the second coming of our lord Jesus Christ 10
… And there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies.” After him, John the theologian, and the beloved of Christ, in harmony with him, cries, “The children of the devil are manifest; and even now are there many antichrists;
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 11.1
“ And when even was come His disciples came to Him, ” that is, at the consummation of the age in regard to which we may fitly say what is found in the Epistle of John, “It is the last hour.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 69.3
… even now there are many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 75.1
… but he called all who had gone out from the Church, and who acted in opposition to the Church, antichrists, saying, “Ye have heard that Antichrist cometh, and even now are come many antichrists; wherefore we know that this is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.”
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 2.15
135. John, likewise, saith that heretics are Antichrists,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 20.19
… and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Christian Doctrine 3.36
… says, “In that day,” the time of the revelation of the Lord will be thought the time for giving heed to these sayings, unless the reader be watchful and intelligent so as to understand the recapitulation, in which he will be assisted by that other passage of Scripture which even in the time of the apostles proclaimed: “Little children, it is the last time.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 6.18
Chapter 18.— 30. Secundinus of Cedias said: "Since our Lord Christ said, ‘He that is not with me is against me,’ and the Apostle John declares those who go out from the Church to be antichrists,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 79.7
7. It is said of Antichrist, and all understand of him what the Lord said, “I am come in My Father’s Name, and ye have not received Me; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” But let us hear John too; “Ye have heard that Antichrist cometh, and even now are there many Antichrists.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 22
… This hour, however, is still passing. For the hour of which the Lord spoke will not be an hour of the twelve hours of a day. From the time when He spoke even to the present, and even to the end of the world, the same one hour is passing; of which hour John saith in his epistle, “Little children, it is the last hour.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 76.3
… But He said, “a little while,” because that which appears tedious to men is very brief in the sight of God: for of this same “little while” our evangelist, John, himself says, “Little children, it is the last time.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 101.6
… and again a little while, and ye shall see me.” For the whole of that space over which the present dispensation extends, is but a little while; and hence this same evangelist says in his epistle, “It is the last hour.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 114.4
… But as they did not depart thence, until freed by Divine help; so no man is turned away in heart from this world, unless aided by the gift of the Divine mercy. For what was there once prefigured, the same is fulfilled in every faithful one in the daily travailings of the Church, in this end of the world, in this, as the blessed John writeth, last time.
Pope St Gregory I the Great † AD 604 Register of the Epistles of St. Gregory the Great 5.18
Of a truth it was proclaimed of old through the Apostle John, Little children, it is the last hour (
2:19
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
… but they were not of us”—neither the apostate angels, nor men falling away;—“but that they may be manifested that they are not of us.” With sufficient clearness he distinguishes the class of the elect and that of the lost, and that which remaining in faith “has an unction from the Holy One,” which comes through faith. He that abideth not in faith.
Tertullian † AD 220 The Prescription Against Heretics 3
… the betrayer of Christ was himself one of the apostles. We are surprised at seeing His churches forsaken by some men, although the things which we suffer after the example of Christ Himself, show us to be Christians. “They went out from us,” says (St. John,) “but they were not of us. If they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 54.7
… for if they had been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 On the Unity of the Church 9
… The light straws are tossed about by the tempest, the feeble trees are overthrown by the onset of the whirlwind. The Apostle John execrates and severely assails these, when he says, “They went forth from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, surely they would have continued with us.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.79
To Titus: “A man that is an heretic, after one rebuke avoid; knowing that one of such sort is perverted, and sinneth, and is by his own self condemned.” Of this same thing in the Epistle of John: “They went out from among us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would doubtless have remained with us.”
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 6.14
… that Simon, who in the Acts of the Apostles thought to purchase with money the unsaleable grace of the Spirit, and heard the words, Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter , and the rest: concerning whom also it is written, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us
St Jerome † AD 420 Jerome's Apology for Himself Against the Books of Rufinus 3.23
… It is as if you were to contend that he would not be dead if a short time before he had been alive, or as if it were not equally certain that he had first reproved you and then, after the kiss of peace, excommunicated you. “They went out from us,” it is said,
St Jerome † AD 420 The Dialogue Against the Luciferians 1
… There are vessels of wrath and of mercy which the Apostle speaks of in the house of God. The day then will come when the storehouses of the Church shall be opened and the Lord will bring forth the vessels of wrath; and, as they depart, the saints will say,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Letters of St. Augustin 93.29
… I do not cast thee forth, but ‘go thy way forth,’ that of thee it may be said, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us.’
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 City of God 20.8
… For it is not without reason that John, the same apostle as wrote this Apocalypse, says in his epistle regarding certain persons, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 3.19
… "A man wishing to separate himself from his friends, seeketh opportunities." But even if occasions are wanting, while they seem to be within, they are severed from that invisible bond of love. Whence St. John says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for had they been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 5.21
… just as when men thresh, all that flies from the threshing-floor is shown not to be corn, but not all that remains there is therefore corn. And so John too says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 7.51
… not only the crowd which within the Church afflicts the hearts of the saints, who are so few in comparison with so vast a host, but also the heresies and schisms which exist in those who have burst the meshes of the net, and may now be said to be rather out of the house than in the house, of whom it is said, "They went out from us, but they were not of us."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 On Baptism, Against the Donatists 7.53
… but have not charity, I am nothing." Just as already, from the established decrees of our predecessors, I have no hesitation in saying that all those have baptism who, though they receive it deceitfully, yet receive it in the Church, or where the Church is thought to be by those in whose society it is received, of whom it was said, "They went out from us."
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.39
… the lees have no fellowship with oil though they are related to it as being its dregs, but everything that is reprobate will flow away. It is the very sink of iniquity; according to the saying of John, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.’
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on Rebuke and Grace 20
… And, again, there are some who are called by us children of God on account of grace received even in temporal things, yet are not so called by God; of whom the same John says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us, because if they had been of us they would, no doubt, have continued with us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints 2.19
Let the inquirer still go on, and say, “Why is it that to some who have in good faith worshipped Him He has not given to persevere to the end?” Why except because he does not speak falsely who says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, doubtless they would have continued with us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 A Treatise on the Predestination of the Saints 2.21
… Yet to believers it ought to be a most certain fact that the former is of the predestinated, the latter is not. “For if they had been of us,” says one of the predestinated, who had drunk this secret from the breast of the Lord, “certainly they would have continued with us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 88.7
… but thou a man of one mind with Me, My guide, and My familiar, who didst take sweet meats together with Me, in the house of God we walked with consent.” Why then now against the house of the Lord with dissent, but that “they have gone out from us, but they were not of us?”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 45.15
15. But what is this, “He shall go in and out, and find pasture”? To enter indeed into the Church by Christ the door, is eminently good; but to go out of the Church, as this same John the evangelist saith in his epistle, “They went out from us, but they were not of us,”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John 61.2
… and therefore not one who is of you, but one who is to go forth from you. For how else can this “one of you” be true, of which the Lord so testified, and said, if that is true which the writer of this very Gospel says in his Epistle, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us”?
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.8
8. But let us not be made sad: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Expositions on the Book of Psalms 107.9
9. “And they became few, and were vexed” ( ver. 39 ). Whence this? From athwart? Nay, from within. For that they should “become few,” “They went out from us, but they were not of us.”
Pope St Leo I the Great † AD 461 Letters 22
There are some “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves :” whom we know by their fruit. These men seem indeed at first to be of us, but they are not of us: “for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us
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St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) 1.12
… From Him then we have begun to receive the unction and the seal, John saying, ‘And ye have an unction from the Holy One;’ and the Apostle, ‘And ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 21.7
7. Keep This unspotted: for it shall teach you all things, if it abide in you, as you have just heard declared by the blessed John, discoursing much concerning this Unction
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St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3.80
In the Epistle of John: “If our heart blame us not, we have confidence towards God; and whatever we ask, we shall receive from Him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Against Lying 31
… It is said unto God, “Thy law is truth:” and consequently, what is against truth cannot be just. Now who can doubt that every lie is against truth? Therefore there can be no just lie. Again, what man doth not see clearly that every thing which is just is of the truth? And John crieth out, “No lie is of the truth.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Against Lying 33
… but concerning a citizen of that city which is above and free, our mother, eternal in the heavens. And to our asking it is answered, “No lie is of the truth.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Against Lying 37
… But if, in order that he may be able to find some disciple, he upholds that he teaches a truth when he teaches that it is meet to lie, how will that lie be of the truth, when the Apostle John reclaimeth, “No lie is of the truth?”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.6
6. “I write unto you not because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”
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St Ignatius of Antioch † AD 108 Epistle to the Antiochians 5
… He also that confesseth Christ, yet not as the Son of the Maker of the world, but of some other unknown being, different from Him whom the law and the prophets have proclaimed, this man is an instrument of the devil. And he that rejects the incarnation, and is ashamed of the cross for which I am in bonds, this man is antichrist.
Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 22 . “A liar” and “an antichrist, who denieth that Jesus is the Christ.” For Jesus, Saviour and Redeemer, is also Christ the King.
Tertullian † AD 220 Against Praxeas 28
… “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ,” that is, Anointed . John, moreover, brands that man as “a liar” who “denieth that Jesus is the Christ;” whilst on the other hand he declares that “every one is born of God who believeth that Jesus is the Christ.”
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 7.5
… Therefore we also say like the Apostle, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation : and, We bow our knees unto the Father from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named : glorifying Him with the Only-begotten: for he that denieth the Father, denieth the Son also
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 10.14
14. For that He is Jesus the Jews allow, but not further that He is Christ. Therefore saith the Apostle, Who is the liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.7
… for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.” Therefore, whoso continue not with us, but go out from us, it is manifest that they are antichrists. And how are they proved to be antichrists? By lying. “And who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?”
St John of Damascus † AD 749 An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 4.26
It should be known that the Antichrist is bound to come. Every one, therefore, who confesses not that the Son of God came in the flesh and is perfect God and became perfect man, after being God, is Antichrist
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 23 . “He who denies the Son,” by ignoring Him, “has not the Father, nor does he know Him.” But he who knoweth the Son and the Father, knows according to knowledge, and when the Lord shall be manifested at His second advent, shall have confidence and not be confounded. Which confusion is heavy punishment.
Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John 2.28
… As he who in these times does not know the Son has not the Father either,
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Exhortation to Martyrdom, Addressed to Fortunatus 5
… “For if we die with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us.” John too: “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father; he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath both the Son and the Father.”
St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 2.28
… “For in this also was it preached to them that are dead, that they might be raised again.” Also in the Epistle of John: “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same also hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath both the Son and the Father.”
St Athanasius of Alexandria † AD 373 Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) 2.22
… in which wisdom we, having the power of knowledge and thought, become recipients of the All-framing Wisdom; and through It we are able to know Its Father. ‘For he who hath the Son,’ saith He, ‘hath the Father also;’ and ‘he that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 7.5
… and, We bow our knees unto the Father from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named : glorifying Him with the Only-begotten: for he that denieth the Father, denieth the Son also : and again, He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also
St Cyril of Jerusalem † AD 386 The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 10.1
1. They who have been taught to believe “ In One God the Father Almighty ,” ought also to believe in His Only-begotten Son. For he that denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 2.15
… Moreover, that which perchance Antichrist will not do, they have falsified the holy Scriptures. And thus he who saith that Jesus is not the Christ, the same is Antichrist; he who denies the Saviour of the world, denies Jesus; he who denies the Son, denies the Father also, for it is written; “Every one which denieth the Son, denieth the Father likewise.”
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 5.10
… Thus, He has explained what He had spoken earlier, that he who confesses the Father believes on the Son. For he who knows not the Son, neither knows the Father. For every one that denies the Son has not the Father, but he that confesses the Son has both the Father and the Son.
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Concerning Virgins 3.1.4
… For he who derogates from the power, derogates from Him Whose is the power. The Perfection of the Godhead does not admit of inequality. Love, then, Him Whom the Father loves, honour Him Whom the Father honours, for “he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father,” and “whoso denieth the Son, hath not the Father.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.10
10. These things are now manifest, my brethren. Let no man say, I do not worship Christ, but I worship God His Father. “Every one that denieth the Son, hath neither the Son nor the Father; and he that confesseth the Son, hath both the Son and the Father.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius 3.7
… “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son, that all men may honour the Son as they honour the Father.” For whoever denies the Father denies the Son also. “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.”
John Cassian † AD 435 The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius 6.17
… And so if you deny that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, the result is that in denying the Son of God you deny the Father also. For as St. John says: “He who hath not the Son hath not the Father; but he who hath the Son hath the Father also.”
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St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.11
11. “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that He hath promised us.”
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St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.12
12. Remember then, my brethren, that Christ hath promised us eternal life: “This,” saith he, “is the promise which He hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written to you concerning them which seduce you.”
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St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.12
… Dread that which One Almighty threatens; love that which One Almighty promises; and all the world becomes vile in our regard, whether it promise or terrify. “These things have I written unto you concerning them which seduce you; that ye may know that ye have an unction, and the unction which we have received from Him may abide in you.”
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St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 69.2
… Therefore they who assert that heretics can baptize, must either change the interrogation or maintain the truth; unless indeed they attribute a church also to those who, they contend, have baptism. It is also necessary that he should be anointed who is baptized; so that, having received the chrism,
St Jerome † AD 420 The Letters of St. Jerome 39.4
… Of the high priest, again, it is said: “He shall not go out of the sanctuary, and the sanctification of his God shall not be contaminated, for the anointing oil of his God is upon him.” Certainly, now that we have believed in Christ, and bear Him within us, by reason of the oil of His anointing which we have received,
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 3.13
13. “And ye have no need that any man teach you, because His unction teacheth you concerning all things.”
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Clement of Alexandria † AD 215 The Stromata, or Miscellanies fragments-of-clemens-alexandri
Ver. 29 . “Every one,” he says, “who doeth righteousness is born of God;” being regenerated, that is, according to faith.
St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 Exposition of the Christian Faith 4.11
155. Not to be passed over for silencing the disputings of Arian misbelief are those words of the same Saint John, which he set down in another Scripture: “If ye know that He is just, know that he which doeth righteousness is born of Him.”
St Augustine of Hippo † AD 430 Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John 4.3
3. “If ye know that He is righteous, know ye that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.”
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CHAPTER 2 Ver. 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. At the end of the last chapter it was said that all who were grown up had sinned, either mortally as heathens, or venially as Christians. But he now exhorts them one by one to be most watchful against the sins they committed as heathens, and to abstain as far as they could from venial sins. For though it be impossible to avoid them collectively, yet it is possible to avoid them one by one, especially such as are committed not by surprise, but with previous consideration, and deliberately.
But if any man sin, we have an Advocate. This anticipates the objection, what then will he do, who through human weakness has fallen into some unusual and shameful sin? He answers, he should not despair, or be cast down, because we have Christ as our advocate with our most loving Father, Christ who by presenting His death and sufferings which He underwent for us, will easily obtain our pardon, if we are truly penitent, for God is most merciful, and Christ's merits are infinite. And just as the severity of a wound or disease displays the skill and credit of the physician who cures them, so does the greatness of our sins which He heals, and in which He is a propitiator, set forth the greatness of Christ's mercy, grace, and redemption. As in the case of the Magdalene and S. Paul. See 1Ti 1:15. Here observe Advocate means one who pleads our cause: in a forensic sense; and He is so 1. By displaying His wounds, and thus silently pleading His own Merits. 2. Many, with great probability, assert that He is ever praying for us orally, being no longer a wayfarer on earth, but as having attained to his rest and claiming our pardon as His right. See Heb 7:25,Heb 9:12; Joh 14:16; Rom 7:3. Beza and others thence contend that the saints are not our advocates, and that we make them superior to Christ, if we regard them as such. But they reason falsely, for we know and profess that Christ is the Son of God, and that the Blessed Virgin and the Saints are immeasurably inferior to Him. But yet they intercede for us through His merits. See S. Irenæus, v. 29; S. Bernard, xii.; and on the whole question, Bellarmine, de lnvocat. Sanct.
Jesus Christ the righteous. That is, (1.) Innocent and holy, and who by His very sanctity is most loved of the Father, and desirous to be heard of Him. (2.) He who made a full satisfaction for our sins, paying a full ransom for them by His own Blood. He is then our righteous advocate in another sense, as pleading a righteous cause, as those who plead for gain. Whence Cassiodorus says (Epist. xi. 4.), "If in your zeal for advocacy ye have shone forth with the light of justice." Such an one, then, is a good advocate amongst men, but not with God, since we ask of Him, not justice, but mercy and grace. And His is a tribunal of grace. Ver. 2. And (i.e., because) He is the propitiation (the propitiator) for our sins. For by offering Himself on the Cross as a Victim for sins, He has made satisfaction for them, and reconciled the Father to us. This refers to the mercy-seat, which was above the ark (see Exo 25:17), which represented Christ our Propitiator (see Rom 3:25.). S. Augustine (de Fide et Operibus) reads, "He is the entreater (exoratio) for our sins." S. Cyprian reads deprecatio, John means that Christ is so powerful an advocate, that our case cannot fail in His hands, being Himself, by His very office, our redemption and propitiation, who made a full satisfaction for our sins. So S. John says (Rev 1:5); and S. Leo (Serm. xii. de Passione), "The pouring forth of His righteous Blood for the unrighteous, was so powerful to gain this privilege, so fully sufficient to pay the price, that if the whole body of captives believed in their Redeemer, the bands of tyranny would not retain their hold of a single one... For though the death of the Saints was precious in the sight of the Lord, yet it was not the death of any innocent person that was the propitiation of the world. The righteous received crowns, they did not confer them. In the fortitude of the saints were exhibited examples of patience, not gifts of righteousness. They each died their own several deaths, and none of them dying discharged any other's debt than his own, since the Lord Jesus Christ stood forth alone among the sons of men, in whom all are crucified, all die, all are buried, and all moreover will be raised again." For this cause S. Augustine and other saints who had sinned betook themselves to the wounds of Christ, and dwelt therein as in a refuge. See note on Zech. xiii. As S. Ambrose (pref. in Ps. xxxv.) says, "The Blood of Christ is fine gold, plenteous to redeem, and flowing forth to wash away every sin."
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And hereby do we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. We know Him by probability and conjecturally. But our knowledge must be practised: it must show itself in love and affection, and in outward acts. And we shall in this way secure Him as our Advocate. S. Augustine says (De Fide et Oper. cap. xii), "Let not our mind be so deceived as to think that it knows God if it confess Him with a dead faith, that is, without works." So David says, Psa 103:18, "To think upon His commandments to do them." See his dying advice to Solomon, "Know thou the God of thy fathers," that is believe, reverence, love, and obey Him. See also Hos 6:6, For he who does not observe the law of God assuredly does not know it, because he does not practically value or ponder as he ought on His boundless majesty, goodness, power, wisdom, and righteousness, for else he would love, reverence, and obey Him with his whole heart. For, as Bede says, "He who loves not God, shows that he knows not His loveliness, and he has not learned to taste and see how gracious and sweet He is, if he does not labour continually to do those things which are pleasing in His sight." See chap. iv. 7, 8. Catharinus wrongly infers that the righteous can know for certain that they are righteous and in God's favour. But although they may have grace and the love of God in their hearts, yet they do not see them, and though they outwardly observe the commandments of God, yet they know not whether they observe them from love of Him, and as He commanded. And though they feel that they love God, yet they know not whether this love is what it should be, and simply for God's sake. (See Conc. Indent. sess. vi. cap. 9; Bellarmine, de Justif. iii. 1 seq.) Ver. 4. He that saith he knoweth Him, that is, with true and saving knowledge, such as leads to eternal life, and keepeth not His commandments is a liar. As the Apostle said (Rom 1:21) of the philosophers who knew God, but only in a speculative and barren way, "When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God." Ver. 5. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. This confirms the previous statement, by way of antithesis. The word is spoken of in the singular number, because the law of love comprehends all others, just as a root implies the leaves and fruit, and the whole tree. Perfect love is that which fulfils that command, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart," &c. (Mat 22:37.) For he who observes the commands of God loves God with all his heart, though he may sin venially, which is a necessary evil in this life of corruption. But in this perfectness of Christian charity and life there are various grades. The first is so to love God with all the heart as never to offend Him mortally. 2. Never deliberately to offend Him venially, even for the sake of the whole world. 3. To renounce, for the love of God, the love of every creature, and to devote thyself entirely to His service as "religious" do. See, too, Rom. viii. 35. 4. Not to think, wish, or love anything save God, or for His sake. Origen (Præf. in Evan. S. Joan) says, "He who is perfect, no longer lives himself, but Christ lives in him;" and S. Augustine (Serm. xxxix. de temp. [ nunc cccl]) says, "As covetousness is the root of all evil, so is love the root of all good. The love of God and our neighbour fills up the whole length and breadth of the sacred word." He then adds, "Without it a rich man is poor, with it a poor man is rich. It gives patience in adversity, moderation in prosperity, endurance in hard sufferings, and so forth." And S. Bernard writes thus to the brethren (de Monte Dei, xix.): "Perfection, though not of the same kind, is required of you all. As one star differs from another star in glory, so does cell from cell, in the beginners, the progressing, and the perfect The first state may be called the animal, the next the rational, the last the spiritual, the first relating to the body, the second to the soul, the third finding its rest in God alone. Each, however, has its own rate of progress and measure of perfection. The beginning consists in perfect obedience in the animal life, its progress in bringing the body into subjection, its perfection in turning the practice of good into delight in it. And so too, in the rational life, the perfection of which is the spiritual life, and the perfection of the spiritual life is to be changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." And S. Maximus says (De Charitate Cent. iii. 97), "That soul is perfect whose whole powers turn only towards God." See also Centur. iv. 17; and S. Francis (in Opusc. decem perfect considered to be spurious: see Cave) says, "A Christian's perfection is to root out from his heart all worldly affections, and to find no root, or resting-place, save in Him who made it. And again, to have such patience as to love him the more who has done or said any wrong of him. For as God of His bounty conferred on him all his blessings, so should he believe that He secretly pledges Himself to send on him every kind of evil, in order to show a sinner his sins, and thus lightly punish them once in this present life, that He may not scourge them more severely for ever. He should therefore love him who has done or spoken any evil against him, as being the messenger of God to him for good," &c.
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Hereby know we that we are in Him. S. Augustine here adds, ' If we be perfected in Him,' but nearly all MSS. omit these words. The meaning is, we know that we are in Him if we keep His commandments. This is the effect and sign of our cleaving to Him. Moreover, it is by love that we abide in God, as the thing loved is in the lover. For the soul is more in that which it loves, than in that which it animates. And God in return loves those who love Him, dwells in them, cares for, directs and protects them. Augustine says, that we who love Christ are in Christ, as the members in the body. See Joh 15:23. The soul then of one who loves God is a kind of temple, in which all the three Persons abide. And by abiding S. John means intimate union, permanent resting, continual presence, friendly converse, and all other offices of true friendship. Ver. 6. He that saith he abide in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. By advancing in virtue, especially in charity, and exhibiting its works more and more every day, as Christ "increased in wisdom and stature." "The true righteousness of the perfect," says S. Leo (Serm. ii. de Quadr.), "is for them never to presume that they are perfect, lest by stopping short when their journey is not yet done, they should incur the risk of failing." See Eph. v. 1. S. Prosper (de vit. contempl. lib. 11) beautifully says, "What is walking as He walked, except the despising all the good things which He despised, not to fear the sufferings He endured, to teach what He taught, to hope for what He promised, to confer kindnesses on the ungrateful, not to requite to evil-wishers according to their deserts, to pray for our enemies, to pity the perverse, patiently to bear with the crafty and proud, and, as the Apostle says, to die to the flesh that we may live to Christ?" &c. Whence Gregory Nyssen defines Christianity to be an imitation of the Divine nature, &c. S. Augustine (de Vera Relig. cap. xv.) tells us that the Word was made flesh, to teach us the way of life not by force but by example, in ministering to the poor, in refusing to be a king, in submitting to every kind of injury, &c. In fact, His whole life, in the nature He deigned to assume, was a moral discipline. S. Cyprian (de Zelo et Livore), "If parents delight in having children who are like themselves, much more does God rejoice when a man is spiritually born; and again, as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us also bear the image of the heavenly. But we cannot do this unless we exhibit a resemblance to Christ; for this is to change our old self, and to begin a new life, and that thus the Divine truth may shine forth in thee, as He Himself promised, 'Those that honour Me, I will honour.'"
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My beloved, I write a new commandment unto you. This commandment of loving God and our neighbour was not new, for it was given to the Jews, and before that to Adam and all men by the Law of Nature, which was in the mind of God from all eternity. This, was an answer to the objection made to the Apostle's teaching, that it was new and unheard of. It was again an old commandment as having been taught Christians from their very baptism.
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Again, a new commandment I write unto you. It was new, as being a new enforcing of an old commandment, which had been forgotten by long disuse. (See Joh 13:33.) And it was enforced by Christ on the new principle of love, and also more fully explained (Matt v. 38; Joh 14:15-16). It was new on various grounds 1. Because of the new efficient cause, viz. Christ, who enforced it more stringently upon us. And again, by reason of the new source of charity and grace, viz., the Holy Spirit poured forth at Pentecost. The false interpretations of the Jews were thus put aside, and a new law, and new obligations and duties, imposed on Christians. See Mat 5:43. 2. It was a new law; by reason of a new material cause, viz., the new and enlarged body of Christians, who were before in the darkness of unbelief and hatred, but who were now bound by it to love God and their neighbour. 3. There was a new formal cause, namely, the Incarnation, and the union of all Christians in Christ. For in Christ there is an union, not with Christ only, but with all Christians in Him, an union by nature, by grace, and by the sacraments (especially by the Holy Eucharist), which is the foundation of a greater and singular obligation to a stricter love of God, of Christ, and of all Christians. And this is a pure, perfect love, in so much as Christ is far above, and more perfect than other men. Moreover, by Christ's Incarnation we owe greater love, not only to Christ, but also to the whole Trinity, by reason of our closer union, and also of the new and very great blessings conferred on us thereby. For by the Incarnation we have a new relation and union to the Holy Trinity, and also between ourselves, and a new cause and formal reason for love. For by the Incarnation Christ has became our kinsman and brother, so that we ought mutually to love each other, as brethren and members of the one body of Christ. So Toletus and F. Lucas on Joh 13. 4. It is new, with regard to the example Christ has set us. He poured forth His blood out of pure love. And such indeed was the love of the Blessed Virgin, and the early Christians. We are taught to do according to the pattern shewed us in the Mount. Christ says, "As I have loved you" words which have caused much matter for shame, and also much matter for exaggeration. For consider what arguments for love Christ furnished at every moment, by His birth, His labour, His preaching, His suffering, His dying, and thus thou wilt see how little is the love of all men. As S. John the Almoner, Bishop of Alexandria, used to say when one praised his liberality to the poor: "My brother, I have not yet shed my life for thee, as the Lord commanded me." We are therefore taught by Christ not merely to love our neighbour as ourselves, but even more than ourselves. For Christ died for us though we were His enemies, teaching us to do the same. This was an unheard-of love both among the Jews and the world at large. So S. Cyril, in John xiii., S. Chrysostom, Theophylact, Rupertus. Arias [Montanus] says, that our love should be most fervent, and abounding in kind offices, even towards our enemies, and ready to shed our, blood for the good of our brethren, as Christ did. So Cajetan, Gagneius, S. Major, and others. 5. In regard of the new end Christ set before us, He wished to make us heavenly men, and not earthly. And he wished us to renew our love by frequent communions, sermons, meditations, &c. S. John in his old age used frequently to repeat and inculcate these words. S. Bernard (Serm. v. in Cæna. Dom.): "It is a new commandment because it makes all things new, putting off the old man and putting on the new, and by daily admitting to heaven mankind who were banished from paradise." " Is it not a new commandment," says S. Augustine, "because this commandment renews those who obey it, and thus makes us new men, heirs of the New Testament, singers of the new song, making and gathering into one a new people?" S. Gregory (Hom. xxxii. in Evang.) says, "Our Lord and Redeemer came as a new man into the world, giving us new precepts. For since our old life was brought up in sin, He set up in opposition to it newness of life," charity as opposed to concupiscence, and the love of God and our neighbour against our self-love. 6. Maldonatus understands by 'new' something excellent and pre-eminent. And others again by 'new' understand a commandment never given before, as men were called 'new' who were newly made: and 'new' also because Christ wished His disciples to observe it 'anew,' as being the last He gave them. As F. Lucas explains it, "I have reserved this commandment to you, in order that ye may keep it more firmly in your memory. For I wish specially to commend it to you, being such a command as no one ever yet gave his disciples, being a gentle and loving command. It was 'new' then, as newly enjoined by Christ in His Last Supper, and as being a command peculiar to Christ, and being in a singular manner commanded by Him." (See. S. Basil, de Bapt. cap. ult.) 7. It was 'new' with respect to its effects, the heroic deeds of S. Paul and the other Apostles, their new and unheard-of labours and persecutions, and the new alacrity and ardour with which they subdued the world to Christ. A love which led Paul to wish himself accursed for the sake of his brethren, which caused Paulinus to sell himself into slavery for the sake of ransoming the son of a widow a love which led S. Dominick, S. Francis, S. Ignatius and others to devote themselves to the salvation of souls, and led the blessed Jacoponus to pray that he might suffer all the sufferings of all the lost, that he might save them all, if it were God's will.
8. It was a 'new' commandment as specially pertaining to the New Testament, and distinguishing it from the Old. See Joh 13:35; Son 2:4, Son 8:6. Such was the love of the early Christians. See Act 4:32. "See how these Christians love one another, and are ready to die for each other," was remarked by the heathen. Tertullian says why they called each other brethren, as acknowledging one God as their father, having drunk of the one Spirit of holiness, as having come from the same womb of ignorance to the same Light of Truth, &c.
Which thing is true in Him and in you. Namely, this law of love, as springing from the Law of Nature, and it is not only the most ancient command, but is true also in you, because ye have embraced it together with your new life in Christ. But some refer this to Christ, which is far better. For though He is not expressly mentioned, yet He was mentioned above (ver 1-4). But S. John's heart was so full of Christ, that when he says 'Him,' he does not mean any one else, but Christ, as was the case also with the Magdalene (Joh 20:15). S. Jerome (contra Jovin, lib. 11) accordingly reads, "which is most true both in Christ and in you." Some explain it thus, "This law of charity is that which makes you to be as truly in Christ as ye are in yourselves." 2d. We may explain it thus (and it is the best meaning), "As Christ loves Christians in the highest degree as members of His Body, so should we devote ourselves entirely to the love of Him and our fellow-Christians."
Because the darkness (of ignorance, lust, and sin, as well as of the shadows, the terrors and ceremonies of the Old Testament) is past, and the true Light now shineth, the light of faith, grace, love, and of all holiness. See Rom 13:12; Eph 5:6. This is called the 'true,' i.e. the perfect, full, Divine Light. See John i. 9. Christ calls Himself the true vine (John xv. 1) and the true head, i.e. fully satisfying (John vi. 55). As a symbol of this, Christ was incarnate at the Vernal Equinox, and was born at the Winter Solstice, when the days are beginning to increase. See S. Augustine, Serm. xxii. de temp. [not S. Augustine.] Ver. 9. He that saith he is in the Light (of the Gospel, Faith, and Charity) and hateth his brother, is in darkness, in ignorance of his sins, anger, hatred, lust, &c. And by these he is so blinded as not to see the great evil of hatred, how odious to God, who is the light of Charity, what destruction it causes, what torments of hell it brings with it. "He is blinded with his wickedness," says S. Chrysostom (de Erudit. discipl.): "he goes ignorantly into hell-fire, and is hurled headlong into punishments." See Exo 11:16. And S. Cyprian (de zelo et livore) says: "If thou hast begun to be a man of light, do the things of Christ, for He is our Light and day. Why rushest thou into the darkness of anger? Why wrappest thou thyself in a mist of envy? Why dost thou extinguish with the darkness of envy every spark of peace and charity? Why dost thou go back to the devil, whom thou hast renounced? Why hast thou become like Cain? Cain? He is in the darkness of hell, because he is tending towards it." S. Basil says, "As he who has charity has God within him, so he that has hatred and anger has a devil within him," &c.; and S. Chrysostom calls anger a self-chosen (voluntarium) devil. In an angry man you may see all the furies of hell. As Seneca says (lib. ii. de Ira).
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Even until now. For though baptism be an enlightenment, yet it cannot dispel the darkness of hatred, if it be voluntary, or come on after baptism. (See S. Augustine, Bede, and Hugo.)
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Ver. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light (of faith and love: this is an antithesis to the former verse), and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. S. Jerome (in Matt. xxv.) explains the words πζόστομμα and σκάνδαλον. This may be taken to have either an active or a passive meaning, the giving of offence, or the taking of offence. See 1Co 13:4; Pro 15:19; Psa 119:165. One who loves neither gives offence, nor takes it: "If my brother offends me," they would say, "shall I abandon charity? Far from it. I will overcome evil with good, I will follow Christ, I will show him how I love the brethren, how I love God. I will not fight against my brother who has wronged me. I will rather fight against his disease of mind, and drown his anger and ill-will with floods of charity." S. Augustine says (in loc.), "Who are they who either take or make offence? They who are offended at Christ or the Church. They who are offended in Christ are burnt as by the sun, they who are offended in the Church are burnt as by the moon. But the Psalm says (Psa 122:6), 'the sun shall not burn thee by day, nor the moon by night,' that is, if thou holdest fast by charity thou wilt suffer no offence either in Christ or the Church, and thou wilt forsake neither Christ nor the Church." A passage is here added from a sermon once supposed to be S. Augustine's, but subsequently regarded as spurious, as is also another sermon quoted just afterwards, showing who are true and who are false friends, and that those who seem to be our enemies are in truth our best friends, and to be regarded as such. And S. Basil (Reg. brev. clxxvi.) says the same.
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Ver. 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness. For, as Œcumenius says, "He cannot be in the light of Christ, who hateth him for whom Christ died."
And knoweth not whither he goeth. "For (as says S. Cyprian, de Zelo) he goes down to hell, ignorantly and blindly, and withdrawn from the light of Christ, who says, 'I am the Light of the world.'" "Hatred," says the author of Imperf. Homily xiii. [on S. Matt.] "is the spirit of darkness, and wherever it settles it defiles the purity of holiness;" and adds, "The world is so full of offences, that if we wish to love our friends only, we shall not find anything to love." See Pro 4:19; Zep 1:17; and Isa 59:10. For in truth nothing so blinds our reason as hatred. "There is no difference between anger and madness," says S. Chrysostom on S. John (Hom. xlvii.) And anger is so blind as not to see its own blindness. Seneca adduces the case of Harpasto, his wife's handmaid (Ep. li.), who did not understand that she was blind, adding, "No one admits that he is covetous, or ambitious, or angry. I have not settled on my course of life (he says), it is our youth that causes it. But why do we deceive ourselves? The evil is not without us, but within us, and therefore we find it hard to regain our health, because we know not that we are ill." Democritus blinded himself by looking at the sun, in order that he might not see the happiness of the wicked. And in like manner do the envious and malicious blind themselves. Ver. 12. I write unto you, little children. Commending what he had said to the several grades whom he addressed. He places them in three classes according to their respective ages. He congratulates them on the gift of the Gospel which they had received, and exhorts them to persevere and make progress therein. The children represent beginners or neophytes; young men, those who are advancing; the old men, those who are perfect. And he thus suggests that Christians should advance in virtue, as they advance in years. Clemens, Œcumenius, and others take this view, though S. Augustine holds that these three terms apply equally to all classes; that they are called children as having been new-born in baptism, fathers as acknowledging Christ as their Father and the Ancient of Days, and youths because they are strong. But the first meaning seems the simplest. Because your sins, into which ye are likely to fall, are forgiven you, in baptism, for His Name's sake, i.e., for Christ's sake, or else by our calling on Christ's Name, or else by the authority and power of Christ. For by this are sins remitted through His grace and merits. Morally. S. John here teaches that great care must be taken in training children. (He here gives as an instance the case of the youth whom he entrusted to a Bishop.) For the whole regulation of our life depends on our childhood's training. S. Ignatius accordingly founded schools for such training. See Rebadeneira in his life (lib. iii. cap. 24), where he quotes many Fathers, Councils, and Philosophers. Mystically. S. Augustine (de Vera Relig. cap. 26) describes the seven ages of a righteous man. He first drinks in the lessons and examples of history next he forgets things of earth, and reaches after things divine, and strives after the highest and unchanging rule of life, by the steps of wisdom next he proceeds more boldly, wedding his carnal appetite to the strength of reason, and rejoicing within with a kind of conjugal joy, when the soul is united to the mind, and is so covered with the veil of modesty as no longer to be compelled to live rightly, but even not to delight in sin, though all might allow it. And fourthly, he acts thus in a more bold and orderly manner, shining forth into the perfect man, and becoming more capable of bearing all the persecutions and tempests of this world and even breaking their force. Fifthly, to be calm and tranquil, in every respect enjoying to the full the highest and ineffable wisdom; and sixthly, a thorough turning to the life eternal, and a complete obliviousness to this temporal life, and a passing on to the perfect image and likeness of God. The seventh age is that of eternal rest, which is not distinguished by any different stages of growth. Ver 13. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him who is from the beginning. Fathers, we know, are proud of their experience; and therefore he fitly congratulates them on having known the Ancient of Days, who is from eternity. For, as S. Augustine says, "Christ is new in the flesh, but ancient in His Godhead." He adds, "Remember, ye who are fathers, if ye forget Him who is from the beginning, ye have lost your fatherhood."
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I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. He passes to that stage of life which rejoices in its strength, and is full of concupiscence. He congratulates them for having overcome the wicked one, for he is speaking to Christian young people living in a Christian way, as S. Agnes, S. Lucy, S. Agatha, and many others, or that young man of whom S. Jerome speaks (in the life of Paul the first hermit), who when tempted by a harlot to sin, bit off his tongue, and spat it in her face, and thus by the intensity of the pain overcame the feeling of lust. This strength and this victory was Prompted by Christ. See 1Co 15:57. And S. Augustine (in. loc.) says, "If the wicked one is overcome by the young men, He is fighting with us. He fights, but he does not overcome. Is it because we are strong, or because He is strong in us, who in the hands of His persecutors was found weak? He hath made us strong who resisted not His persecutors, for He was crucified in weakness, but liveth by the power of God." (2Co 13:4.) Ver. 14. I write unto You, children. He here comes round and says the same thing in other words, to enforce it the more, calling them τεκνία in the first instance, and παιδία here.
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Because ye have known the Father, by the words of the Creed. Morally, Catherinus beautifully says, "The life of beginners is to be, in a sense, under Him, who by cherishing us in His paternal embraces and allurements, keeps away from us for a while sharper temptations. But He afterwards hands us over to the Son, for our growth and fuller instruction, and at last to the Holy Spirit to be strengthened and perfected." Here in some MSS. the exhortation to fathers is repeated. F. Lucas notices its omission in the Complut. Polyglot and in the Vulgate, and asks why it is omitted. Is it because a single admonition was enough for the aged?
I write to you, young men, because ye are strong, and have overcome the wicked one. Him who is the chief and head of all malignity. "Consider," says S. Augustine (in. loc.), "that ye are young, fight that ye may overcome again and again, overcome that ye may be crowned. Be lowly, that ye fall not in the fight." And again, "This is a great commendation of grace, that it instructs the hearts of the humble, but stops the mouths of the proud."
And the word of God abideth in you. Ye keep that word which we and our fellows have preached. Others understand it of the Uncreate and Eternal Word. Ye have remained stedfast in the faith, and have thus overcome the wicked one. As Œcumenius says, "In promising youths and young men (strong as they may be and needing to be trained for war) the glory of victory, he shows that they require to be addressed in noble and warlike terms." And S. Prosper (Epist. ad Demetriad in S. Ambrose Ep. iv. 33) says, "Our will is aided by the operation of the Spirit, but is not done away with. The effect of grace is this, that our will, corrupted as it is by sin, beside itself with vanities, surrounded by corruptions, entangled with difficulties, should not remain in this feeble state, but should be cured and regain its strength by the aid of the All-compassionate Physician." And again, "The crafty tempter is ever on the watch, that, as our devotion increases, pride should steal in, and a man should glory in himself, rather than in God, for the good that is in him. The Apostle tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. And accordingly the more we advance in holiness, the greater reason we have for fear and trembling, lest the mind, conscious of its progress, should be hurried into excess of pride, and thus become defiled by vanity, while it seems to itself to be resplendent in virtue." Ver. 15. Love not the world. "There are two loves," says S. Augustine (in. loc.), "the love of God and the love of the world. If the love of the world occupy the heart, there is no room for the love of God to enter. Let the love of the world retire, let the love of God enter in; let the better have its own place. Thou lovedst the world: love it no more. When thou hast drained out the love of the world from thy heart, thou shalt drink in love divine, and then shall charity begin to dwell in thee, from whence nothing evil can proceed." "It is," he proceeds, "as clearing a field before planting fresh trees." The Abbot Isaias (de Pænit. Orat. xxi.) answered the question, "What is the world?" in this way. "It is a fatal rushing into sin doing what is contrary to nature fulfilling the desires of the flesh thinking we shall live here for ever, the caring more for the body than for the soul glorying in things which perish." As the Apostle John says, "Love not the world," &c. As S. Augustine says, "In this vale of misery thou shouldst not possess anything so beautiful, or so delightful, as to fully occupy your mind. Shun the world, if thou wishest not to be worldly. If thou art not worldly, the world delighteth thee not. Avoid the creatures if thou desirest to have the Creator. Let every creature be vile in thy sight, that the Creator may be sweet in thy heart"
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If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. See Jas 4:4. "We must not give half our heart to God, and half to the world." As S. Leo says (Serm. v. de Jejun. 7 Mensis): "There are two loves... for the rational soul loves either God or the world. There can be no excess in the love of God. But in the love of the world all things are hurtful. And therefore we must firmly cleave to eternal goods, but use worldly goods only by the way, and since we are pilgrims, and hastening to return to our country, we must use the good things of this world as food for our journey through it, and not as an allurement to abide in it." Ver. 16. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. You will say that these properly are not in the world, but in the souls of men who desire them. But I answer, the word world is used in a threefold sense. 1. For men of the world, see John i. 10, xvi. 18; and S. Augustine on Ps. lv., "the wicked and ungodly in the world," in which sense S. John uses it in his Gospel. 2. It means this created world, in which, as being inanimate, there is not, properly speaking, any concupiscence. But these are provocatives of concupiscence. For everything we see affects our senses and lures us on to love it. 3. It signifies a worldly life, consisting in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. It is the whole body of sin consisting of these several parts or members. As S. Antony of Padua said, "The earth is avarice, water is luxury, the air is inconstancy, fire is pride." These three kinds of concupiscence are embraced in the general term concupiscence. As is added, "It is not of the Father but of the world." The world can be taken in all these senses, and S. John first takes up one and then another. But the second of these meanings is most to the point. And S. John wishes to withdraw the minds of the faithful from all objects of desire which the world contains (for they are the roots of every evil), and to fix them on God. All these worldly things estrange our hearts from the love of God, and relate only to the perishing goods of the world, or rather to the shadows and phantoms of good. Here notice that as the lust of the eyes is avarice, so that which creates the desire is gold, silver, jewels, &c. As S. Augustine says (Lib. iii. de Symb. cap. i.), "To the lust of the flesh belong the allurements of pleasure; to the lust of the eye, foolish spectacles; to the ambition of the world, the madness of pride." It is called the lust of the eyes, because it provokes the eyes, and through the eyes the fancy and the mind. "The eyes," says S. Augustine in Ps. xli., "are members of the body, the windows of the mind. It is the inner man who sees by their means." The covetous lays up riches, he does not spend them, and his only pleasure is looking at them. An exceeding wretchedness and fatuity. For he might just as well look at the gold, silver, and jewels in the temples, and feed himself on them. Whereas he would feed himself the more with his own wealth, and enjoy it the more, if he expended it on his friends and the poor. 2. As the lust of the flesh is gluttony, so is it wine, delicate and sensual pleasure, which provoke it. It hence appears how vile it is, as being common to the beasts; how little, because it feeds not the mind, but the flesh alone; short-lived, perishing in the very act, and bringing after it foul and filthy diseases. Whence S. Augustine (de Vera. Relig. cap. lv.) says, "Let us not delight in corrupting or being corrupted by carnal pleasure, lest we should come at last to the more miserable corruption of pain and suffering." 3. As the pride of life is ambition, haughtiness, desire of pre-eminence and glory, so are its provocatives superb dresses, grand houses, attendants, carriages, &c. We speak of being as proud as a peacock, who spreads its wings and struts along. S. Bernard (on Ps. xi. Serm. vi.) says, "Ambition is a subtle evil, a secret poison, a hidden pest, the contriver of craft, the parent of hypocrisy, the fruit of envy, the source of sin, the fosterer of crime, the destroyer (ærugo) of virtues, the devourer of sanctity, the blinder of hearts, generating disease from the very remedies, and sickness from that which should heal." S. Basil terms it the "whetstone of wickedness." See S Gregory, Mor. xxxiv. 14, xxxi. 17. These three passions are the threefold sources of all temptations and sin. See S. Augustine, Confess. x. 30. S. Thomas, i. 2, q. lxxv. art. 5. As the Poet says:- "Ambition, wealth, and foul desires, These three as gods the world admires." Our first parents were tempted by them, and so was our Lord. See S. Augustine, de Vera Relig. cap. xxxviii. This threefold desire is opposed to the Holy Trinity. Avarice to the Father, who is most liberal in communicating His essence and all His attributes to the Son and the Holy Spirit essentially, but to creatures only by way of participation. The lust of the flesh is opposed to the Son, who was begotten not carnally but spiritually from the mind of the Father, and who hates all carnal impurity. The pride of life is opposed to the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of humility and gentleness. Again, it is opposed to the three primary virtues, as lust of the flesh to continence, lust of the eyes to charity and kindness, pride of life to humility. (See S. Bernard, Serm. i. in Octav. Pasch. and de diligendo Deo).
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Which is not of the Father, but is of the world. This refers not merely to the pride of life, but to the threefold lust just spoken of. Moreover, concupiscence or lust comes from the world, from the corruption and vice of those who cleave to the world. Just as the word 'flesh' signifies in Scripture the corruption of the flesh, so in like manner does 'world' signify here the corrupt manners and lust of worldly men. The reason is that concupiscence arises from a worldly life. Good things become objects of desire, by reason of man's concupiscence. For before the Fall there were no objects for concupiscence, but man's fall caused them to be such. And it is from hence that we derive our concupiscence together with original sin, and accordingly all the things that God gave for the good of man are now become allurements and excitements of concupiscence, when we see after and desire them immoderately. See Wisdom 14:11, 4:12. For the pleasure which arises from desire fascinates the mind, and prevents its seeing the filthiness and the punishment of sin, or the beauty and rewards of virtue. See James i. 14. Œcumenius understands by the 'world' Satan himself "as Christ said to the Jews, Ye are of your father the devil, that is devoted to worldly pursuits, the seeds of which the devil sows within us" who accordingly is called the Prince of this world. See Joh 11:31, Joh 14:30, Joh 16:11. Ver. 17. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof. See Mat 24:35; 1Co 7:31; 2Pe 3:11. See also Wisdom v. 7; S. Bernard, Epist. cvii., &c. As S. Jerome says (Epist. iii.): "If we were granted the years of Methusalem, yet the previous length would be nothing when it ceased to be, for when the end of life arrives, there will be no difference between the child of ten and the man of a thousand years, except that the old man goes out of life bearing a heavier burden of sin." S. Cyprian (ad. Demetriad) shows at great length that the world is growing old: "The labourer is failing in the field, the mariner at sea, the soldier in camp, honesty in the market, justice in the courts, firmness in friendships, skill in arts, discipline in morals, for the sentence has been passed on the world that all things born should die, all things which have grown up should wax old, strong things should become weak, great things become small, and when they are thus weakened and diminished they come to an end." And S. Anselm, in Rom. xii., says, "Be not constant in love for the world, for, since that which thou lovest abideth not, it is in vain for thee to fix thy heart firmly on it, while that which thou lovest is flying away." This is the reason a posteriori; but the a priori reason is that the world is created from nothing, and therefore tends to become nothing, returning to that from whence it came. But, on the other hand, eternity belongs only to God, He having an uncreated, unchangeable, and eternal nature. Again, the world is not simple, but compounded of various elements; but everything which is so composed is resolved into its own elements or component parts. And the final cause of its being so is that we should turn our thoughts from transient and changing creatures to the Creator, who is unchangeable, and always the same. All creatures silently proclaim this by their changeableness, and our own heart also, as S. Augustine says (Confess. i. 1), "Thou hast made us, O Lord, for Thyself, and our heart is restless till it rests in Thee." S. John adds,
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But he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Because the soul which doeth the will of God will, on leaving the body, be blessed for ever, and the body will after death rise immortal and glorious. See Psa 119:96, and Joh 5:52. The reason is that love, like the chameleon, conforms the one who loves into the pattern of the thing which he loves, love being an impulse of the mind, and a going out of itself towards the beloved object, whereas understanding and knowledge are, on the contrary, the entering of the thing which is known into the understanding which embraces it. As S. Augustine says, "Every one is like the object he loves. Thou lovest the earth: thou wilt be earthy. Thou lovest God. What shall I say? Wilt thou be God? I dare not say it of myself. Let us hear the scriptures, 'I have said ye are gods, and are all the children of the Most Highest.' If then ye wish to be gods and sons of the Most Highest, love not the world, nor the things that are in the world." The object which is here loved is God, and the will of God which is stable and eternal, and therefore he that loveth it becomes eternal. See Hos. ix. 10, and Sam. i. 8, and note. Dost thou wish to be eternal? love eternal good. Dost thou wish to enjoy for ever the beloved object? Love that which is eternal. For if thou lovest a perishable thing, thou wilt perish together with it. But if thou fixest thy mind on an object which is stable, heavenly, divine, and eternal, thou wilt become the same. This is true wisdom, the wisdom of Saints. Fools then are lovers of the world, who in the place of these love transitory and perishable things, and accordingly they pass away, and in truth perish with them for ever. " O ye sons of men, why do ye love vanity and seek after a lie ?" (Psa 4.) Why follow ye after not real things, but the empty and fleeting shadows of things? Ye cannot grasp a shadow, nor yet hold fast shadowy wealth and honours. Grant us, Lord, this wisdom, "that among all the changes of the world our hearts may there be fixed where there are true joys." S. Augustine says beautifully (in loc.), "Why should not I love that which God made? But what dost thou wish? to love temporal things, and to pass away with them, or not to love the world, and to live for ever with God?" He then compares lovers of the world to a bride who loves the ring her husband has given her, more than she does her husband himself; which is assuredly a spurious love, since he gave it in order that he might be loved in his gift. God gave thee all these things: love Him that made them. He wishes to give thee something more, namely Himself; but if thou lovest these things (though God made them) and neglectest thy Maker, and lovest the world, will it not be regarded as a spurious love? And Didymus says, "Whosoever despises all things will be above the world. For righteousness endureth for ever, for it is so written." See also Pro 10:25. The old Philosophers had some shadowy notion of this. See Seneca, Ep. lix.
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My little children, this is the last hour. The time is now at hand for the coming of Antichrist, as ye have often heard. Many antichrists have already come, which is a sign that the world is waxing old, and that your life in it cannot be long. Tear your mind away from the world, its vain and perishing pleasures, fix it entirely on heavenly and eternal things, and on God Himself (see Rom 13:11). And be also on your strict guard against all heretics and impostors. For this, says Œcumenius and Didymus very properly, leads every one to think about his own end as if his own last hour were at hand, and thus sobriety and purity of living prevail among Christians. See 1Pe 3:14. By the last hour is meant the last age of the world. See S. Augustine, Ep. lxxx. to Hesychius. It is the last age in regard to the duration of the world and its division into the three parts of the law of Nature, the law of Moses, and the law of grace, after which no other law or state is to be looked for, as the Jews still expect their Messiah. Œcumenius (after S. Chrysostom) adds it may mean the 'worst' age, as we say of a sick man that he is in extremis. And so too Ribera (in Heb. ix. num. cxiii. seq.) says, that it is the time of impostors and heretics. This exposition is most fitting and appropriate. So says the Gloss, Cajetan, Dionysius, and others. But the word must be taken in a very wide sense. Some wrongly conjecture that as the first, under the law of nature, lasted for 2000 years, and so also the second period under the law, that it will be the same under the Gospel. The early Christians considered that Nero was Antichrist, and S. Cyprian thought that the end of the world was near in his time. See Epist. lib. iv. 6; and so too S. Jerome, de Monog.; S. Gregory, Epist. iv. 38; and Lactantius, lib. vii. cap. 25. See notes on Rev 20 The word 'hour' is used indefinitely. The phrase was familiar to S. John, who called the period an 'hour,' because it was very short. But in classic authors it signifies a period of time of any length, a season, e.g., as well as the hour of the day. See Is. xxxviii. 8. Morally. Hence learn the shortness of life. For if this age of the world is only an hour, what a very small part of it is the life of any one! We are all creatures of an hour. The old have but a part of an hour to live; the young hope for a whole hour, but yet are cut off in its very beginning. As S. Jerome says, "A youth may die soon, an old man cannot live very long." This word then warns us to be very diligent in employing the time which is allotted us. Suppose a physician or a judge were to tell you to prepare to die "you will certainly die an hour hence," how anxiously would you clear your conscience, what acts of contrition and charity would you exercise, how would you expend all your goods in good works. Do the same now, for your life is but an hour. Or again, you are afflicted, are sick, are calumniated. Wait a while. It is but for an hour, and after that you pass to a blessed eternity. See 1 Cor. i. 29. Melania, a very wealthy noble lady, persuaded her people, by this text of S. John, to sell all they had, and to go to the Holy Land. For she used frequently to say (as indeed she thought) that the world was about to perish. She went to Jerusalem, and died forty days after, and the Barbarians laid waste the city. This took place under Alaric, A.D. 410. S. Basil (in Moral. Reg. lxxx cap. 21) says, "It is the duty of a Christian to watch every day and hour, and to be thus ready for that perfection by which he can please God, as knowing that the Lord will come at an hour he expects not."
Antichrist cometh. See on this the notes on 2Th 2:7.
Even now are there many antichrists. Those who are against Christ and true forerunners of Antichrist, because they impugn equally with the faith, the Church, the sacraments of Christ, nay His very nature and person. As Ebion, Cerinthus, &c., and their followers, of whom S. Paul says " the mystery of iniquity is already working " (2Th 2:7). See note on passage. Rabanus (apud S. Augustine) [ vol. vi. append. ] says, "Antichrist has many ministers of his malignity. For every one, layman or canon or monk, who lives not righteously, and violates the authority of his order, and speaks against that which is good, is an antichrist, a minister of Satan." Heretics are antichrists, as S. Hilary called Constantius. See note on 1Pe 3:14.
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They went out from us, for they were not of us (either real or pretended) Catholics; and a heretic is one who apostatises from the faith of Christ which he once embraced, and lapses into heresy. See S. Cyprian, Epist. i. 8, and de Unit. Eccl.: "Bitterness cannot co-exist with sweetness, darkness with light, rain with clear weather, strife with peace, barrenness with fertility, drought with gushing water, storm with calm. Let none imagine that good men can forsake the Church; the wind does not sweep away the wheat, nor does the storm throw down a tree which is firmly rooted the chaff is blown away with the storm, and trees weakly rooted are cast down by the violence of a whirlwind," &c. And S. Jerome says [ Lib. i. in Jerem.], "They go out in order that they may openly worship that which they used to venerate in secret." And S. Augustine (in loc.) "Ye will understand, from the Apostle's own exposition, that none can go away but antichrists, but that they who are not contrary to Christ can in no wise go out. For he who is not contrary to Christ abideth in His Body, and is counted a member of it." "They are (he adds afterwards) as evil humours, and just as the body is relieved when they are removed, so is the Church relieved when they go forth, and when the body casts them forth it says, They were not of me, they only weighed on my chest when they were within me." Whereby we know that it is the last time. For we see the heretics who are his forerunners, just as when we see a king's outrider, we know that he is near, or that the dawn shows that the sun is about to rise. "Many antichrists," as Œcumenius says, "go before the one Antichrist, and prepare for him the way."
They were not of us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. They were not genuine Christians. They had not Christian virtue and constancy boldly to resist all temptations, so that when persecution came on them, they gave up the faith and became apostates, as grass is dried up by the heat of the sun. As was said of Joseph and Azarias (1 Macc. 5:62), that "they were not of the seed of those by whom deliverance was wrought in Israel." As the Romans said of traitors that they were not Romans, or as Saul reviled Jonathan (1Sa 20:30). As S. Augustine says here, "Temptation proves that they are not of us, for when it comes they fly away as not being sound grain." As he says of Judas (Tract. 1. on John), "He did not at that particular time become wicked when he betrayed the Lord. He was a thief even when he followed the Lord, for he followed Him with the body only, and not in heart." And again (in. loc.), "Every one is of his own will either an antichrist, or in Christ; either one of His members, or among the evil humours. He that changeth himself for the better is a member of the Body, but he that abideth in his wickedness is an evil humour, and when he is gone out, they who were oppressed will be relieved." 2. Many explain these words, 'they were not of us,' as referring to the free knowledge and predestination of God. They were not thus predestinated and elected, because it was foreseen that they would fall, for everything future is foreseen by God. This does not refer to election to eternal blessedness. S. John did not wish to touch on this mystery, especially because so many who have fallen from the faith have in the end returned to it. And on the other hand there are many reprobates who are still in the Church who are not predestined to glory. But S. Augustine (de bono persever. cap. viii.) understands it of those who are predestined to glory, and of those who (it is foreseen) will perish. Now almost all heresiarchs (excepting only Berengarius), when they have once left the Church, never return to it again, and are consequently foreknown to be reprobates. But we must avoid the error of those who infer from this that the reprobation of God is the cause of their leaving the Church, and subsequent condemnation: a charge which the Semipelagians falsely urged against S. Augustine. He defends himself thus, "They went out voluntarily, they fell voluntarily, and because it was foreseen they would fall, they were not predestinated; but they would have been predestinated, if so be they were to return, and abide in holiness. And in this way predestination is to many a cause of their remaining stedfast, to none is it a cause of their falling." (Art. xii. in art. sibi falso impositis). 3. Some explain the words thus, "They were not of us," because, before they openly withdrew from the Church they had secretly withdrawn from it. Heresy is the very height of impiety, and is reached but gradually. See S. Cyprian, Epist. i. 8, and de Unit. Eccl.; and S. Cyril, Catech. vi. Catherinus and Melchior Canus take the word 'us' to mean the Apostles. But this is too narrow a meaning. S. John speaks of Christians in general. S. John here warns his disciples not to be alarmed if they saw even bishops become apostate (see Act 20:3 O). Salmeron thinks that of the hundred and twenty who received the Holy Ghost at the day of Pentecost fourteen became heresiarchs. See, too, S. Vincent of Lerius and Tertullian, de Præscript. ch. i. And at the same time he warns them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. See also Rom 11:20.
But that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. God allowed this to show their inconsistency and want of faith, and to teach the faithful to avoid them. See 1Co 11:19. Beza has no ground for inferring from this that the faithful could never fall away. It means only that their falling away was a sign that they were not firmly rooted in the faith. S. Augustine says their apostacy was a sign that they were not of the number of the predestinate and elect. Ver. 20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things, so that it is not necessary to speak at greater length to these antichrists. By the word 'unction' he refers to Antichrist, and also to Christ (the anointed One). See also what Christ Himself says, Joh 16:13. But what is this 'unction' ? (1.) Œcumenius and S. Jerome on Hab 3. and S. Cyril Alex. say 'baptism,' when we are anointed on our head. (2.) S. Cyril of Jerus. says, 'the sacrament of confirmation,' when we are anointed on our forehead. (3.) Em. Sa. says, 'the profession of Christianity;' others the Christian faith, grace, the gift of wisdom and understanding; others the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But they all come to the same point, for in these various ways you will learn all the duties and doctrines of Christianity, and to discern and avoid heretics as opposed to Christ. The word unction stands for the ointment or oil, not for the mere transient act of anointing. In the Greek it is χζίσμα. It has reference to the name of Christ, and the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, which used to be given immediately after baptism as its complement and perfection. S. Cyril accordingly understands it to refer to confirmation, so also does Turrianus, and Bellarmine, de Confim. lib. ii. capp. 5 Est 8. For by anointing is here to be understood, not so much sanctifying grace, as the gift of wisdom and understanding. (See S. Gregory, Mor. v. 19 (Rev 20), S. Irenæus iv. 43). For this gift was bestowed at first on baptized persons. Act 2:6, Act 10:46, Act 19:6; 1Co 14. And it is even now given in baptism (Isa 11:1), though not so abundantly. The word also relates to the royal priesthood, which S. Peter (1Pe 2:9) ascribes to all Christians. For as in old time prophets, priests, and kings were anointed to their office, so do Christians when anointed in baptism and confirmation receive grace, to rule themselves as kings; to foresee future good and evil, as prophets; and to present, as priests, the offerings of good works. So that this gift of the, Holy Spirit, conferred by the outward anointing, will teach Christians everything which concerns Christian life and conduct. For these reasons S. John rejoices in the word 'unction,' as representing Christ and His 'love,' of which it is said (Son 1:2), "Thy name is like ointment poured forth;" and S. John was, in consequence of his constant preaching of Christ, thrown about this time into a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped unhurt as having been strengthened by the anointing of Christ. See also Psa 45:8; Isa 61:1; Act 10:38. S. Athanasius (Epist. ad Serap.) says that this ointment is the Holy Spirit with all His gifts and graces. For in justification is infused not only grace and charity, but the Holy Spirit Himself. See Rom 5:5; Conc. Trid. Sess. vi. cap. 7. And S. Augustine (in loc.) says, This spiritual anointing is the Holy Spirit Himself, and the outward anointing is the sacrament thereof. So, too, in the "Veni Creator," we read of the 'Anointing Spirit.' The Holy Spirit then, inhabiting, enlightening, and directing the soul, teaches it at the fitting time all things befitting its salvation. S. Clement (Const. Apost. iii. 17) explains the ceremonies of baptism and confirmation thus:—“Baptism is an administration into the death of the Son of God, water as betokening burial, oil the Holy Spirit, the sign of the Cross for the Cross itself, the Chrism as the confirmation of our confession.” See too 2 Cor. vii. 2. But though oil has various virtues, yet its special use is to give light, and to feed a flame. And accordingly the fathers teach that by the chrism and oil is specially signified the gift of wisdom and understanding which is conferred in confirmation. Amatarius (de Eccl. Off. i. 27) tells us why the chrism is formed of oil and balsam, “because by oil we should understand right conversation, which rules in the mind by mature wisdom, and by balsam our teaching, which sends abroad a sweet odour.” And S. Ambrose (de in qui initiantur, chap. 7) says, “Call to mind that thou hast received the spiritual seal, the spirit of wisdom, &c. The Father sealed thee, Christ the Lord confirmed thee, and gave thee the pledge of the Spirit in thy heart, as ye have learned from the Apostle’s teaching.” The Ordo Romanus prescribes a prayer for blessing the chrism. Rabanus Marcus (de Inst. Cleric. i. 30) speaks of the anointing in baptism and confirmation, by the Priest and Bishop respectively, and points out their respective differences. Tertullian (de Resurr. cap. 8) thus speaks of the ceremonies at confirmation: “The flesh is anointed that the soul may be consecrated, the flesh is signed that the soul also may be strengthened, the flesh is overshadowed by the imposition of hands that the soul also may be enlightened by the Spirit.” Hugh of S. Victor (de Sacram. Lib. ii. par. 7, chapt. 6) says that the chrism should remain on the forehead for seven days, to indicate the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit; and Origen (Hom. vii. in Ezek.) speaks of this oil as the oil of Christ, the oil of holy doctrine. But the Innovators misapply this passage, and may that they are so guided by the inward light as not to need the teaching of the Church. But they greatly err, for this very anointing enlightens the faithful in what they have been taught, and teaches them the doctrines of the faith which were first taught, and that the antichrists who oppose them are not to be listened to. For if any doubt should arise, the same anointing of the Spirit teaches us, that it is not the part of any one to resolve it, but that the doctors and rulers of the Church should be consulted, whom God placed in the Church for this very purpose (Eph. iv. ii). Morally, we are here taught to implore the aid of the Holy Spirit in all our doubts, difficulties, and perplexities. (See 2 Chron. xx. 12.) S. Cyril (Catech. xvi.) strikingly remarks on the light which the Holy Spirit pours into men’s hearts, as with Isaiah who saw the Lord sitting on His throne; as with Ezekiel and Daniel; or with S. Peter, who then knew the wickedness of Ananias and Sapphira; or as in the case of Elisha and Gehazi. Mystically. There is a threefold unction: of compunction, in detesting sin; of devotion, in calling to mind the benefits God has conferred; and of piety, in compassion for our neighbours. S. Bernard (Serm. x. and xx. on Canticles, and Serm. ii. on Pentecost) dwells at length on these points.
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And ye know all things—of which I have just spoken, all ye ought to know. Ver. 21.—I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it. S. John says this, to gain their favour, and to stimulate them to more diligent study. I have not written to teach you, but to strengthen you in what you already know. See Rom. xv. 15.
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And that no lie is of the truth. By a lie he means, false doctrine and heresy. For all these doctrines come not from God, who is the source of truth, but from the father of lies. See John viii. 44. And accordingly S. Augustine says, “We are here told how to know Antichrist. For what is Christ? The truth, as He Himself said. All they then who lie are not of the truth.” (Contra Mendæ. cap. xviii.) Ver. 22.—Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He here explains what kind of lie he means, the heresy of denying that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, as Simon Magus, Ebion, Cerinthus, and other Judaisers, against whom S. John wrote, both ancient and modern. For, as Bede says, “Compared with this all other lies are little or nothing.” Indeed, what more pernicious lie could be uttered or invented than this, cutting off as it does all faith and hope of salvation? He then that maintains it, is pre-eminently a liar, because he is heretical, sacrilegious, an atheist, an antichrist. The word is commonly used of those who mean one thing and say another. And this is the case with these very persons, for they knew or ought to know that Jesus was the Christ. So writes Tertullian (de Præscript. Heret. cap. xxxiii.): “John in his Epistle specially calls those persons antichrist, who said that Jesus had not come in the flesh, as Marcion and Ebion maintained.” And as Œcurnenius tells us, “Simon stated that Jesus and Christ were different persons. Jesus who was born of Mary, Christ who had come down from heaven.” S. Cyril (Catech. vi.) says that Simon Magus was the author of all these heresies, and then enlarges on them and his impostures. Cornelius here says much of the heresies and follies of the Anabaptists, for which he quotes their history by Arnold Meshovius.
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He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. Because by saying that Christ is not the Son of God, they say that God is not His Father. For the terms Father and Son are correlative, and accordingly if one of them is done away with, so is the other also. Œcumenius supposes that Valentinus is here aimed at, who said that there was another Father, beside Him who was called the Father of Christ. And these self-same heretics (he says) deny the Son, by affirming that He is a mere man, and not God by nature. So too Basilides. (See Irenæus, i. 23; Tertullian, de Præscript.; Epiphanius, Hær. xxiv., and others.) Ver. 23.—Whosoever denieth the Son, hath not the Father. In Whom to abide (as Cajetan says), “nor as abiding in Him, for he believes not His eternal generation” (see Dionysius). He hath Him not in his mind, and consequently does not confess Him with his life. He seems to refer to John v. 37, and as he says above, cap. i., “His word is not in us.” And in this chapter, vers. 5 and 24. For it is by faith, hope, and charity that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit abide in us, and we consequently have them in us, just as a Church has the Eucharist within it, for a holy soul is in truth the temple of God who dwells within it. He here aims at the Judaising heretics, who deny the doctrine of the Trinity, and say that there is but one Person in the Godhead, and consequently deny that Christ is God, and the Son of God. Christ in this very Gospel maintains against them that He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father. Sec iii. 35, v. 18 seq. 36 seq., vi. 58. For, as Œcumenius says, “Had they known the Father, they would without any doubt have known Him to be the Father of the Only Begotten Son.” And more especially because he who knows not the Trinity knows not the nature of the Godhead to be so full and prolific as to require a plurality of Persons, and demands that it should be communicated to all the Three, so that in taking away One Person you in fact do away with the Godhead altogether. And this is what S. John means here. In like manner, Christ said to Philip, “He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father.... Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me?” (John xiv. 9, 10). Whereby is signified plurality of Persons and identity of Essence, and the intimate and complete indwelling of one Person in another. Damascene (de Fide, i. 2) terms this πεζιχώζησιδ, and the Schoolmen (after him) circumincessio. See S. Augustine, de Trinit. vi.; S. Hilary, de Trinit. Lib. iv.; and Ambroseaster, in 2 Cor. 13. S. Augustine says, “Each is in each, and all in each, and each in all, and all in all, and all are One.” S. Cyprian (Exhort. Martyr, cap. 5) and S. Hilary (de Trin. lib. vi.) here read, He that hath the Son, hath both the Father and the Son, i.e., wishing him well, and favouring him. S. Augustine has the same reading, but explains it of worship and veneration: “He who worships the Son worships the Father, for he cannot worship the Father who worships not the Son, as it is said John v. 23.” Ver. 24.—Let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you. Be stedfast in the faith, doctrine, and Christian life, which ye received at first, for thus will true faith abide in you, and ye will abide in the true faith and sonship of God. See Gal. i. 9; Heb. xiii. 9. As S. Cyprian strikingly says (Ep. xl.). “I exhort and advise you not to believe rashly pernicious words, or readily yield consent to words of falsehood, not to put darkness for light, night for day, hunger for food, poison for a remedy, death for life.”
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If that abide with you, which ye have heard from the beginning (as I have just explained it), ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. We must consider that the Holy Spirit is also included in the expression, the Father and the Son. For the Father and the Son are the Breathers forth of the Holy Spirit, and in their Essence, as understood in its full meaning, they include the power of breathing forth the Holy Spirit, yea, its actual exercise. But at this time no question had arisen respecting the Holy Spirit, but merely respecting the Son, and consequently respecting the Father. The Son is here put before the Father, for the special reason that “no man cometh to the Father but through the Son.” John xiv. “For no one will behold the greatness of the Divine Glory, except he be born again by the sacraments of that Manhood, which the Son assumed.” So Bede. But further, if ye abide in the Son and in the Father, the Father and the Son will in their turn abide in you. As Œcumenius says, “Ye will have union and communion with Him, as Christ promised” (John xiv. 23). As S. Augustine remarks on this passage, “The Holy Spirit also dwells in the Saints together with the Father and the Son: just as God in His temple. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit come to us when we come to them—they come to us by their aid, we by our obedience—they come by their enlightening, we by gazing on them—they come by filling us, we by admitting them within—so that we behold them by no outward, but by inward vision, and they abide in us, not transitorily, but for ever.” Ver. 25.—And this is the promise which He has promised us, even eternal life. Gagneius refers thus to the promise made by our Lord, John xvii. 20. “For (he says) the promise He has made us is indeed eternal life, since it is eternal life to abide in God, and to enjoy Him here in grace, and hereafter in glory.” Œcumenius makes the word ‘and’ equivalent to ‘because:’ “Ye will abide in the Father and the Son because He promised you this in promising eternal life.” But the first meaning is the best. This is a powerful motive for constancy in the faith. “Let the memory of the promised reward,” says Bede, “make thee persevere in thy work.” “Let us see (says S. Augustine) what He hath promised? Silver, or possessions, or pleasant lands? No indeed, this is not the reward for which He exhorts us to endure. It is eternal life.” And he adds, “God combines threats with His promises, even eternal death, if we disobey Him.” “A powerful man threatens us with imprisonment, with fire, with torments, with wild beasts. But does he threaten us with eternal fire? Dread that which the Almighty threatens, love that which He promised, and then the whole world is a worthless thing, whether in its promises or its threats.” Ver. 27.—And let that anointing which ye have received abide in you. By the anointing he means the gift of wisdom and understanding given in baptism and augmented in confirmation. See above, Ver. 20.
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And ye need not that any man teach you, but as his anointing teacheth you of all things, understand ‘abide in it,’ as S. John adds shortly afterwards. Some MSS. add ‘so do ye.’ It means, ye need not go to false apostles and heretics to teach you the truth, for ye have already learned it from the Apostles themselves, and that which they taught outwardly, the Holy Spirit must needs teach you within. (See Is. liv. 13; John vi. 45; Ps. xciv. 10.) Be stedfast then in that which ye have thus been taught. See Bellarmine, de Verbo Dei, iii. 3, who says, “Ye have no need for a Lutheran or Calvinist to teach you Christian doctrine, because ye have been fully taught it by the teaching of the Church, and the aid of the Holy Spirit.” See 1 Pet. v. 12; Col. i. 6. And S. Augustine (in loc.) thus writes. “I for my part have spoken to all. But they to whom that unction speaketh not within, they whom the Holy Spirit teacheth not, go away untaught. The outward teachings of a master are a kind of aid and warning, but He who teacheth the heart hath His seat in heaven.... One is your master, even Christ. Let Him speak to you within, when no one is present. For though some one is at thy side, yet there is no one in thy heart. Let there be no one in thy heart, let Christ be in thy heart, let His unction be in thy heart, lest thy heart be athirst in the desert, and have no fountains to water it. The Master who teacheth is within, Christ teacheth, His inspiration teacheth. But where His inspiration and His unction are not, words echo in vain from without.” And so too S. Gregory, expounding these very words, says, “Unless the same spirit be in the heart of the hearer the words of the teacher are useless;” and he adds, “Do not ascribe to the teacher that which ye hear from his lips, for unless He who really teaches you be within, the tongue of the teacher labours outwardly in vain.” But when he says, “His unction will teach you of all things,” &c., he means, of all that ye have heard, all that the faithful are bound to know, as having been so taught by their earliest instruction and catechising (so even Beza argues), lest any one should infer from this passage that private judgment should be the interpreter of scripture, and the judge of controversies.” See Ezek. xiii. 3. This anointing, some refer to Christ, the Anointed One, the abstract for the concrete.
And is truth and is no lie. This is a double assertion, confirming the first statement by a denial of its contrary (see John i. 20).
And as it hath taught you. ‘And’ here stands for ‘therefore.’
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And now, little children, abide in it. In the orthodox faith which ye have been taught, amid all the fair words of heretics, and persevere therein.
That when Christ shall appear ye may have confidence. That is, boldness of speech. See Wisdom v. 1; Col. iii. 4. S. Basil says (Hom. xi Hex. i), “Abraham also will fear in the judgment, and be in agony.” This is an exaggeration. But it signifies the severity of the judgment in itself (1 Pet. iv. 18). But if we look at the grace and mercy of God, on the other hand, it will assure all saints of their salvation, and will place them as His friends and His elect on His right hand, and separate them from the reprobate, before the judgment begins.
And not be ashamed before Him at His coming. Let us not shame one another by your falling from the faith—shame, i.e. yourselves, and us your apostles and teachers for not keeping you therein. For the goodness of the scholar is the praise and glory of the teacher. S. Basil (on the words of Ps. xxxiv.), “I will teach you the fear of the Lord,” says that the shame and confusion of the lost will be their bitterest punishment. See Rev. vii. 17. And the ground of their shame will be this, that Christ will proclaim, before the whole world, all their shameful and horrible sins, however secret, and committed in thought only; that they will see the saints, whom they despised in this world, raised up above them to glory, to judge and to condemn them, because they foolishly neglected to expiate their sins by penitence and the shame of confession. See Isa. lxvi. 24; Dan. xii. 2. S. Cyril (Catech. iii.) says that the faithful are at their confirmation anointed on their foreheads, as being the seat of shame, in order that they might not be ashamed to confess the name of Christ, and that they might not commit any shameful act, and thus be confounded at the day of judgment. S. Augustine (in loc.) strikingly observes, “Faithful is He that promiseth. He deceiveth not. Only do thou faint not, but wait for the promise. The truth cannot deceive. Be not thou false, professing one thing and doing another. Keep thou the faith, and He will keep His promise. But if thou keep not the faith, thou hast defrauded thyself, He has not broken faith with thee.” And Œcumenius: “What can be more glorious or more admirable than to act boldly in His sight, to whom we shall give an account of our labours, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming?”
At His coming, in glory to judge the world. “We now see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see face to face” (1 Cor. xiii. 12). Ver. 29.—If (i.e., since) ye know that He is righteous, know ye that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him. He shows the way and means by which we can have confidence before Christ as our judge: that is, by performing righteous and holy deeds, to offer to Him as our just judge. Let not any one suppose that orthodox belief alone suffices, works of righteousness are also required. For Christ, not only as God, but as the holiest of men, loves those who are righteous; and will pass on them a righteous sentence of acquittal. It is the part of a just judge to judge of every one’s works, and to assign their rewards and punishments accordingly. He then that doeth righteousness, will in the day of judgment not be confounded before Him, but will have every confidence. Because he is like his judge, nay more, His son and heir, and thus he will be sure of his inheritance (Rom. viii. 17). For all our righteousness flows from the righteousness, holiness, and grace of Christ. Righteousness is here to be understood in a general sense, as including all the virtues through which we are called righteous before God (see John i. 12). Moreover, there is no surer argument that we are born of God than showing Him forth in our deeds and life. Didymus observes that the Apostle uses the present tense (doeth), not the past or future. Because a good root brings forth good fruit. As born again of God by righteousness and grace, and being made partakers of the Divine Nature (2 Pet. i. 4), (for we really partake of the Substance of God by supernatural grace), we ought ever to manifest this our birth and our divine life by loving works of righteousness. For as a man is not alive who does not perform the functions of a living man, so in like manner he is not righteous, not regenerate or living to God, who does not perform righteous acts, especially since it is the part of a child to imitate his father. And since the righteous God ever does righteousness, we, as His children, should ever do the same. 2. Salmeron observes that this divine generation resembles, in a measure, our natural birth. For Christ, as man, brought us forth with the greatest suffering, and as God He works in us that grace and righteousness whereby we are born again as children of God. 3. Œcumenius remarks that as like begets like so are the righteous born of God. And Didymus says, “that virtue manifests our righteousness in act. No one therefore is righteous, before he does righteous acts, nor yet after he ceases to do them.” Lastly, S. Augustine says, that righteousness is perfect in the angels, but only beginning in men. “In the holy angels, who turn aside by no lapse, who fall not away through pride, but remain ever in the contemplation of the Word, and count nothing else sweet, save Him who created them—in them is perfect righteousness, whereas in us it has only begun to be through the Spirit.” And again, “The beginning of our righteousness is the confession of our sins. Thou hast begun not to defend thy sin: thou hast begun thy righteousness. But it will be perfected in thee, when nothing else shall delight thee to do; when death will be swallowed up in victory, when no lust shall excite thee, when there will be no struggling with flesh and blood, when there shall be the crown of victory, the triumph over the enemy; then there will be perfect righteousness. But now we are still fighting, we are still in the lists, we smite and are smitten. We have still to wait, to see who is conqueror. But he is the conqueror, who in striking a blow relies not on his own strength, but on God, who cheers and encourages him on.” The righteous therefore emulate the righteousness of the angels, so that keeping their minds from all earthly defilements, and tearing away their love from created objects, they may fix it on their Creator alone, and love Him, worship Him, and give Him thanks both in prosperity and adversity, making their words and life together with His Cross and Passion a continuous and constant praise to God. Such is the life of angels. See job xxxvii. 7. Christians, moreover, as new born in Christ, should emulate Christ, should “speak as oracles, should live as gods,” for Christ thus spake and thus lived. And in this way will they smite even the hearts of sinners, convert and beget them for Christ, as was said of S. Basil (S. Gregory Nazianzen, Orat. funeb.), “His word was as thunder, for his life was as lightning!”
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1. FiUoli meiy haec scribo vobis, ut non peccetis. Filioli, vox est blandissime monentis, qua et Christus ad discipulos suos USU9 fuit, Marc. 10. et Joan. 13., et Paulus ad Galatas cap. 4. Ipse vero Joannes in hac Epislola frequentius utitur. An autem idcirco filios vocet, quod eos in Christo per Evangelium genuisset, non constat. Naro Apostolis omnes fideles erant filii et filioli, quatenus paternam curam salutis omnibus impendebant, ant impendere parati erant. Porro dicens: Haec scribo vobis, aut de tota loquitur Epistola, aut potius ad ea proprie respinempe nos omnes peccasse, et peccatum habere, et a peccatis emundari in sanguine Christi, si ea confessi fuerimus. Etenim inolita consuetudo peccandi, et sociorum peccantium multitudo et facilitas veniae, solenthominibus incitamento esse ad iteranda et frequentanda peccata. Dicit ergo B. Joannes, haec se non scribere, seu scripsisse eis, quo liberius peccent; sed contra, ut peccata soUicite vitent, ac ne in pristinas sordes peccatorum relabantur, a quibus sanguine Christi mundati erant. Hoc enim esset magnae ingraiitiidinis. Non dissimiliter Apostolus inquit; permanehimus in peccatOj ut gratia abundet? Absit. Qui enim muvtui sutnus peccatOj quvmodo adhuc t\vemus in illo? Sed quaeies, cur non sit sibi ipsi contrarius Joannes, qui paulo ante negavit, nos vivere posse sine peccatis, nunc autem ideo se nobis scribere dicit, ut non peccemus. Movet hanc quaestionemBeda, et respondet, Apostolum iliic provide et salubriter nos admouuisse nostrae fragilitatis j ne quis sibi quasi innocens placeatj et se de meritis extoUendo gravius pereat; hic autem consequenter hortari, ut, si omni culpa carere nequimus, detnus tamen operam, quantutn valemus, ne nos ipsi fragilitatem nostrae conditionis negligenter agendo augeamus; sed contra otnnia vitia strenue vigilanterque dimicetnus, maxitne C07itra majora et apertiora, quae, Domino juoante, facilius superare vel cavere possumus. Haec Beda, bene locum hunc iuterprotans de peccatis in genere, quae in universum cavenda praecipit Apostolus, quantum bumaua fragilitas permittit; magis tamen ea, quae graviora sunt; maxime vero, quae mortem adferunt. Unde et Ecclesia quotidie Deum generaliter orat, dicens: Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire. Et iterum: Tua nos hodie salva virtute, ut in hac die ad nullum declinemus peccatum.
Sed et si quis peccaverit, advocatum habemus apud Patrem, Jesum Christum justum. Sed, additum ab interprete. Nam Graeca et Syriaca non habent. Quemadmodum capite praecedenti, dicens: Si confiteamur peccata nostra etc, remedium monstravit obtinendae purgationis peccatorum, nempe confessionem eorum: ita nunc advocatum seu patronum ostendit, cujus intercessione et merito eadem purgatio nobis contingat. Si cui, inquit, de vita humana surrepit aliquod peccatum, sive veniale, quo omni carere non possumus, sive mortale, quod vitari potest, advocatum habemus etc. Cum enim nulhim peccatum, quantumvis exiguum, ablui possit, nisi sanguine mediatoris Christi, ipso dicente: Si non lavero te, non habebis partetn mecum, Joan. 13., nihil opus est, hanc sententiam (quod quidam faciunt) ad mortalia peccata restringere. praesertim quum et in eo, quod sequitur: Et ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris etc, peccata generaliter intelligantur.
Advocatum, Graece: iiapaxAirjT&v, quae vox plura significat: exhortatorem, consolatorem, advocatum. Attribuitur 16., quatenus consolatorem significat, juxta communem ac veriorem intellectum. Qua significatione etiam Filio convenit, imo toti l'rinilati. Nam Filius quidem, dicens Joan. 14.: Rogabo Patrem, et alium Paracletum dabit vobis, nempe post meum discessum, satis significat, etiam se esse paracletum, quomodo Spiritum sauctum, id est con.solatorem. Patrem autem eodem sensu paracletum esse, Paulus declarat 2 Cor. 1., Deum appellans totius consolationis. Verum hoc loco, quamvis Gregorius Nazianzenus orat. 4. de Theologia, Christum interpretetur paracletum dici, id est, exhortatorem ac monitorem, omnino tamen aliorum omnium tenenda est sententia, odvocatutti significari. Nam advocati seu patroni (non enim hic ea vocabula distinguimus) oflicium expressit B. Joannes sequentibus verbis, dicens: Ipsum esse propitiationem pt o peccatis nostris. Igitur, advocatum habetnus, ait Joannes, Jesum Christutii justum, qui apud Patrem, judicem nostrum, pro nobis intercedat, veniamque nobis impetret peccatorum. Patrem solum nominat. apud quem intercessio fiat, quia de Filio sermo est, cui maxime congruit, apud Patrem intercedere pro supplicibus. Alioqui tota Trinitas Judex noster est, apud quem partes advocati Filius agit secundum humanam naturam. Jam vero, cum ad oflicium advocati tria pertineant, primum, ea apud judicem allegare, quibus citra rei condemnationem justitiae satisfiatj alterum, proferre humilitatem ac preceB rei, peccatum agnoscentis ac veniam postulantis; tertium, suis etiam precibus apud judicem intercedere, ut clementer et misericorditer, non autem ex rigore justitiae, cum reo agat: haec tria maxime in Christum competunt. Primum namque ofiert Patri sanguinem suum pro lytro seu pretio redemptionis peccatorum nostrorum. Deinde allegat humilem rei confessionem, de qua capite superiori: Si confiteamur peccata nostra. Tertio suam addit interpellationem, orans indesinenter pro nobis Patrem, uti testatur Paulus Rom. 8. et Heb. 7. Orat autem nunc in coelo constitutus, non supplicum more sese prosternens ante Patrem, aut miserabiles edens voces; sed desiderium salutis electorum suorum eloquens atque expromens Deo, tum mente, tum verbis ejusmodi, quae Filium in humanitate gloriosum, et ad dexteram Dei sedentem, atque cum eo regnantem, non dedeceant; quemadmodum ostendimus ad illud Rom. 8.: Qui etiam interpellat pro nobiSf et amplius ad locum Heb. 7.: Semper vivens ad interpellandum pro nobis. Porro de his advocati nostri officiis vide pluribus agentem Hesselium in commentario. Addit deinde Joannes: justum, id est, sanctum, innocentem et inculpatum. De quo Paulus Heb. 7.: TaliSf inquit, decebat, ut nobis esset Pontifex, sanctus, innocens, impollutus, segregatus a peccatoribus. Neque enim idoneus est advocatus, qui ipse sit reus. Convenit autem hoc epitheton Christo advocato nostro perfectissime, qui ita justus est^ ut per omnia Deo placeat, ac reconciliatore pro se ipso prorsus non egeat. Sed quoniam revera, licet imperfectiori modo, competit epitheton illud etiam in alios sanctos et justos, sive jam cum Christo regnantes, sive in hoc saeculo adhuc peregrinantes: idcirco et eos, quatenus Christi merita Deo pro nobis offerunt, nosque suis precibus Deo commendant ac placare student, recte nostros advocatos agnoscimus et salutamus, tametsi gradu incomparabiliter inferiore, GqII. Estil CoTnni. Tom. III. quam Christum. Unde et orationes, quibus propter illorum intercessiones et merita (scilicet haud aliunde, quam ex merito Christi profecta) aliquid a Deo petimus, Ecclesia fere terminat hac clausula: Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
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2. Et ipse est propitiatio pro pecca^ tis nostris. Plenius explicat Joannes excellentiam advocati nostri, nempe qui talis sit, ut non alienam offerat Patri satisfactionem, sed exhibeat suam ac propriam, per quam non solum conatur ac satagit (ut apud hominem judicem faciunt advocati), Deum reddere nobis placatum, verum certissime Deum nobis placat ac propitium reddit. Ipse, inquit, est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris. Ut propitiationem intelligas vel sacrificium, quo redditur Deus propitius, quomodo intellexit Augustinus, vel ipsum propitiatorem, id est eum, qui reddit Deum propitium. Nam Christus utrumque est, et sacerdos Deum nobis placans, et hostia, per quam, semel in ara crucis oblatam, Deum nobis placat; uti late docet Apostolus Paulus in Epistola ad Hebraeos. Sentit autem Joannes, Christum reddere Patrem nobis propitium per hostiam crucis, non solum sufficienter, ut loquuntur, sed efficienter. Non enim ait: Et ipse fuit propitiatio, tunc scilicet, quando offerebatur in cruce; sed: Ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris, in quantum videlicet hostiam illam, pro omnium salute sufficientem, continue et usque ad finem saeculi, quibus vult, applicat, ad remissionem peccatorum. Pronomen: nostris, ad quos referendum sit, pendetex intellectu partis sequentis. Ubi etiam plura contra sensum eorum, qui Joannem de sufficientia exponunt. Est etiam operae pretium, videre, quae hic adversus Catharinum adfert Hesselius.
Non pro nostris autem tantum, sed etiam pro totius mundi. Hujus loci variae sunt expositiones. Inter quas una est, hostiam crucis sufficientem esse ad propitiandum et placandum Deum, non modo pro peccatis nostris, id est eorum, qui credimus; verum etiam pro peccatis omnium hominum, quotquot sunt, fuerunt, aut futuri sunt. Sed illum commentarium, quamvis veritatem confcineat de universali sufficientia passionis Christi pro omnibus, tamen ut huic loco minus convenientem jam exclusimus, plura ad eundem improbandum infra dicturi. Alii porro, Joannem intelligentes loqui de efficaci et actuali propitiatione, juxta datam prius expositionem, sensu tamen adhuc variant. Quidam enim sic exponunt: Non tantum pro peccatis nostris, id est eorum, qui nunc vivunt, sed etiam pro peccatis eorum, qui nascituri sunt, quamdiu mundus durabit. Ita Oecumenius. Alii sic: Non tantum pro peccatis nostris, id est eorum, ad quos scribo: verum etiam pro peccatis totius Ecclesiae. Ut nomine totius mundi intelligatur Ecclesia per totum mundum dispersa, complectens omnes toto orbe fideles. Quae est expositio Augustini tract. 1. et 5. in hanc Epist. et tract 87. in Evang. Joannis; nec non Bedae in comment. Sic enim et ipsa Ecclesia canit in festo Pentecostes: Quapropter profusis gaudiis totus in orbe terrarum mundus exsultat, id est, Ecclesia toto orbe diffusa. Rursus alii: Pro peccatis non tantum eorum, qui jam credunt, sed et omnium electorum, quos adhuc ex omnibus mundi partibus ad fidem adducturus est. Alii denique reddunt hunc sensum: Non tantum pro peccatis nostris, id est Judaeorum, sed etiam pro peccatis gentilium cujuscumque per totum orbem nationis. Qui census exstat apud Cyrillum lib. 11. super. Joan. cap. 19. Qui nobis videtur hujus loci maxime germanus, ideoque caeteris anteponendus. Scribitur enim haec Epistola ad Judaeos, ut ostendimus in Prolegomenis. Sic et alibi Joannes loquitur, ut Evangelii sui cap. 11., dicens, Caipham prophetasse, quod Jesus moriturus erat pro gente, nempe Judaica, et non tantum pro ea gente, sed ut filios Dei, qui erant dispersi, nempe per totum mundum, congregaret in unum, id est, in unum ovile. Quomodo dicit Dominus ejusdem Evangelii cap. 10.: Et alias oves habeo, quae non sunt ex hoc ovili; et illas oportet me adducere; et vocem meam audient, et fiet unum ovile et unus Pastor. Est et in hac Epistola locus similis, ut cap. 4., ubi cum dixisset, Deum misisse Filium suum propitiationem pro peccatis nostris, paulo post ad gentiles idem beneficium extendit, dicens, Patrem misisse Filium suum Salvatorem mundi. Cum quo rursus convenit, quod dicit ipse Dominus Evangelii cap. 17.: Ncn pro eis autem rogo tantum; sed et pro eis, qui credituri sunt per verbum eorum in me. Hocenim protinus exponens, ita subjicit: Vt credat mundus, id est dispersio gentium, quia Tu me misisti. Nec secus accipiendum arbitror id, quod ad consecrationem sanguinis Dominici recitat sacerdos ad altare, ex Apostolica traditione: Qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum. Pro vobis, scilicet Judaeis, et pro multis, gentium populis. Jam quod sensus Apostoli non debeat esse prorsus universalis, ut volunt, qui de sufficientia duntaxat pretii locum hunc exponunt, doceri potestex verbis proxime praecedentibus: Advocatum habemus apud Patrem, Jesum Christum justum. Dum enim statim subjungit: Et ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris ac totius mundi, declarat, Christum propitiationem esse pro peccatis illorum, quorum est advocatus. Atqui tantum electorum advocatus est, quia tantum pro electis orat, sicut ipse testatur Joan. 17.: Non pro mundo rogo, mundum reproborum intelligens, sed probis, quos dedisti mihi, qui utique sunt electi. Similiter ergo tantum pro electorum peccatis, tam eorum, qui sunt ex gentibus, quam qui ex Judaeis, significatur esse propitiatio. Quae res etiam ostenditur ex verbis memoratis Joan. 11.: Non tantum pro gentCy sed ut filios Dei, qui erant dispersi, congregaret. Ubi licet multitudinem gentium significare voluerit Evangelista, tamen sermonem restrinxit ad filios Dei, nimirum praedestinatione, id est electos. Quare et hoc loco solos electos intelligi convenit. Nam etsi quidam non electi interdum propitiationis participes fiant, quia tamen ab ea oxcidunt, ac proinde temporales sunt, finemque non attingunt, merito reputantur inter alienos et propitiationis exsortes.
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3. Et in hoc scimus, quoniam cognovimus Eum, si mandata Ejus observemus. Scimus, Graece: Yiva)axo|ui£v^ cognoscimus. Particula: Eum, refert Patrem seu Deum. Commendat deinceps Apostolus iis, ad quos scribit, obervationem mandatorum Dei, et praecipue illius de proximis diligendis; idque propter illos, qui de fide et notitia veri Dei gloriabantur, opera bona, quae facienda dictat caritas, negligentes, tamquam fides sola ad salutem sufficeret. Simul ostendit, quinam sint, qui cum Deo societatem habeant, de qua primo capite locutus est. Docet igitur, quid sii, Deum cognoscere, videlicet ea cognitione, quae nobis sit salutaris, ac Deo nos probatos reddat, quamque passim a nobis exigunt Scripturae. Est autem ea notitia affectiva, quam vocant, complectens actum intellectus pariter et voluntatis, id quod cognoscitur amantis affectu caritatis. De qua notitia Jesaias cap. 11.: Repleta est terra scientia Domini, et Jeremiae cap. 31.: Cognosce Dominum: omnes enim cognoscent me, et Sapientiae cap. 15.: Nosse tCf consummata justitia esL Ita et Dominus in Evangelio de ovibus suis: Ego cognosco meas, et cognoscunt me meae, Joan. 10. Et ad reprobos: Non novi vos, Matth. 7. et 25. Haec acceptio notitiae Dei frequens est in hac Epistola. Unde Joanni consecutive eadem sunt: Nosse Deum, Diligere Deum, Habere Deum, Esse in Deo et Manere in Deo. Notandum autem, verbo: scimus seu cognoscimus, non significari certam et infallibilem notitiam, sed qualis de tali re, de qua sermo est, haberi per experientiam potest. Sensus enim hujus partis est: Hoc argumento discere possumus et cognoscere, quod Deum noverimus, et noscendo diligamus, si praecepta ejus, ea speciatim, quae de diligendo proximo nobis dedit, observemus. Ad haec enim praecepta Joannem respicere, patebit ex iis, quae dicit infra versu 9. 10. 11. Certum quidom est, eum, qui mandata Dei servat, nosse Deum notitia caritatis; sed quod mandata Dei servemus, infallibiliter certi non sumus, sed experimento quodam ex iis, quae agimus, cognoscere possumus. Itaque nihil facit hic locus pro nova ac speciali fide haereticorum.
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4. Qui dicit, se nosse Eum, et mandata Ejus non custodit, mendax est, et in hoc veritas non est. Graece: Qui dicit: Novi Eum, etc. Estque in Graeco idem verbum: TrjpsTv, quod interpres varie vertit: observare, servare, custodire. Mendax est, id est, falsum dicit. Explicatur enim per hoc, quod sequitur: Et in eo, scilicet hoc dicente, veritas non est. Id est: Hoc dicens, veritatem non loquitur. Ita capite praecedenti; Mentimur, et veritatem non facimus. Quamquam et eatenus proprie mendax est, id est loquens contra, quam gerit in mente, quia scire tenetur, se Deum non nosse, si mandata ejus non custodit. Reliquum hujus periodi patet ex superioris partis explicatione. Unde et liquet, ex hoc loco non esse consequens, id quod adversarii male colligunt, eum carere fide, qui caritatem non habeat. Dictum est enim et declaratum, quid Joanni sit, nosse Deum.
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5. Qui autem servat verbum Ejus, vere in hoc caritas Dei perfecta est, Perfecta, idest consummata, participium, non nomen. Nam in Graeco verbum est passivum praeteriti temporis: tstsXsiu)- Tat, quod Latine resolvitur in participium et verbum snbstantivura. Caritatem Dei intelligit, qua nos Deum diligimus. Sed quaeritur, quam dicat caritatem Dei perfectam seu consummatam. Hoc ut intelligatur, conferendus est hic locus cum iis, quae dicit cap. 4.: Si diligamus, inquit, invicem, Deus in nobis manet, et caritas Ejus in nobis perfecta est. Ubi in Graeco participium exprimitur: TSTsXsico^svTj loTtv. Et iterum: In hoc perfecta est caritas nobiscum, ut fiduciam habeamus in die judicii. Ubi Graece rursus verbum, quod hoc loco. Item: Timor non est in caritate; sed perfecta caritas foras mittit timorem. Ubi in Graeco nomen: TSAsia. Et mox: Qui autem timet, non est perfectus in caritate. Ubi rursus verbum praeteriti temporis. His omnibus locis caritatem perfectam videtur Apostolus eam intelligere, quae est vera, sincera, Christiana, legi Dei conformata. Probat enim caritatem Dei perfectam ex observatione mandatoram ejus, id est, ex dilectione proximorum. De qua Paulus Rom. 13.: Qui diligit proximum, legem implevit. Nam et fiducia in diem judicii nascitur ex observatione praeceptorum Dei. Sincera quoque et Christiana caritas cum timore servili non consistit, sed eum expellit. Agnoscitur autem hujusmodi caritas, si se extendat ad proximos, nec amicos tantum, sed etiam inimicos, secundum praecepta Salvatoris, Matth. 5. Nam et ibi perfectam caritatem exigit, dum, sua praecepta concludens, ait: Estote ergo perfecti, sicut et Pater vester coelestis perfectus est. Perfecti, inquit, juxta modum perfectionis, quam viatores assequi possumus. Alioqui nullius hominis in hac vita caritatem omnino perfectam esse, remota scilicet omni imperfectione, jam ante docuit Joannes, quando testatus est, neminem hic vivere sine peccatis. Idque de se etiam profitetur Paulus, Phil. 3. dicens: Non quod jam acceperim aut perfectus sim. Et iterum: Fratres, ego me non arbitror comprehendisse. Dicit ergo B. Joannes, eum vere diligere Deum, perfecta nimirum ac Christiana caritate, qui servat verbum ejus, quo praecipit, diligi proximos sine exceptione. Denique probatur hic sensus ex alio loco simili infra cap. 5.: Haec est, inquit, caritas Dei, ut mandata ejus custodiamus. Unde manifestum est, eandem esse Joanni ca~ ritatem Dei, et caritatem Dei perfectam.
In hoc scimus, quoniam in Ipso sumus. In hoc, id est per hoc, Hebraismus, Qt sensus sit: Si servamus verbum Ejus, quo praecipit, ut proximos diligamus, eo certissimo signo cognoscimus, nos in Ipso esse, id est, per caritatem esse Ei conjunctos, et societatem habere cum Eo. Sententia plane similis cum sententia superiore, versu tertio. Nam ut eadem sunt, servare mandata Dei, et verbum Dei. quod utrobique pro signo sive argumento ponitur: ita conveniunt, in Deo esse, et Deum cognoscere, secsu illic explicato. Quo etiam loco declaiatum est, quam nihil adjuvent hujusmodi sententiae sectarios, ex eis stabiliie conantes fidem suam specialem de certitudine justificationis. G. Qui dicit, se in Ipso manere, debet, sicut Ille ambulavit, et ipse ambulare. Repetitio est ejusdem doctrinae. Sunt enim eadem Joanni, esse in Deo, et manere in Deo, id est, caritate conjunctum esse Deo; ut ex pluribus hujus Epistolae locis ostendi potest. Simul declarat illud, quod dixit: Qui servat verbum Ejus; ac docet, eum id facere, qui in suis actionibus Christi imitator est. Ubi notandum, pronomina ipso et ille, quae etiam in Graeco diversa sunt, ad alium et alium esse referenda. Nam sensus est: Qui dicit, ss esse, seu manere in Deo, ut probet, se verum dicere, debet sua conversatione Christi:m imitari servando videlicet verbum Dei, quod idem est verbum Christi. Hinc ipse Christus ad discipulos Joan. 15.: Si praecepta mea servaveritis, manebitis in dilectione mea; sicut et ego Patris mei praecepta servavi, et maneo in Ejus dilectione. In quo autem Christus nobis sit imitandus, ut, sicut ille ambulavit, et nos ambulemus, docet Joannes hujus Epist. cap. 3.: Quoniam ille animam suam pro nobis posuit, et nos debemus pro fratribus animas ponere. Quod si in hoc opere excellentissimae caritatis imitandus nobis est Christus; quanto magis in minoribus et facilioribus! Porro ambulare, pro ccnversari, Scripturae phrasis est notissima. Nec includit profectum in bono vel malo, ut quidam putant; sed tantum progressum seu motum de actione iu actionem. Alioqui Christo non tribueretur, qui proficere non potuit. Diximus hoc etiam supra ad cap. 1. v. 7.
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7. Carissimi, non mandatum novum scribo vobiSj sed mandatum vetus, quod habuistis ab initio. Carissimi, Graece: fratres; tametsi nostrae lectioni suffragantur interpres Syrus, Augustinus, Beda, caeterique Latini; nec non codices aliquot Graeci a Roberto Stephano designati. Estque Joanni haec allocutio; ayanri^zoi, id est dilecti, carissimi, magis familiaris. Pergit autem hortari fideles ad observationem praecepti de diligendis proximis, docens, se non aliquod novum ingerere praeceptum, ne premi se conquerantur praeceptorum multitudine; sed vetus praeceptum annuntiare, quod habuerant ab initio Evangelii ipsis per Apostolos praeJicati. Nam Apostoli post fidei doctrinam primum ac praecipue commendabant omnibus hoc mutuae dilectionis praeceptum, memores ejus, quod a Domino audierant: In hoc cognoscent omnes, quia discipuli mei estis, si di- Jectionem habueritisadinvicem,Joaji,13. Quidam mandatum hoc vetus, et ab initio datum interpretantur, eo quod institutum sit cum ipsa hominis natura. Dictat enim l«x naturae, proximos esse diligendos, etiam externos et inimicos. Alii vetus exponunt, id est, antiquis patribus in veteri lege datum, Levit. 19. Hic commentarius est apud Alexandrinos Clementem et Didymum; uterque vero apud Oecumenium. Sed non est verisimile, Joannem, qui ad praedicandam Christi legem missus erat, remittere fideles vel ad legem naturae, quae multum obsoleta fuerat peccato, praesertim qua parte diligendos monet inimicos; vel ad legem Mosaicam veteri populo datam, minusque clare de inimicorum dilectione loquentem. Nam etillud: Quod habuistis ab initio, additum explicationis causa, non aliud indicat initium, quam quod significatur in sequentibus, ubi repetit aliquoties hujusmodi sermonem: habuistis, audivistis ab initio; ut infra versu 24. semel et iterum, et cap. 3. v. 11. et in Epistola 2. v. 5. et 6. Quibus omnibus locis initium praedicati vel suscepti Evangelii significatur. Jam ex his etiam intelligi potest, quomodo Joannes, dicens: Non mandatum novum scribo vobis, non sit contrarius Domino suo, quem Evangelii sui cap. 13. testatur dixisse: Mandatum novum do vobis, ut diligatis invicem. Erat enim mandatum illud novum, quando Christus hoc dixit, quia nondum fuerat palam mundo praedicatum; non novum autem, quando Joannes haec scripsit, quia fidelibus ab initio datum. Quamquam et aliae rationes adferri possunt, cur hoc dilectionis mandatum merito novum appelletur; ut quia proprie pertinet ad legem novam, quae est lex amoris, nec nisi per gratiam novi testamenti impletur; et quia novum facit hominem ex veteri.
Mandatum vetus est verbum, quod audistis. Hic rursus addunt Graeca: ab initio. Sunt, qui putent, mandatum vetus hic aliter accipi, quam prius, ut sit significatio legis aeternae, hoc sensu: Sermo, quem nos vobis praedicavimus de proximis diligendis, quamvis praedicatione seu publicatione novus esset, origine tamen perantiquus est, annuntians nimirum id, quod semper et ubique mortales obligat, cum sit legis aeternae. Sed probabilius est, mandatum vetus uno modo sumi, ut haec pars sit explicatio prioris; ac si dicat: Vetus mandatum, de quo loquor, est sermo, quem nobis praedicantibus audistis. Exponit enim illam partem: quod habuistis ab initio. Qua expositione confirmatur sensus, quem illie dedimus.
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8. Iterum mandatum novum scribo vobis. Non sibi contraria scribit Joannes, nunc nooum vocans mandatum, quod antea vetus dixit, et novum negavit. Aut enim sensus est: Mandatum vetus, quod accepistis ab initio, nobis illud praedicantibus, nunc ego vobis renovo per hanc Epistolam, repetens, iterumque monens, ne tradatis illud oblivioni. Aut, ut alii censent, utitur Apostolus correctione rhetorica; quasi diceret: Quamquam et vere novum est mandatum, quod scribo vobis, sed diversa ratione. Nempe vel eo sensu, quo Christus appellavit novum, qui primus illud mundo propalavit; ut hoc dicat Joannes, tamquam memor verborum magistri sui; vel ob alias rationes superius allatas.
Quod verum est et in Ipso, et in vobis. Voculam et priori loco Graeca et Syriaca non habent, ut et vetusta quaedam Latina. Item pro vobis in quibusdam Graecis iegitur: '^.ulv^ nobis, quemadmodum et legit Hieronymus lib. 2. contra Jovin. Sed hae varietates non magni sunt momenti. Notandum est autem, dictionem: verum, aXr^Osg, neutrius generis, ad mandatum non posse referri, quod Graece est evtoatj, foeminini generis, nisi vel soloecismum hic agnoscas, vel adjectivum dicas substantivari: verum, id est, res vera, quomodo videtur Oecumenius accepisse. Quidam vertit: Quod veritas est. Erasmus et Hentenius leddunt: Quod verum est in Ipso, idem verum est et in vobis. Atque ita supplet orationem Cajetanus. Caeterum aliis magis placet, ut referatur ad totum illud complexum, mandatum esse novum, et sensus sit: Verum hoc est, tum in Ipso, nempe Christo, qui novam legem attulit et promulgavit; tum in vobis sive in nobis, qui sumus novae legis primitiae, in quibus mandattim illud observatione publica coepit impleri. Cui sensui bene congruit, quod sequitur:
Quia tenebrae transierunt, et verum lumen jam lucet. Transierunt, Graece: TiapaycTOct, transeunt, praetereunt • idem, quod infra vers. 17.: Mundus transit. Sed ajunt, praesens tempus hic positum loco praeteriti. Verum id non est necesse. Quamdiu namque mundus non transiit, nec tenebrae transierunt; sed mundo transeunte, simul transeunt et tenebrae, quia mundus tenebris est invohitus, et tenebrae mundo. Tenebras intelligit ignorantiae et peccatorum, ut in capite superiore. Eas dicit transire, quia paulatim minuuntur, Evangelii luce per Apostolorum praedicationem latius in dies sese diffundente. Hoc enim est, quod addit: Et verum lumen jam lucet, nempe in dies magis ac magis. Ac si dicat: Nunc post adventum Salvatoris et Spiritum sanctum effusum hix Evangelicae veritatis a nobis praedicatae quotidianis profectibus augetur. Unde necessario efficitur, tenebras transire et minui, ut conjunctio copulans pro causali posita videatur: Tenebrae transeunt, quia verum lumen lucet. Alii lumen interpretantur Deum, de quo capite praecedenti: Quoniam Deus lux est, Rursus alii Christum, de quo Joan. 1.: Erat lux vera; et ipse Christus de sese: Ego sum lux mundi, Joan. 8. Sed nihil vetat, lucem metaphorice de pluribus dici, varia consideratione, quae tamen ad eandem lucem, nempe divinam, omnia referantur. Nam et homines, sicut vocantur tenebrae propter peccata, sic etiam lux appellantur propter fidem et caritatem ab increata luce sibi infusam. Eratis, inquit Paulus, aliquando tenebrae, nunc autem lux in Domino, Eph. 5. Huic certe loco bene convenit acceptio lucis, quam dedimus.
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9. Qui dicit, se in luce esse, et fratrem suum odit, in tenebris est usque adhuc. Sensus clarus ex superioribus: Qui dicit, se versari in luce Evangelii, et discipulum esse Christi, si fratrem suum odit, vehementer fallitur, quum in densis adhuc tenebris versetur. Xam odium fraternum magnae sunt tenebrae. Fratrem vocat hominem quemcumque, id est proximum: Omnes enim vos, inquit Dominus, fratres estis, Matth. 23. Fratres autem ratione communis omnium Patris et creatoris. Unde sequitur ibidem: Unus est enim Pater vester, qui in coelis est. Quod et Malaohlas cap. 2.: Numquid non, ait, Pater unus omnium nostrum?
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10. Qui diligit fratrem suum, in lumine manet. Hic jam aperit Apostolus, de quo Dei mandato dudum locutus fuerit, nempe de fratre diligendo. Utitur autem ad inculcandam doctrinam antithesi, more suo. Qui odit fratrem, in tenebris est; qui diligit fratrem, in lumine est. Nam esse in lumine, et manere iu lumine, Joanni sunt eadem, etiam in Evangelio. Sensus igitur est; Qui diligit fratrem seu proximum caritate sincera et Christiana (quam Bui^r a. dixit perfectam), versatur in luce Evangelii, servat evangelicam doctrinam, verus Christi discipulus est. Obiter admoneo, lucem et lumen hic et alibi in Latina versione nihil diversum significare; ut quibus una et eadem vox Graeca semper respondeat.
Et scandalum in eo non est. SxavSa- Aov Graece, Latine offendiculum, ut alii vertunt. Estque sensus illativus; quasi dicat: Et ideo non offendit, non impingit. Qui enim in tenebris ambulant, offendunt; non item, qui in lumine. Significatur offensio spiritualis, quemadmodum spirituale lumen, et spirituales tenebrae. In tantum ergo non offendit, qui fratrem diligit, in quantum in lumine manet et ambulat. Quatenus autem nondum perfecte ereptus est e tenebris ignorantiae et peccati in ipso habitantis, eatenus adhuc in multis offendit. Alludere videtur Apostolus ad illud Psalm. 118.: Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam, et non est illis scandalum. Certe respicit ad verba Domini sui, quae scripsit Evangelii cap. 11.: Si quis ambulaverit in die, non offendit, quia lucem hujus mundi videt. Lege doctam et piam ad hunc locum annotationem Joannis Hesselii, qua docet, quomodo, qui diligunt fratres, non patiantur scandalum ex aliorum peccatis, etiamsi multa et magna committi videant, nec propter illa fraternitatem deserant, oderintve; quod est haereticorum et schismaticorum; sed tolerent, dissimulent, excusent, ex caritate corripiant, et corrigant, ubi possunt; et inter haec Deum orent assidue, ut Ecclesiam suam, tam in majoribus, quam in minoribus membris reformet.
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11. Qui autem odit fratrem suum, in tenebris est, et in tenebris ambulat. Rursus ad alterum redit antithetum, quo rem planius ob oculos ponat. Sensus: Qui laborat odio fraterno, tenebris ignorantiae et peccati involutus est, etiam dum quiescit et nihil exterius agit rerum; et dum ambulat, in tenebris ambulat, id est, opera exercet tenebrosa (quae Paulus opera tenebrarum appellat, Rom. 13.), passimque impingit. Ita Dominus post verba paulo ante citata: Si autem ambulaverit in nocte, offendit, quia lux non est in eo.
Et nescit, quo eat, quia tenebrae ohcaecaverunt oculos ejus. Quidam sic exponunt: Nescit, se praecipitem ire in gehennam; nescit, se, diaboli laqueis irretitum, trahi in varias tentationes et offendicula. Mihi simplicior ac germanior sensus esse videtur: Prae tenebris, in quibus ambulat, non videt, quo eat, quid agat; actiones suas recta ratione non expendit ac dijudicat, quia tenebrae, in quibus est constitutus, mentis ejus oculos obscurarunt. Ex hoc loco sie intellecto confirmatur illud apud Philosophos ac Theologos tritum ac receptum, omnem peccantem errare, quo significatur, nullum committi peccatum, nisi ex errore praevio judicii practici circa actum particularem, quem voluntas eligit.
2:12
12. Scribo vobis, filioli, quoniam remittuntur vobis peccata propter nomen Ejus. Totus hic locus, quo diversas aetates fidelium Apostolico affectu B. Joannes compellat, varie, quoad ipsas aetates, ab interpretibus exponitur. Ac primo sciendum est, in Graeco esse sex appellationes pro quinque nostris. Nam quae Latinis secunda est: Scribo vobis, Patres, etc, eadem in Graecis codicibus quinto loco repetitur. Notandum deinde, adolescentes et juvenes in Graeco eosdem esse, videlicet vsavtoxooQ. Itidem filiolos et infantes eosdem videri; quamvis in Graeco nunc xsxvta, nunc TiaiSia vocentur, sed quae in re praesenti idem valeant. Ex his jam collige, B. Joannem trea distinguere fidelium, ad quos scribit, aetates: puerorum, juvenum, et senum; et unamquamque bis ponere; nisi quod in pueris mutat vocabulum. Tribuit autem cuique aetati, quod congruit, ut patebit in progressu. Jam quod ad aetatum significationem attinet, Augustinus eosdem appellari putat trium aetatum nominibus, quod omnes fideles et filioli sint propter regenerationem in Christo, et patres propter notitiam Christi, quia notitia vigefc in senioribus, et juvenes propter pugnam cum diabolo. Sunt, qui haec referant ad aetates corporales, puerorum ratione jam utentium, juvenum seu viiorum, ac senum. Qui commentariue non est improbabilis. Nam et his aetatibus ea, quae Joannes scribit, congruenter aptari possunt. Aliis tamen magis placet, aetates spirituales intelligi; ut filioli seu pueri dicantur vel infirmi Chribtiani, qui tamquam parvuli, juxta Paulum, adhuc lacte nutriendi sint, 1 Cor. 3. et Heb, 5, Quae est expositio Oecumenii. Vel, secundum alios, neophyti in fide ac nuper baptizati, qui et ipsi plerumque etiam sensibus ac mente parvuli sunt, ut loquitur idem Apostolus 1 Cor. 14. Patres autem, qui Paulo perfecti vocantur Heb. 5., et spirituales 1 Cor. 2., et proinde idonei, qui alios etiam spiritualiter gignere possint. Vel alio sensu, PatreSy qui uiulto tempore fuerunt Christiani, ideoque tales esse debent, qui possint et alios erudire et ad Christum adducere. Juvenes denique, qui, tametsi nondum illam patium perfectionem attigerint, eo tamen progressi sunt, ut jam vires habeant, quibus fortiter resistant diaboli tentationibus: aut qui saltem propter tempus, quo Christiani fuerunt, tamquam qui ex ephebis jam excesserint, vel etiam in viros evaserint, eas vires ac fortitudinem habere deberent. Postremo notandum, particulam: Quoniam^ Graece: OTi, quae passim capitur determinative pro: quod, in his quinque sive sex appellationibus accipi causaliter pro: quia; ut per singula dicat, quare eis scribat. Nam quid sciibat, postea dicit, absolvens totam periodum ibi: Nolite diligere mundum etc. Primum igitur: Scribo vobis, inquit, filioli, id est pueri, et, ut Petrus loquitur, 1 Epist. 2., sicut modo geniti infantes, eo quod acceperitis in baptiemo remissionem peccatorum virtute ac merito Christi pro vobis passi. Videtur enim praesens tempus positum loco praeteriti; quasi disat: Quia abluti estis, sanctificati estis, justificati estis, in nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi, 1 Cor. 6., ideo scribo vobis, admonens, ne ad amorem mundi redeatis. Non hinc consequens est, ut volunt sectarii, filiolos, quos alloquitur Apostolus, certo, singuloe de se ipsis, persuasos esse debere, quod sint ipsis remissa peccata. Non enim hoc simpliciter affirmat de unoquoque eorum; sed quia baptizati erant, supponit, quatenus tamen ex ipsorum parte nihil defuerit. Nam neque in sequentibus, ubi patres et juvenes alloquitur, de unoquoque eorum affirmat causam, quam adjungit, cur ad eas aetates scribat.
2:13
13. Scribo vobis, patres, quoniam cognovistis Eum, qui ab initio est. Patres, id est seniores, praesertim in Christianismo provecti. Ad vos, inquit, scribo, propterea quod Eum cognoveritis, qui est ab aeterno; de quo dixi in exordio epistolae, quod fuit ab initio; nempe Jesum Christum, Filium Dei, Verbum Patris. Nam et senibus competit notitia, et congruum est, ut antiqui cognoscant antiquum dierum. Verum et hic notitiam accipe, quomodo supra, pro cognitione, cui respondeat affectus.
Scribo vobis, adolescentes, quoniam vicistis malignum. Significat aetatem aptam ad pugnam contra hostes, qualis est juventus. Unde apud poetam Bomana juventus pro cohorte, seu multitudine juvenum bellatorum ex Romanis. Nec obstat diminutivum vocabulum in Graeco: veavioxoi. Nam apuJ Pollucem Vcavioxog dicitur in quarta annorum hebdomade, id est, a vigesimo primo anno usque ad vigesimum octavum; tametsi intentio Joannis est, etiam virilem aetatem comprehendere, velut aptam bello. Malignum, Graece: xov Tiovr^pov^ illum malum, id est diabolum. Hoc enim nomine significante eum, qui consulto nequam et improbus est, saepe notatur diabolus in Scriptura sacra; licet interpres non uno nomine reddatLatine; ut Matth. 6.: Libera nos a malo, et 13.: Zizania filii sunt illius nequam, et Eph. 6.: Tela nequissimi ignea. Dicit ergo B. Joannes: Scribo vobis, qui jam velut juvenes aut viri in Christo roborati estis, quia diabolum varie vos oppugnantem vicistis et quotidie vincitis, fortiter ejus tentationibus resistendo. Jam quomodo haec tria etiam ad aetatem corporalem referri possint, vide Hesselium beno explicantem.
2:14
14. Scribo vobis, infantes, quoniam cognovistis Patrem. Syri codices et quidam Graeci, nonnulli etiam Latini, legunt in praeterito: scripsi, quod in duabus sequentibus codicis Graeci et Syriaci pericopis omnes illorum codices habent. Nam quia Joannes iterato nunc eosdem compellat, tale est, ac si diceret: Scripsi, iterumque scribo. InfanteSj Graece: TiatdiOi, pueri, quos ante vocavit xsxvia^ filiolos, ne quis hic significari putet eos, qui nondum fari possunt. Usurpatur autem utrumque, praesertim Tsxvia, cum quis vel minorem, vel inferiorem blande ant benigne affatur. Sed et de altero exemplum est infra vers. 18.: Filioli, novissima hora est. Item Christi loquentis ad discipulos Joan. 21.: Pueri, numquid pulmentarium habetis? Et alibi do illis: Ego et pueri, quos dedit mihi Deus, Jes. 8. et Heb. 2. Porro congruenter pueris dicitur: Quia cognovistis Patrem. Laus enim puerorum est, nosse et amare patrem suum. Sensus igitur est: Quia Christum jam novistis ac diligitis, ut patrem, utpote per fidem ex eo renati. Nam ut de Christo exponatur, suadent praecedentia, nominatim illud: propter nomen Ejus. Sequitur hoc loco in Graecis (una Complutensi editione excepta) et Syris codicibus repetitio secundae compellationis: Scripsi vobis, patres, quoniam cognovistis Eum, qui ab initio est. Legitur eadem apud Augustinum, Bedam, Oecumenium et Thomam Anglicum, et in nonnullis etiam Latinis manuscriptis; ut probabile sit, a librariis omissum hunc versiculum, velut superfluum, quod piorsus idem esset cum priore.
Scribo vobis, juvenes, quoniam fortes estis, et Verbum Dei manet in vobis, et vicistis malignum. Jam diximus, in Graeco et Syriaco legi praeteritum: scripsi. Sic et Latina quaedam: Scripsi vobis, adolescentes. Quod ait: Quoniam fortes estis, et vicistis malignum, qua ratione dicat, ex supradictis clarum est. Potest autem particula et illative sumi: fortes estis, et ideo vicistis malignum, nempe viribus a Deo suppeditatis. Quod signiticat illa pars interposita: Et Verbum Dei manet in vobis, id est, fidem Evangelii constanter retinetis. Fides autem monstrat, a quo et per quem sperandum ac petendum sit in tentationibus auxilium. Itaque locus iste convenit cum illo Petri loquentis de diabolo tentatore 1 Epist. 5.: Cui resistite fortes in fide.
2:15
15. Nolite diligere mundum, neque ea, quae in mundo sunt. Declarat nunc Apostolus, quid scribat omni aetati fidelium. Cum enim propositum ei sit, hortari omnes ad dilectionem fraternam, id quo faciat efficacius, revocat eos a dilectione earum rerum, quarum amor et cupiditas fraternae et Christianae caritati adversatur. Ejusmodi res sunt mundus, et quae in mundo sunt. Mundum vocat homines deditos rebus hujus mundi, id est, corporalibus ac sensibilibus, ad quas inordinate diligendas et prosequendas incurvatus est homo per peccatum primi parentis. Mundum autem sic acceptum, id est, homines malos, diligi vetat, quatenus tales sunt. Nam quatenus homines sunt, ejusdem nobiscum beatitudinis capaces, diligendi sunt a nobis ad hoc, ut eruti mundo salvi fiant. Per ea^vero, quae sunt in mundo, intelligi vult hujusmodi bona, quae corrupta hominum natura consuevit appetere, ut voluptate8,j^divitias, jhonores. Sic enim ipse Joannes in^ sequentibus explicat. Haec autem diligi vitat, quomodo solent ea ab hominibus diligi et concupisci; nimirum inordinate, ut dixi, id est, postposita lege Dei rectaeque rationis dictamine. Quam utique inordinationem importat nomen concupisceri' tiae, quo statim utitur.
Si quis diligit mundum, non est caritas Patris in eo. Ostendit, cur eos retrahat a dilectione mundi. Nam, inquit, fieri non potest, ut quis diligat mundum, et simul diligat Deum, Patrem suum; scilicet eo dilectionis modo, qui ei debetur, id est, super omnia. Nemo enim potest duobus dominis servire, Matth. 6. Consequenter ergo nec proximum diliget, ut oportet, hoc est, ex caritate Dei tamquam communis patris.
2:16
16. Quoniam omne, quod est in mundo, concupiscentia carnis est, et concupiscentia oculorum, et superbia vitae, quae non est ex Patre, sed ex mundo est. Graeca paulo aliter habent: Omne, quod est in mundo, nempe concupiscentia carnis, et concupiscentia oculorum, et fastus vitae, non est ex Patre, sed ex mundo est, tametsi cum Latinis Syra conveniunt. Et sane utraque lectio ad eundem sensum collimat. Vetuit Apostolus, ne diligantur ea, quae in mundo sunt-, nunc quaenam ea sint, partitione declarat, ita tamen, ut objectorum, id est, rerum appetibilium loco nominet cupiditates, quae circa res illas versantur; quemadmodum bene Cajetanus annotat. Nam alioqui sermone proprio ac directo dicendum erat: Omne, quod est in mundo, esse voluptates, et opes, et honores, quae male concupiscantur ab hominibus carnalibus, avaris et superbis. Verum nobis haec tria, quae Joannes enumerat, singulatim explicanda sunt. Et quidem de concupiscentia carnis et de superbia vitae, quid per eas significetur, non magnam difficultatem habet. Cum enim concupiscentia carnis specialiter hic accipiatur, utpote distincta a concupiscentia oculorum et superbia vitae, satis inter expositores convenit, eam cupiditatem intelligi, qua male et inordinate expetuntur ea, quae secundum carnem, quatenus ab animo distinguitur, delectabilia sunt, id est ea, quae sensibus grata sunt et jucunda. Quae concupiscentia generali nomine incontinentiae et intemperantiae significari potest, species (inter caeteras) habens gulam et luxuriam.
Superbia vitae, Graece: a^.aCovsia Tou piou, verti potest: fastus seu jactantia vitae. Syra versio habet: fastus sive superbia mundi. Sed et apud veteres Latinos ambitio saeculi legitur; ut apud Cjprianum lib. de mortal., et Augustinum in hujus loci expositione, et lib. de patientia, cap. 17., et alibi saepe. Etenim Graeca dictio: ^''og, non simpliciter vi" tam significat, sed vitae genus, rationem, institutum, sustentationtm, et, quod vulgo dicunt, statum; quod alii interpretes vocarunt mundum et saeculum. Itaque superbia vitae ambitio est, inter capitalia vitia primum habens locum, id est, honorum inordinata cupiditas, ut, dum quis eo loco, quem inter suos proximos habet, non contentus, semper altiora petit; quod vocant: statum augere, et ad altiorem statum ascendere. Ut facere videmus homines obscuros, eosdemque divites, qui nobilitatem et toparchias auro sibi comparant. Prohibetur autem hoc vitium a Domino, dicente Lucae 12.: Nolite in sublime tolli. Caeterum per concupiscentiam oculorum non omnes idem vitii genus intelligunt. Alicubi quidem eo nomine lascivia et impudicitia significatur, ut Ezech. 23., ubi de Jerusalem sub nomine Oolibae meretricis, prostituentis se Chaldaeis, dicitur: Insanivit super eos concupiscentia oculorum suorum. Unde et Dominus ait Matth. 5.: Qui viderit mulierem ad concupiscendum eam, etc. Hinc oculu^ impudicus apud Augustinum in regula. Verum ea significatio non quadrat huic loco, ubi concupiscentia oculorum a concupiscentia carnis tamquam a membro vitii diverso distinguitur. Est igitur opinio satis recepta, hoc nomine significari totum genus curiositatis, id est, inordinatae cupiditatis videndi, sciendi et experiendi, quod admodum late patet: ut in addiscendis vanis et superstitiosis artibus, in contuendis vanis aat lascivis spectaculis, in explorandis proximorum vitiis, aliisve secretis ad se non pertinentibus; in flagitandis sine necessitate signis et prodigiis. Et huc nonnulli referunt illud Ecclesiastae 1.: Non saturatur oculus visu, nec auris impletur auditu. De hoc genere S. Bernardus sermone 36. super Cantica: Sunt, inquit, qui scire volunt eo fine tantum, ut sciant; et turpis curiositas est. Hujus expositionis auctor est Augustinus in tract. loci praesentis, eamque etiam alibi tradit, nt lib. 10. confese. cap. 35., ubi genus hoc appellat vanam et curiosam cupiditatem, cognitionis et scientiae nomine palliatam, ac pluribus illud verbis et exemplis declarat. Item lib. de vera relig. cap. 38., ubi refert ad hoc vitium illam tentationem Christi, quando ei dictum est a diabolo: Mitte te deorsum, Matth. 4. Hoc enim, inquit, ut faceret, non urgebat, nisi causa tantum aliquid experiendi. Beati Augustini sententiam Beda sequitur, et hos duos B. Thomas 2. 2. quaest. 167. art. 2. Quibus accedit Hesselius in commentario. Veruntamen aliis magis placet, per concupiscentiam oculorum avaritiam intelligi. Cujus etiam expositionis, ab aliis traditae, meminit S. Thomas 1.2. quaest. 77. art. 6. Meminit item Hesselius. Estque commentarius iste consentaneus aliis Scripturae locis, in quibus reprehenditur insatiabilis oculorum cupiditas. Ut Ecclesiastae 4. de avaro: Laborare non cessat, nec satiantur oculi ejus divitiis; et Ecclesiastici 14.: Insatiabilis oculus cupidi; non satiabitur, donec consumat animam suam; et Prov. 27.: Infernus et perditio numquam implentur; similiter et oculi hominum insatiabiles. Quem locum etsi de capiditate videndi seu cognoscendi, quaenuraquam expletur, intellexerit Cajetanus, bene tamen Jansenius docet, melius accipi de cupiditate habendi ista terrena; quod ipsum et de hoc loco Joannis affirmat. Quem quidem etiam Cajetanus sic intellexit, dicens, sub concupiscentia oculorum comprehendi inordinata utilia; circa quae nimirum avaritia versatur. Est autem appellationis ratio haec, quia avaritia cupiditas est earum rerum, quae passim in oculos incurrunt, et quarum desiderium per sensum oculorum hauriri solet; ut pecuniarum, agrorum, domorum, vestium, pulchrae et amplae supellectilis. Unde et pueri (in quibus hoc vitium sese exserit), quidquid pulchri vident, concupiscunt; ac de iis dici solet, quod, quidquid vident, volunt habere. Non enim tegunt aut dissimulant cupiditatem suam, quemadmodum viri. Placet igitur commentarius, quem superius semel et iterum indicavi, per ea, quae in mundo sunt, ex mente B. Joannis intelligi tria hujus mundi bona, quae ab hominibus origine corruptis ac nondum renatis solent appeti: voluptates, divitias, honores. Ad quae tria, quidquid aliud male concupiscitur, facile potest reduci. Non enim tam peccata, quam peccatorum omnium pessimas radices explicare voluit S. Joannes; uti loco proxime citato B. Thomas declarat. Porro typice figurata nobis sunt haec tria vitia in vitulo aureo exaltato, et a carnali Israel adorato, Exod. 32. Nam vitulus, ut vitulus, id est, animal petulans, significat concupiscentiam carnis; ut aureus, concupiscentiam oculorum; ut exaltatus, superbiam vitae. Item hae sunt tres lanceae, de quibus 2 Reg. 18., quas infixit Joab homicida, id est diabolus, in corde Absalon, id est, hominis diligentis mundum et ea, quae in mundo sunt. Adversus haec tria mundi mala sunt tria bona, velut antidota, quae voto assumuntur ab iis, qui relinquunt mundum: continentia contra concupiscentiam carnis, paupertas seu communis vita contra concupiscentiam oculorum, et obedientia, humilitatis soboles, contra superbiam vitae. Sed et omnibus fidelibus adversus eadem mala a Christo Domino proposita sunt tria remedia: jejunium, eleemosyna et oratio, Matth. 6. Et apud Paulum: sobrietas, justitia et pietas, Tit. 2. Quod additur a Joanne: Quae non est ex Patre, sed ex mundo est, est referendum ad omnia tria, sicut exigit Graeca lectio. Sensus autem est: Triplex hoc genus cupiditatis non esse a Deo auctore, sed ex mundo originem habere^ quatenus scilicet ex peccato primi hominis in genus humanum transfusum est. Ostendit hic locus, concupiscentiam, quae alio nomine fomes peccati vocatur, non esse facultatem naturalem appetendi jucunda, et molesta fugiendi (haec enim facultas a Deo est auctore naturae); sed esse vitium naturae, inclinans hominem ad ea appetenda, quae Deus prohibet, et ad aversanda, quae praecipit. Hoc enim vitium non est a Deo. Quare nec concupiscentia baptizatorum ex Deo est, sed ex mundo, quantumvis ei non consentiant; quemadmodum ex variis Augustini locis, et ex Bedae commentario bene docet Hesselius, adhibitis etiam apertis ad eam rem Scripturae testimoniis. Nec tamen nomine concupiscentiae et superbiae hoc loco volumus significari illum fomitem, sed tria vitia capitalia: Intemperantiam, avaritiam et ambitionem. Quod si quis contendat, concupiscentiam carnis et concupiscentiam oculorum esse ex Deo, pari ratione fateatur necesse est, etiam superbiam vitae esse ex Deo. Ponuntur enim haec tria ab Apostolo in eodem ordine. Verum de hac re latius a nobis disputatum est In 2 sent. dist. 30., ubi ostendimus, concupiscentiam etiam renatorum non esse opus Dei; sed vitium legi divinae contrarium, ideoque oppugnandum a nobis, et odio habendum.
2:17
17. El mundus transit, et concupiscentia ejus. Pro verbo: transit, in multis legitur: transibit, etiam apud Augustinum; sed vera lectio est: transit, Graece: napdyeTai, veluti supra vers. 8. Cui et Syra versio consonat. Alia nunc ratione docet Apostolus, mundum et ea, quae in mundo sunt, non esse diligenda. Nam quae transeunt, diligenda non sunt, eed aeterna; mundus autem transit, id est, mali homines pereunt. Transit et concupiscentia mundi-j sive hoc nomine intelligantur ipsa vitia supradicta, quantum ad actus delectabiles (etenim concupiscentia non manebit in damnatis ad delectationem, sed ad poenam, teste Augustino lib. 6. contra Julian. cap. 6. alia.'? 16.); sive intelligantur illorum vitiorum objecta. Non enim post hanc vitam manebunt ea, quae msle concupiverant mali; voluptates, inquam, et opes et honores; nequidem secundum fructum aliquem. Similis est hic locus, maxime juxta sensum posteriorem, illis verbis B. Petri 1 Epist. 1.: Omnis caro, ut foenum, et omnis gloria ejus tamquam flos foeni; exaruit foenum, et flos ejus decidit. Sic et Jacobus de divite, cap. 1.: Quoniam sicut flos foeni transibit, etc. Significant hujusmodi sententiae, ex gloria et voluptate hujus saeculi nullum amatoribus suis fructum provenire, sed magis interitum. Quod contra se habet in iis, qui diligunt Deum. Unde sequitur:
Qui autem facit voluntatem Dei, manet in aeternum. Hoc est: Qui facit ea, quae Deus praecipit (intelligitur enim praeceptiva voluntas Dei, quemadmodum in uratione Dominica, cum dicimus: Fiat voluntas tua), manet in aeternum, id est, vivet in aeternum, utique vita beata. Neque enim opera ejus ita transeunt, quin maneant, semperque mansura sint, quoad gloriosum fructum et mercedem. Respondet haec pars ei, quae apud S. Petrum verbis paulo ante citatis subjungitur: Verbum autem Domini manet in aeternum. Intelligitur enim verbum Evangelii fide receptum cum obedientia.
2:18
18. Filioli, novissima hora est. A doctrina morali, qua docuit diligendos fratres, et a dilectione mundi revocavit, transitum nunc facit ad exhortationem, qua fideles muniat adversus haereses et sectas, quae non paucae jam tum subortae erant. Filios, vocat, seu pueros, iiaidloi, blando vocabulo, quo paternum erga eos afPectum ac salutis eorum desiderium ostendat. Novissima hora est, id est, extremum tempus jam decurrit. Quod EPISTOLAE I. BEATI extremum vocatur, quia sic in eo complenda sunt omnia, ut post illud usque ad mundi finem et Domini adventum non sit alius rerum status exspectandus, quomodo post hominis senectutem non aetas alia, sed mors exspectatur. Unde et ultima mundi aetas hoc tempus appellari solet, et a S. Paulo consummatio saeculorum vocatur Heb. 9. Quo loco pluribus hanc Scripturae phrasim exposuimus. Vide etiam, quae de ea re scribit Oecumenius satis exacte; tametsi quod addit, novissimum, sive extremum intelligi posse pessimum, sicut, quum dicimus: Ad extremum mali pervenit: praeterquam quod alienum est a phrasi Scripturae, parum scite dicitur. Non enim extremum significat pessimum, ciim dico: Ad extremum mali pervenit; sed ad pessimum determinatur per adjunctum genitivum mali. Praefatur Joannes, novissimam horam esse, ne mirentur fideles, tot exsurgere novos magistros, diversa et adversa docentes iis, quae ab initio fuerant ipsis tradita. Tales enim multos novissimis temporibus venturos Christus Dominus et Apostoli ejus Petrus et Paulus ante prae dixerant. Christus quidem Matth. 24. et Marc. 13., vocans eos Pseudochristos et Pseudoprophetas; Petrus autem in 2 Epistola cap. 2. et 3., magistros mendaces et illusores eos appellans; et Paulus 1 Tim. 4. et 2 Tim. 3., doctrinam eorum vocans daemoniorum, et quales futuri sint, describens. Vult ergo Joannes, attentos esse fideles et cautos, ne fallantur ab illis, de quibus exorituris dudum praemoniti fuerant, adeoque tam adversus errorum novitates, quam contra mundi concupiscentias eo magis sibi vigilandum sciant, quanto propius accedit finis horae novissimae, quando ad judicium venturus est Dominus. Nam hujus adventus infi-a meminit vers. penult.
Et sicut audistiSy quia Antichristus venit, et nunc Antichriati multi facti sunt. Venit, sp/STat, verbum praesentis temporis, sed habens significationem cujusdam futuri, id est ejus, quod in pro- JOANNIS. VERS. 18. cinctu est, ut veniat, quodque venire incipit. De quo Latine dicimus: adventat. Sic enim et de Elia dicitur Matth. 17.: sp;(£Tat, quod interpres ibi vertit: venturus est. Ita Christus, priusquam advenisset, vocabatur ipxo/^svoc;, interrogantibus eum discipulis Joannis Matth. 11.: Tu es j qui venturus es? id est: Tune es ille, qui exspectaris jamjam adfuturus? Igitur et hoc loco recte vertunt Erasmus et alii: Venturus est, pro quo aonnulli soloecismo quodam: debet venire, quod eodem recidit. Sed tamen, ut dixi, procinctus et praeparatio quaedam ad praesentiam adventus significatur, etsi temporis incerta sit mora. Nam et de die extremi judicii dicitur: Ipxexat^ 1 Thess. 5., veniet, ut ibi noster transtulit; quia nimirum ita venturus ille dies praedicitur, ut semper nobis esse debeat in exspectatione. Vide nostra in 4. dist. 47. Porro, quod ait: Audistis etc, tale est, ac si diceret: Traditum est vobis, ita estis edocti a nobis Christi Apostolis, scilicet Antichristum venturum esse. Ubi nota, traditionem esse Apostolicam, imo divinam, Apostolo teste, quod Antichristus venturus sit. Hoc enim Apostoli ut traderent, a Christo acceperunt, qui inter alia dixerat ad Judaeos: Ego veni in nomine Patris mei, et non accipitis me; si alius venerit in nomine suo, illum accipietis, Joan. 5. Quod ad nomen Antichristi attinet, quo significatur ad' versarius Christi, solus quidem Joannes sic eum nominat, hic et cap. 4.; caeterum qualis homo futurus sit, et quid acturus, exponit Paulus 2 Thess. 2., ac de eodem plura, sed obscure, scribit idem Joannes in sua Apocalypsi. Textus Apostoli videtur ordinandus et explicandus hoc modo: Sicut audistis, quod venturus sit Antichristus, ita tenete. Nam omnino venturus est; sed interim multijam Antichristi facti sunt. Graece: Ycyovaotv, exorti stint, venerunt, Erasmus: coeperunt esse. Tamquam dicat Apostolus: Unus quidem venturus est insignis adversarius Christi, cui proinde, per antonomasiam, nomen Antichristi debeatur; sed ille multos jam incepit Labere praecursores, eosdemque participatione nominis ejus Antichristos, quia, quod ille facturus est in universum, ut Christi nomen et gloriam exstinguat, hoc isti partibus faciunt, dum alius naturam ejus divinam negat, alius humanam, alius passionis ac mortis ejus, qua gloriam promeruit, veritatem, alii alia de eo falsa comminiscuntur. Haec enim qui faciunt, solvunt Christum, ut infra loquitur capite quarto, et ea peculiari ratione sunt Antichristi; cum alioqui generaliter omnis haereticus sit antichristus, quatenus scilicet doctrinae a Christo traditae partem aliquam oppugnat. Antichristi, hoc loco a Joanne notati, fuerunt Simon Magus, Basilides, Cerinthus, Ebion, Nicolaus Antiochenus, aliique id genus; quibus adde Hymenaeum et Philetum, dicentes, resurrectionem esse jam factam, 2 Tim. 2.
Unde scimus j quia novissima hora est. Ac si dicat: Ita praedictum fuit, in novissimis diebus esse venturos, qui falsas et Evangelio Christi contrarias doctrinas spargerent, id est haereticos; qui cum multi jam venerint, certo coUigimus, extremum tempus nunc agi.
2:19
19. Ex nobis prodierunt. Graece: I^^X^Vj exierunt. Significatur enim defectio, non origo. Occurrit Apostolus scandalo, quod nasci poterat ex eo, quod homines tam mali et perversi prodirent ex Ecclesia: tamquam illa pestes ejusmodi genuisset, ac sinu suo fovisset. Ad hoc respondet, ostendens, quomodo fuerint in Ecclesia, e qua dicuntur egressi, et quomodo in ea non fuerint. Ex nohiSj inquit, exierunt, hoc est, ex Ecclesia fidelium seu Christianorum per haeresim egressi sunt, nolentes Ecclesiam audire, et ab ea semet ipsos separantes, cum prius in ea essent, utpote fidei professione et Sacramentorum communione Christiani; sive simulati fuerint, externa specie gerentes se pro veris Christianis; sive revera tales fuerint, animo tenentes, quod exterius profitebantur. Nam et Simon magus a Philippo baptizatus fuit, Act. 8., et Nicolaus in diaconum ab Apostolis electus, Act. 6., et Hymenaeus et Philetus in magna domo, quae est Ecclesia, fuerunt, 2 Tim. 2., et Cerinthum in numero fidelium aliquando fuisse, docet Epiphanius haer. 28. Utrum autem omnes isti vere et ex animo prius fideles fuerint, an vero vel omnes, vel eorum aliqui ficta fide et duplici corde fuerint Ecclesiam ingressi, novit scrutator cordium Deus. Probabile tamen est, quosdam vera fide praeditos fuisse. Sic enim de talibus loquitur Apostolus 1 Tim. 4., quod in novissimis temporibus discedunt quidam a fide, et ejusdem Epistolae cap. 1., quod bonam conscientiam quidam repellentes, circa fidem naufragaverunt j et 2 Tim. 2., quod Hymenaeus ct Philetus a veritate exciderunt. Calvinus, ut novitium dogma de fide speciali sustineat, vult, neminem illorum veram ac solidam fidem habuisse; sed allata testimonia obstant. Hi tamen omnes, ut de Ecclesia manifeste exirent, prius occulte haeretici in Ecclesia fuerunt. Hoc enim est, quod dicit Joannes: Ex nobis exierunt. Unde satis liquet, haereticos occultos secundum quendam modum esse in Ecclesia, donec inde vel ejiciantur, vel ipsi palam sese separent.
Sed non erant ex nobis. Hoc duobus modis intelligi potest. Primum, ut dicantur ex nobis non fuisse, quia, quamvis inter nos ac nobiscum versarentur, Christiana nobiscum Sacramenta participantes, non erant tamen do numero verorum Christi fidelium, sed fidem simulabant. Quo fere sensu tractat hunc locum Augustinus in commentario; quem et Beda sequitur. Aliter et melius, ut sensus sit: Non erant ex nobis, id est, de numero electorum, sive de Ecclesia, qua parte continet electos, qui soli sunt Ecclesiae membra semper mansura. Quem sensum idem Augustinus alibi tradit, ac pluribus explicat; ut libro de corrept. et gratia, cap. 9., et de dono persev. cap. 8. Si quaeras, unde Joannes sciverit, eos, de quibus loquitur, non fuisse electos: respondetur, id eum novisse, non certa de singulis scientia, sed probabili. Erant enim haeresiarchae et errorum magistri primarii, et, ut Joannes eos appellat, Antichristi, quorum aliquem ad Ecclesiae fidem et unitatem aliquando reverti, rarissimum est. De multis autem indistincte et in genere Joannes id certo sciebat ex Spiritu, quo dictante haec scribebat. Sensum posteriorem probat hoc, quod sequitur:
Nam si fuissent ex nobis, permansissent utique nobiscum. Hoc est: Si fuissent ex electorum numero, ab Ecclesia non recessissent, sed in ea permansissent 5 aut certe, quod in talibus rarissimum est, ad eam rediissent, aut redirent aliquando, permansuri in ea. Ratio manifesta; nam qui in Ecclesia non permanent, sed ab ea recedunt numquam redituri, per hoc ipsum ostendunt, ad electorum numerum se non pertinere. Objiciet aliquis, incongruum videri, quod particulam: ex nobis, non uno modo interpretemur; sed prius de Ecclesia, postea de electis. Respondeo, congruenter, atque ex mente Joannis sic exponi. Latet enim in ejus verbis correctio quaedam rhetorica; quasi dicat: Fuerunt aliquando nostri, sed recesserunt a nobis; imo vero numq^am fuerunt nostri. Nam si nostri fuissent, nobiscum permansissent. Ubi, quod dico: nostri, non sine gratia sermonis aliter et aliter accipitur; prius pro iis, qui sunt iu Ecclesia, deinde pro electis. Porro jam ex his patet, Joannem hoc loco non significare, quod in Ecclesia nulli sint reprobi; sed magis docere contrarium.
Sed ut manifesti sint, quoniam non sani omnes ex nobis. Graece: Sed ut manifesti fierent etc. Sensus autem est, Deum idcirco permittere hoc, quod de Anticbristis dixit: Ex nobis exierunt, ut manifesti fiant, et a fidelibus vitari possint; simul ut exitu suo nobis manifestum faciant, non omnes, qui in Ecclesia sunt, esse electos. Id vero propterea nobis manifestatur, ne, qui stare nobis videmur, altum sapiamus; sed ut timea- 1 mus, et cum timore salutem nostram ^ operemur. Itaque geminum bonum suorum electorum ex illo malo, scilicet egressu quorundam ex Ecclesia, Deus elicit; nempe ut et facilius illos vitent, et ut ipsi reddantur humiliores atque cautiores. Potest haec pars etiam intelligi, ut sit Graecismus in verbis istis: Sed ut manifesti fiant, non omnes esse ex nobis; id est, ut patefieret, quod non omnes, qui nobiscum sunt in Ecclesia, sint ex numero nostro, qui sumus electi. Juxta quem sensum, redditum etiam a Syro interprete, posterior tantum utilitas jam dicta significatur.
2:20
20. Sed vos unctionem habetis a Sancto, et nostis omnia. Sed vos, Graece: Et vos. Modeste excusat Apostolus, quod tam sollicite eos admoneat, quasi rudes ac ignaros, cum essent in doctrina Christiana dudum instructi. Non sum nescius, inquit, vos a Christo per ejus gratiam ac coeleste magisterium sufficienter edoctos esse, sic ut noveritis omnia, quae ad salutarem doctrinam pertinent: verum haec scribo vobis, ne sinatis vos ab eo, quod tenetis, abduci; sed ut, quemadmodum infra loquitur, quod audistis ab initio, in vobis permaneat; ac rursus, ut unctio, quam accepistis, maneat in vobis. Sanctum, intelligit Christum, qui per excellentiam Sanctus appellatur a Prophetis, et singulariter Sanctus Sanctorum a Daniele cap. 9., quemadmodum et Justus simili tropo vocatur Act. 7. et 22. Utrumque vero nomen Petrus conjunxit, Act. 3. dicens: Vos autem Sanctum et Justum negastis. Unctionis seu carismatis vocabulo gratia Spiritus saucti significatur, vel potius Ipse Spiritus sanctus, quo velut oleo spirituali mentes suorum fidelium Christus perfundit et irrigat, multiplicem eis gratiam largiendo, tum doctrinae et scientiae, tum sanctitatis et virtutum. Sumpta metaphora ab unctione corporali, qua consecrabantur olim reges et sacerdotes, utrique ad officium suum digne ot sancte exsequendum. Unde et Christiani reges et sacerdotes vocantur, 1 Pet. 1. et Apoc. 1. Convenienter autemsicloquitur: Vnctionem habetis a Sancto, id est a Christo, quia UDctio particijjata ab eo descendit, qui unctus est prae omnibus consortibus suis; nec unctus simpliciter Sanctus, sed Sanctus Sanctorum, uti Daniel testatur; ut qui Spiritus unctionem acceperit absque mensura, propter quod etiam antonomastice Christus, id est unctus vocatur. Praeterea Joannes, hujusmodi sermone fideles alloquens, voluit ex adverso ostendere, haereticos omnes spiritualis gratiae expertes esse, nec ad illum pertinere, qui Sanctus in Scripturis appellatur, sed ad eum potius, qui sanctitatis omnis est inimicuB. Quaeri potest, an hoc, quod dicit: Et nostis omnia, portineat ad omnes et singulos fideles. Responsio: Quamvis unusquisque fidelis, quatenus vere fidelis est, fide teneat omnia ad salutem necessaria, saltem implicite (uam alioqui fidelis non esset), non tamen ad sensum Ajiostoli, in unumquemque competere, quod omnia norit, et quod infra dicit: Non necesse habetis, ut aliquis doceat vos. Nam ejuscemodi verbis non simplex fides eorum, quae credenda sunt, significatur; sed scientia quaedam, qua et intelligantur aliquousque ea, quae fidei sunt, et idoneis rationibus explicentur. De qua scientia Paulus 1 Cor. 12. et 13. Dicendum proinde, haec et similia ab Apostolo dici, non ad singulos fideles, sed ad Ecclesias eorum, ad quos scribit; ac si diceret: Habetis Episcopos et presbyteros, quorum cura ac studio vestrae Ecclesiae satis instructae sunt, et instruuntur in iis, quae pertinent ad doctrinae Christianae veritatem.
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21. Non scripsi vobis quasi ignoran^ tibus veritatem, sed quasi scientibus eam. Quasi etc, Graece: quod non no^ vistis veritatem, sed quod novistis eam. Verum interpres noster sensum bene reddit, astipulante etiam Erasmo. Cohaeret haec pars praecedenti; quasi dicat: No~ stis omnia; et proinde non haec scripsi vobis quasi veritatis istarum rerum ignaris, sed potius tamquam scientibus; velut in memoriam vobis revocans ea, quae scitis, ut veritati perceptae firmiter adhaereatis. Et quia omne mendacium ex veritate non est. Clarius: Et scientes, quod nul^ lum mendacium ex veritate sit. Pendet enim ex eo, quod dixit: Scientibus eam. Eadem Joanni esse videntur, scire veritatem, et scire, quod nullum mendacium sit ex veritate; quemadmodum et infra repetit idem, dicens: Et verum est, et non est mendacium. Rectum enim, Philosopho teste, et sui index est et obliqui. Proinde cognita veritate, statim produntur errores contrarii. Si tamen aliquid est discriminis inter illa du3, dicemus, scire veritatem ad multos pertinere, qui non possint scientei' mendacium detegere et ostendere, veritati esse contrarium. Id enim Joanni est, ex veritate non esse, veritati contrarium esse. Minus enim dicit, plus volens intelligi. Mendacium autem vocat non quamvis falsitatem, sed antonomastice eam, quae sanae ac salutari doctrinae adversatur; ut patet ex eo, quod sequitur:
2:22
22. Quis est mendax, nisi is, qui ne~ gat, quoniam Jesus est Christus? In Graeco et Syriaco cum negatione legitur: Quoniam Jesus non est Christus. Et sie habent multi et probati codices Latini. Sic et Irenaei interpres reddidit lib. 3. cap. 18., et Beda legit in commentario. Sensus tamen utriusque lectionis idem est, eo quod Graecis et Syris duae negationes non plus faciunt saepenumero, quam una; nisi quod interdum negationi vehementiam addant. Mendacem intelligit, uti diximus, in doctrina religionis, quod in eo genere mendacium maxime periculosum et perniciosum sit. Neque sentit Apostolus, solos eos in doctrina religionis esse mendaces, qui negant Jesum esse Christum (erant enim illo tempore et aliarum haereseon magistri, de quibus Paulus et Petrus et Judas in suis Epistolis): sed hos caeteris esse pejores ac pestilentiores, significat ista loquendi forma; quomodo solemus dicere: Quae est impietas, si haec non est? Hoc igitur sensu dicit: Quis est mendax, si non ille, qui negat, Jesum esse Christum, dicendo: Jesus non est Christus? Et quidem Jesum esse Christum, negarunt Judaei. Verum de his Joannes non agit, sed de iis, qui sub nomine Christiano (quod omnes haeretici praetendunt) docebant, Jesum, Mariae filium, non esse Christum. Quales imprimis fuere Cerinthus et Ebion, jam exorti Joannis tempore; quales praeterea, quicumque Jesum solvebant, ut Apostolus loquitur infra cap. 4., id est, aliquid, ad naturam ejus pertinens, ei detrahebant, aut contrarium aliquid attribuebant, ut fecerunt alii in- Buper haeretici tempore Apostolorum, aut postea subsecuti. Qua de re infra cap. 4. V. 3. Et hi omnes admodum convenienter Antichristi vocantur, quia Christum ipsum destruere conati sunt. Ideo sequitur:
Hic est Antichristus, qui negat Patrem et Filium. Quidam suspicantur, his verbispraenuntiari Mahometum, tamquam insignem illum Antichristum, de quo aliquando venturo Scripturae loquuntur. Videtur enim haec pericope cum ea, quae sequitur: Omnis, qui negat Filiumy nec Patrem habet, in Mahometum aptissime quadrare, qui non uno loco sui Alcorani Filium negat, et feligionem Christianam ridet, quae doceat, Deum habere Pilium. Huc accedit, quod in Graeco dicitur: 6 avTtxpiOTO!;, cum articulo, quasi de illo singulari Antichristo sermo esset; quemadmodum superius articulum addidit, ubi dixit: Quia Antichristus venit, et infra cap. 4.: Et hic est Antichristus. Verum haec opinio, quae Mahometum facit Antichristum ilium in Scriptura praenuntiatum, ut alia nunc omittam, satis refellitur vel ex uno loco Pauli 2 Thess. 2. Nam quae ibi de Antichristo dicuntur, in Mahometum minime competunt, qui nec Deum se venditavit, sed Dei Prophetam; nec fuit adventus ejus in omni virtute et signis et prodigiis mendacibus. Po- Btremo, nec a Judaeis receptus est. Alii sentiunt, Joannem hic loqui de vero Antichristo, qui adhuc exspectatur; et sengum hujus partis esse dicunt, hoc (iuil. Elstii Comm. Tom. IIT. unum fore ex principalibus Antichristianae doctrinae capitibus, negare Patrem et Filium; idque fortasse, ut eo facilius tam Judaeos, quam Turcarum gentem ad se pertrahat; quorum isti jam olim a suo Mahometo didicerunt Filium e divinis tollere; Judaei vero Filium perpetuo negant, ex quo Filius Dei pro nostra salute descendit in terram. Negant, inquam, ea maxime causa, quod ille Filium Dei se praedicaverit. Ac videri potest Joannes ob id potissimum urgere fidem Patris et Filii, quod Judaei Patrem et Filium in divinis non agnoscerent. In quo quidem errore postea Mahometus se Judaeorum discipulum praebuit, ut et in circumcisione et aliis quibusdam. Aliorum porro sententia est, Joannem loqui de antichristis, id est, haereticis sui temporis, de quibus, nondum indicata eorum doctrina, jam dixerat: Nunc An~ tichristi multi facti sunt. Hac enim parte jam eos quasi digito monstrat, dicens: Hic est Antichristus, qui negat Patrem et Filium; ac si dicat: Quicumque hodie negat Patrem et Filium, Antichristus est, id est, ex eorum numero, quos paulo ante dixi Antichristos. Hic commentarius, quem tradit Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 15. et alii post eum, maxime convenit tam contextui, quam tempori Apostolico. Dicuntur enim haec praecipue contra Cerinthum Judaizantium principem, qui, referente Epiphanio, fabulabatur, Christum in specie columbae venisse in Jesum, et revelasse ei quendam ignotum Patrem. De quo Patre etiam Carpocratiani plurima commenti sunt. Dicit ergo Joannes, illos sibi frustra blandiri de Patre, qui Jesum negant esse Christum et Filium Dei. Non enim alium Dei Filium agnoscebant aut exspectabant Judaei, quam Christum seu Messiam sibi promissum. Unde Pontifex eorum dicebat ad Jesum: Adjuro te per Deum vivum, ut dicas nobis, si tu es Christus, Filius Deiy Matth. 26. Quare qui Jesum negabat Christum in lege promissum, ut Cerinthiani, consequenter eum Filium Dei negabi»t. Hinc est, quod Joannes in hac Epistola, potissime cap. 4. et 5., diligenter incalcat hanc doctrinam, Jesum esse Christum, Filium Dei. Et denique clausurus Epistolam dicit: Scimus, quoniam Filius Dei venit, scilicet ille ipse Messias exspectatus. Quod pro prioribus opinionibus adferebatur de articulo Graeco, nihil efficit. Constat enim, articulum frequenter a Graecis auctoribus usurpari sine emphasi, perinde atque si additus non esset.
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23. Omnis, qui negat Filium, nec Patrem habet. Ostendit, merito se dixisse: negat Patrem et Filium; quamvis illi, contra quos agit, non Patrem diserte negarent, sed Filium. Neque enim Pater a Filio separari potest, ut Filium quis neget, Patrem agnoscens ac fide retinens. Tta Dominus in Evangelio: Neque me scitis, neque Patrem meum. Si me sciretis, utique et Patrem meum sciretis, Joan. 8.; ei hoc est, quod sequitur:
Qui confitetur Filium, et Patrem habet. Id est: Qui confitetur, se credere Filium, is demum est, qui etiam Patrem fide tenet, alioqui Patrem non habiturus. Haec pars abest in Graecis, ac ne quidem ab Oecumenio lecta est; tametsi Latina constanter exhibent. Aliqui putant, annotatam a quopiam lectore, irrepsisse in contextum. At vero similius est, excidisse e Graecis codicibus oscitantia scriptoris, propter homoeoteleuton hujus partis cum praecedenti. Quod et in aliis similibus accidisse non raro, novimus. Estque hujus rei notabile exemplum infra cap. 5., ubi agitur de tribus testimonium dantibus. Certe legitur haec pars et in Syriaco, et in nonnuUis etiam Graecis, et apud Cjrillum lib. 9. in Joannem, cap. 40.
2:24
24. Vo8 quod audistis ab initio, in vobis permaneat. Graece: Vos igitur quod audistis, etc. Respicit enim ad id, quod dixit: Kon scripsi vobis quasi ignorantibus veritatem, sed quasi scientibus eam; ac si dicat: Nihil novum et inauditum aut incognitum vobis adfero; probe tenetis omnia; tantum moneo, ut doctrinam, quam ab initio, nobis Apostolis praedicantibus, audistis et accepistis, et hactenus tenetis, firmiter retineatis usque in finem; nec istis novis magistris novorum dogmatum satoribus aurem praebeatis. Sic et in 2. Epistola de eodem agens argumento: Hoc est mandatum, inquit, ut, quemadmodum audistis db initio, in eo ambuletis; quoniam multi seductores exierunt in mundum, qui non confitentur, Jesum Christum venisse in carnem. Hic est seductor et Antichristus. Docent hujusmodi admonitiones, ex antiquitate judicandum de veritate doctrinae; si videlicet ab initio praedicatae et fundatae fidei tradita sit, et tamquam fidele depositum per Episcoporum successiones ad nos transmissa. Qaod de suis dogmatibus, in quibus ab Ecclesia Catholica disseutinnt, sectarii docere non possunt. Vide, quae diximus ad illud Gal. 1.: Si quis vobis evangeli^ zaverit praeter id, quod accepistis, anathema sit.
Si in vobis permanserit, quod audistis ab initio, et vos in Filio et Patre manebitis. Hoc est: Si doctrinam ab initio vobis traditam retinueritis, permanebitis in societate et amicitia Dei Filii et Patris. Filium ante Patrem nominat, quiacontraeos agit, quiFilium negabant; simul ut insinuet, Filium non esse Patre minorem, ut qui interdum etiam ante Patrem nominetur. Tacet autem Spiritum sanctum, quia de eo non erat oborta quaestio. Notandum est, interpretem hic et alibi indifi^erenter uti vocabulis manere et permanere, cum in Graeco sit unum et simplex: ^svetv, manere.
2:25
25. Et haec est repromissio, quam Ipse poUicitus est nobis, vitam aeternam. Et pro quia positum vult Oecumenius. Cum enim dixisset Apostolus: In Filio et Patre manebitis, consequenter ostendit, quantum hoc bonum sit. Nam societas illa cum Patre et Filio, quando perfecta erit, vita aeterna erit credentibus promissa. Cujus promissi praemii commemoratione eos excitat ad perseverantiam. Est autem in verbis Apostoli duplex Hebraismus; prior in eo, quod actum posuit pro objecto, promissionem pro re promissa; alter antiptosi, qua casum obliquum posuit pro recto: vitam aeternam, id est, vita aeterna. Sensus enim est: Nam quod dixi, vos in Filio et Patre mansuros, merces est, nobis in tradita veritate permanentibus a Christo Domino promissa, vita scilicet aeterna. Dicit autem: nobis, ut, quemadmodum societate jam conjuncti erant cum sanctis Apostolis sicuti dixit cap. 1.: Ut et vos societatem habeatis nobiscum, ita et sperent cum iisdem praemii communicationem.
2:26
26. Haec scripsi vobis de his, qui seducunt vos. Pronomen haec demonstrat ea, quae scripsit ab illo loco: Filioli, novissima hora est. Haec, inquit, scripsi vobis de falsis magistris, qui conantur vos in errorem inducere doctrinae vobis ab initio traditae contrarium, eundemque pestiferum, et qui sempitemum vobis creet exitium.
2:27
27. Et vos unctionem, quam accepistis ab Eo, maneat in vobis. Rursus antiptosis est: Unctionem pro unctio; sicut in Evangelio: Sermonem, quem audistis, non est meus, Joan. 14., tametsi Graecum: t6 ypiGixa, ambiguum est ad utrumque casum, ut etiam unctio verti possit. Est autem syntaxeos ordinatio: Unctio, quam vos accepistis ab Eo, maneat in vobis. Vel, ut in Graeco: IxivBi, manet in vobis. Quem modum cnuntiativum etiam Oecumenio lectum fuisse, satis indicat ejus expositio. Juxta Latinam lectionem exhortatio est, ut perseverent in doctrinaSpiritus sancti (quam rursas unctionem vocat, eadem ratione, qua supra versu 20.), quem Spiritum sanctum a Christo Domino {Sancto ibidem nuncupato) acceperant. Quae sit autem ratio conservandae hujus unctionis, bene docet Hesselius in comment., ad quem mitto lectorem. Caeterum, juxta Graecos codices, iterum se excusat Apostolus, dicens, se non haec eis scribere, quasi veritatem ignorent; cum in se domesticam et manentem habeant unctionem a Domino suppeditatam; sed exhortandi causa. Quam exhortationem paulo post sua forma subjicit, admonens, ut in eo maneant, quod acceperunt. Igitur secundum Graecam lectionem Apostolus hoc loco repetit pluribus verbis id, quod supra dixit: Vos unctionem habetis a Sancto, et nostis omnia. Nam illam partem: unctionem habetis a Sancto, nunc velut exponit, cum ait: Unctio, quam accepistis ab eo, manet in vobis. Alterum vero: Nostis omnia, antecedens est ad hoc, quod seqaitur:
Et non necesse habetis, ut aliquis doceat vos. Eatenus doctore opus non habebant, quatenus omnia noverant. Quo autem sensu noverint omnia fideles ii, quibus haec scribit, suo loco declaratum est. Habebant enim Episcopos et presbyteros, a quibus instruebantur et continebantur in doctrina Apostolica; nec adhuc ab haereticis seducti erant, sed tenebant, quod acceperant. Proinde non opus habebant doctore, sicut opus habent vel rudes, vel seducti; rudes, ut discant, quod numquam sciverunt; seducti, ut redeant ad id, a quo desciverunt. Sed tamen adhuc opus habebant doctore, cujus opera retinerentur in doctrina prius accepta, atque in ea plenius instruerentur, et adversus errores ac deceptiones haereticorum munirentur. Locus similis est apud Paulum 1 Thess. 4.: De caritate fraternitatis, inquit, non necesse habemus scribere vobis. Ipsi enim vos a Deo didicistis, ut diligatis invicem. Etenim illud facitis in omnes fratres, etc. Quos tamen, ut amplius id faciant, hortatur, ita subjungens: Rogamus autem vos, fratres, ut abundetis magis, etc. Jam igitur patet, ex his et superioribus Joannis Apostoli verbis non esse consequens (quod hodie sectarii docent), Spiritum sanctum ita cuilibet adesse Christiano, ut vel externo ministerio doctoris omnino non egeat, vel ipse per se judicare possit de quibuscumque fidei Christianae controversiis. Non enim singulis fidelibus tribuit Joannes omnia nosse, et alio, qui doceat, opus non'^habere; nisi juxta sensum jam explicatum,
Sed sicut unctio ejus docet vos de omnibus. Variant Graeci codices. Nam plerique legunt: t6 auTO XP^^I^^} *psa unctio, pro quo Syriace: illa unctio; in paucis autem legitur: t6 auTOU X9^,Q\Lai., ipsius unctio, nempe Christi Domini, quod cum vulgata versione convenit; atque hoc modo legit etiam Augustinus. Hanc partem, velut imperfectam, libri quidam excusi supplent, addendo: ita faciatis, quod ipsum enarratores fere supplent exponendo. Hesselius sententiam perficit hoc modo: Sed hoc tantum ago, ut, sicut unctio vos docet de omnibu.s, et sicut imbuti estis, in eo maneatis. Verum hujusmodi supplementis fortasse non opus est, ut ex sequentibus apparebit.
Et verum est, et non est mendacium. Illud nimirum, quod unctio vos docet. Et sensus est: Id, quod docet vos unctio semel accepta, veritas est, non falsitas; vera doctrina, non falsa, qualem vobis adferunt et obtrudunt novi magistri. Posset etiam ex Graeco verti: Et vera est, scilicet unctio; sed non valde respondet alterum membrum: Et non est mendacium. Quamquam Augustinus utrumque legit adjective: Et verax est, et non est mendax; ut sensus sit: Unctionem, id est Spiritum sanctum, in omnibus, quae docet, veracem esse, sine falsitatis admixtione.
Et sicut docuit vos, manete in Eo. Vel: in ea, ut ad unctionem (Graece Xpiofia) referatur. Nec est in Graecis plerisque: jjisvsts, manete; sed /isvsTts^ manebitis, quod tamen idem valeat. Nam Hebraeis frequens est, uti futuris indicativi pro imperativis; ut: Non occides. Et mox commutat in verbum imperativum: jisvsTS. Completur autem hac parte (quantum mihi videtur) periodus ab illo initio: Sed sicut unctio etc, media tamen parenthesi \ ut tota distincte legatur hoc modo: Sed, sicut unctio ejus docet V08 de omnibus (et verum est, et non est mendacium), et sicut docuit vos, ma~ nete in eo. Quae sententia absoluta est, ut jam appareat, in priore parte non fuisse quaerendum supplementum. Additiuncula B. P. Fortassis expeditius est, periodum claudere sine ulla parenthesi, proxime ante illa verba: et sicut docuit vos, manete in eo; ut haec sit nova per se periodus, priori illi velut copulata, sed potius ex ea, secundum sensum, illata hoc modo: Sicut unctio ejus docet vos de omnibus, ita se habet salutaris veritas, nihilque in hac ad salutem pertinente doctrina, qua unxit mentes vestras Christus Do" minus, est vel minimae falsitatis. Itaque sicut docuit vos, manebitis in eo, scilicet, quod vos docuit. Quae exhortatio proximis deinde verbis inculcatur vers. 28. Monet ergo S. Joannes, ut in unctione, sive in doctrina per unctionem accepta, tamquam indubitate vera, permaneant. Utitur autem verbo tam praesentis, quam praeteriti temporis: docet et docuit, ut innuat, doctrinam ac magisterium Spiritus saucti in Ecclesia esse perpetuum, nec ita abire in praeteritum, ut aliquando desinat. Datus est enim Ecclesiae Spmtus veritatis, ut maneat cum ea in aeternum, Joan. 14.
2:28
28. Et nunc, filioli, manete in eo. Repetitio est praecepti cum blanda appellatione, qua paternum erga eos amorem declaret. Nam praeter suavissimum no* men filiolorum, etiam illud: nunc, obsecrandi particula est, respondens Hebraeorum: na, quo illi utuntur in suo hosiahna. Illo vero: nunc, utuntur et linguae vulgares tamquam interjectione blandientis aut obsecrantis. Quidam: in eo, exponunt, in Christo, propter illud, quod sequitur: JJt, cum apparuerit, nempe Christus. Sed hoc non urget, ut alio referatur ea particula, quam quo referebatur in versu proxime praecedente, id est ad unctionem, aut potius ad id, quod doctum fuerat. Nam ad Christum illic etiam referri, minus probabile est. XJt, cum apparuerit, habeamus fiduciam. Fructum ac praemium oatendit perseverantiae, nempe fiduciam habere vitae promissae, cum apparuerit e coelo veniens Christus ad judicium. Nam Christi mentio praecessit sub nomine Filii, qui pollicitus sit nobis vitam aeternam, Potest autem haec fiducia dupliciter exponi. Nam vel intelligitur fiducia, quam nunc habemus in illud tempus, quo Christus apparebit. Spes enim et fiducia proprie est hujus saeculi; nam in altero saeculo spes in rem convertitur. Vel sensus est: Ut intrepidi, magnaque cum animi constantia stemus coram Judice Christo. Qui sensus congruit cum membro sequente, necnon cum eo, quod paulo post dicitur: Cum apparuerit, si~ miles ei erimus; item cum eo, quod dicit B. Petrus 1 Epist. 5.: Cum apparuerit princeps pastorum, percipietis immarcescibilem gloriae coronam. Sed mox adferemus et tertium seasum.
Et non confundamur ab Eo in adventu Ejus. Dicuntur confundi, id est, pudefieri a Christo judice in adventu ejus, quorum in illo judicio peccata a judice propalabuntnr, quique pro illis ab eo recepturi sunt ignominiam aeternam. Verum hoc loco scrupulus est, quomodo Joannes, exhortans fideles ad perseverantiam verbo secundae personae: manete, statim personam mutet, se ipsum comprehendens in eo, quod subjungit: Ut habeamus fiduciam, et non confundamur etc, cum sermonis serios postulet, dicendum esse: Ut habeatis fiduciam, et non confundamini; aut certe ipso etiam exhortandi verbo se ipsum comprehendere deberet, ac dicere: Et nunc maneamus in eo. Responderi posset, personae in eadem oratione mutationem non esse inusitatam in Scripturis apostolicis. Veruntamen nescio, an in eorum scriptis ulla talis exstet personae mutatio, qualis hoc loco. Nam incongruum videtur ita loqui, ut conjungas te aliis in praemio, et disjungas in labore. Praeterquam quod verba sic sonant, ac si ipsis etiam Apostolis opus esset commonitione ad manendum in doctrina Apostolica, ut fiduciam habeant, et non confundantur in adventu Christi judicis. Igitur ut germaniorem Apostoli sensura assequamur, videtur mihi locus iste conferendus cura faltero ejusdem Apostoli, qui est iu 2 Epist., ubi secundum Graecam lectionem, ad Electam dominam et natos ejus sic loquitur: Videte vosmet ipsos, ne perdamus, quae operati sumus, sed ut mercedem plenam recipiamus. Quo loco significat Joannee, Evangelii ministros ac praedicatores perdere labores suos, nec plenam a Deo recipere mercedem, si illi, quibus praedicant, vel credere nolint, vcl a fide suscepta recedant. Quod sine dubio ad praemium accidentale referendum est, non ad essentiale. Non enim de illorum salute gavisuri sunt, quos ad salutem non perduxerint, interim tamen de essentiali praemio nihil perdituri. Similis est locus Heb. 13., ubi, cum eis praecepisset Apostolus, ut suis praepositis obediant, ita subjungit*. Ipsi enim pervigilant, quasi rationem pro animabus vestris reddituri-, ut cum gaudio hoc faciant, et non gementes. Vide nostrum ejus loci commentarium. Erit igitur et hujus loci sensus istiusmodi: Manete, perseverate in doctrina a nobis Apostolis accepta; ut, cum Christus ad judicandum venerit, rationem nostrae legationis a nobis exacturus, non afliciamur pudore propter vos discipulos nostros, si in eo, quod tradidimus, non permanseritis; sed ut cum gaudio et fiducia, id est, intrepida ac secura libertate (id enim vox Graeca 7:apprjoia significat) vos Christo judici sistaraus, propter fidem doctrinae nostrae adhibitam et in ea perseveranti<am electis aggregandos, simulque cum eis aeternae vitae praemio remunerandos. Requirit autem hic census sanam intelligentiam, quam ad dictum locum Epistolae ad Hebraeos ostendimus. Non enim periculum est. ne in Dei judicio malitia auditorum imputetur doctoribus ac praedicatoribus, officio suo rite et integre perfunctis; sed metaphoricus est sermo, quo significatur, eos, quorum praedicationem fructus speratus (propter auditorum malitiam) non consequitur, gaudio quodam caritnros, quod eis obvenisset, si auditores obedientes et perseverantes habuissent. Quod gaudium Theologi vocant accidentale. Metaphora sumpta est ab eo, quod accidit in rebus humanis; ubi rubore suffunduntur dispensatores, qui damna dominorum suorum in rationes referre coguntur, etiamsi fuerint extra culpam.
2:29
29. Si scitiSj quoniam justus est, scitote, quoninm et omnis, qui facit justitiam, ex Ipso natus est. Post admonitionem de antichristis fngiendis, transit Apostolus ad describendos veros Dei filios, et in eo immoratur toto seq. cap. Ut proinde, quemadmodum bene Cajetanus observat, ab hoc loco sumi deberet initium tertii capitis. Summa autem doctrinae est, eos esseDei filios, utique per adoptionem, qui juste vivendo et mandata Dei servando, reddunt se Deo similes. Si scitis, inquit, hoc est, cum sciatis (est enim res indubitabilis), Deum seu Christwn (nam de Christo proxime locutus sime justam, qui et factus est nobis justitia et sanctificatio, 1 Cor. 1., illud etiam scitote, quod omnis, qui operatur justitiam, id est, quicumque juste vivit, sit ejus filius, atque ex ipso natus. Haec enim est secunda nativitas hominis, quam Scripturae regenerationem vocant, qua renascitur in Christo atque ex Christo tamquam ex secundo Adam ad justitiam, qui prima nativitate fuerat natus ex primo Adam ad iniquitatem, secundum illud: Ecce, in iniquitatibus conceptus sum etc. Significat hac sententia Apostolus, omne opus justitiae proficisci non ex viribus naturae, quas ex prima nativitate accepimus, sed ex Christo, nostrae regenerationis auctore. Quaeri hic posset, quomodo verum sit, omnem eum, qui facit justitiam, esse Dei filium; cum multi, tam catechumeni, quam post lapsum poenitentes, opera justitiae exerceant, nondum regenerati aut reconciliati. proindeque nec filii Dei. Sed eam rem differemus usque ad illum locum sequentis capitis huic similem^: Qui facit justitiam, justus est, sicut et ille justus est.
2:1
In the New Testament itself, the apostles Paul, Peter and John presuppose or attest the reality of the Ascension or of the presence of the glorified humanity of Christ in heaven (I Thess. 1:10; Eph. 1:20-22; 4:10; 6:9; especially Hebr. 9:24 [and 7:27; 8:1; 10:12; etc.]; I Pt. 3:22; I Io. 2:1). The testimonies are more than sufficient to compensate for the silence of Matthew, who preferred to close his Gospel with the appearance in Galilee of Jesus who sends the apostles …
a) Contribution of the Head. — Christ the Redeemer made satisfaction for all our sins with a satisfaction that was condign, superabundant and infinite; he merited for us justification and all supernatural gifts; he prayed (John 17:6-26) and continues to pray for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1); he left to the Church, which he instituted, as means of holiness and eternal salvation: true faith, sacrifice, the Sacraments; he gave us (which is a new title for us) his own mother …
… And in heaven he eternally continues his impetratory intercession with God for men: "always being alive, so as to be able to intercede in their favor" (Hebr. 7:24; cf. Io. 14:16; Rom. 8:34; I Io. 2:1-2).
14:16 ff.; cf. 1 Jn. 2:1). He attributes to the p. the office
… Some theologians affirm it, basing themselves on Io. 14, 16; I Io. 2, 1; Rom. 8, 39; Hebr. 7, 25.
… Jesus' conception of his messianic kingdom is universalistic: he commanded the Apostles to preach the Gospel to all nations (Mt. 28:18); he is the light that enlightens every man (Jn. 1:9); he died for all (I Jn. 2:1-2, cf. 4:10; I Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; II Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 5:15-19).
2:2
… sacrifice: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29); and in Rev. 5:8: "You are worthy, O Lord, to take the book and to open its seals, because you were slain and have redeemed us for God with your blood"; I Jn. 2:2: "And he is the propitiation (ἱλασμός) for our sins." But St. John broadens the idea of the Redemption by reconnecting it to the whole life of the Incarnate Word, which is manifestation …
2:3
is perfect" (1 Jn. 2:3-6; 2 Jn. 6; cf. Mt. 5:19; 7:21-23; 12:46-50; Lk. 11:27-28). Such recommendations, proportionate to the attraction exercised over them, prevented those whom Christ had constituted his …
2:4
John, Apostle, Evangelist, Saint
… περιπατεῖν ἐν σκοτίᾳ (νυκτί), παράκλητος, ἁμαρτία, τεκνίον (and Gal. 4:19), τιθέναι ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ (I Jn. 3:16; Jn. 10:11, 17 f., 15:13). Other terms and phrases occur commonly: ποιεῖν τὴν ἀλήθειαν (I Jn. 1:6 = Jn. 8:44); οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐν τινι (I Jn. 1:8; 2:4 = Jn. 8:44); ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας εἶναι (I Jn. 2:21 = Jn. 18:37); ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου εἶναι (I Jn. 3:8 = Jn. 8:44); ἐκ θεοῦ εἶναι (I Jn. 3:4, 1 = Jn. 7:17; 8:47); ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου εἶναι (I Jn. …
2:7
… Moreover, his charge to the faithful coincides with theirs: he refers back to the teaching of the first years: quod fuit ab initio (1 Jn. 1:1-4; 2:7; 2 Jn. 5); he recommends that they not believe in purported promptings or revelations of the Holy Spirit: Nolite omni spiritui credere, sed probate spiritus si ex Deo sint. …
2:8
John, Apostle, Evangelist, Saint
… = Jn. 3:31); τῆς γῆς, ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἐν τῷ σκότει περιπατεῖν (I Jn. 2:11 = Jn. 8:12; 12:35). Likewise "life" (α) is Christ (Jn. 1:4; [6:48]; 11:25; 14:6 = I Jn. 1:1 f.; 5:11, 20); the "light" φῶς is God and Christ (Jn. 1:4, 5, 7; 3:19 = I Jn. 1:5, 7; 2:8).
2:11
John, Apostle, Evangelist, Saint
… Jn. 2:21 = Jn. 18:37); ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου εἶναι (I Jn. 3:8 = Jn. 8:44); ἐκ θεοῦ εἶναι (I Jn. 3:4, 1 = Jn. 7:17; 8:47); ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου εἶναι (I Jn. 4:5 = Jn. 3:23); ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου λαλεῖν (I Jn. 4:5 = Jn. 3:31); τῆς γῆς, ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ, ἐν τῷ σκότει περιπατεῖν (I Jn. 2:11 = Jn. 8:12; 12:35). Likewise "life" (α) is Christ (Jn. 1:4; [6:48]; 11:25; 14:6 = I Jn. 1:1 f.; 5:11, 20); the "light" φῶς is God and Christ (Jn. 1:4, 5, 7; 3:19 = I Jn. 1:5, 7; 2:8).
2:15
All the faithful are called to holiness, at least in a general way. This truth is established by Sacred Scripture (Mt. 5:48; Lk. 14:25; Phil. 4:8; I Cor. 7:29-31; Eph. 1:4; II Tim. 3:10; I Pt. 1:15; I Io. 2:15; Apoc. 22:11), by the holy Fathers (St. Augustine, Sermo 96, 7; PL. 38, 588; St. Basil, Sermo de renunciatione saeculi; PG 31, 628), by constant tradition (cf. Pius XI: AAS, 15 [1922], …
… In this mystical perspective time does not count: Paul and the "perfect," immersed in the absolute, saw on earth only the precariousness (I Cor. 7:29-31; I Pet. 4:7; I John 2:15-18) of men and of events (B. Allo [v. bibl.], pp. 180-83). And Christians are united from now on, living with Christ, to his p. which will also be the p. of his faithful (Col. 5:4; Heb. …
2:16
… Some foundation for a logical classification may have been provided by the following texts: Sir. 10:15; 1 Tim. 6:9-10; 1 John 2:16. In fact, the first writers who attempt a classification place pride as the first universal source, on the basis of Sirach (10:15). …
… which, generally adopted in the form of vows, constitute the basis of the "religious state" (can. 487): voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity and perfect obedience, in opposition to the three concerns which in corrupted human nature become sources of sin (I Io. 2, 16). The evangelical counsels were limited to three in the Middle Ages, with reference to St. Gregory the Great (In Ezech. hom., II, 8, 18).
concupiscence appears as the sin most characteristic of this world (v. I John 2:16), while it is awaited, from the world to come, that the evil inclination be uprooted or sealed (v. IV Ezra 8:53 [Vulgate], in the edition of B. Violet, p. 120. On the end of the jezer …
Mortification presupposes a personal commitment to overcome the world condemned by Jesus Christ (John 17:9-16) and constituted by the "concupiscences of the eyes and of the flesh, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16), rooted in every man. In order to avoid sin and to advance in the perfect moral life, it is therefore necessary to fight and overcome very many inclinations, which arise from a nature …
… The entire "world" (in a pejorative sense: Io. 1:10; 7:7; 15:18; 16:20; 17:9-16; I Io. 2:16; 5:19; Mt. 18:7; Gal. 6:14) is subject to S. because of the extreme sharpening of the ontological-ethical dilemma (God or nothingness, life or death, holiness or iniquity) tending …
2:18
… coming of Christ, around whom the human struggle and drama unfold (death or life, perdition or salvation), and extends until his final parousia: therefore from the presence of the Antichrist one must deduce that we are at the last stage of the world (1 Io. 2:18). But only the parousia of the Antichrist with the consequent "apostasy" will be the sign of the imminent end (II Thess. 2:3-12).
… Jesus Christ has his apostles, he has his "antichrists," "who are many" (1 John 2:18) and are zealous in sustaining the effort of their head who tries to supplant God, to put himself in his place, and to make himself adored (1 John 2:18-22; 2 Thess. 2:3-12. Cf. A. …
Epistles I-II to the Thessalonians
… 18:8, it is a question of the defections that occurred in the Church of Palestine: Hebr. 6:4 ff.; 10:26-28; cf. Mt. 24:13; Lk. 21:19; Hebr. 10:36) and the lawless one, the damned one, the adversary has been manifested (or 'the antichrist': cf. I Jn. 2:18-22: it is the synagogue in the collective sense, the Zealots, their leaders, or in particular one of these), he who opposes God and exalts himself (phrases taken from Dan. 11:36; cf. …
Luke 1:32 f.). This is the conception of the entire New Testament: the messianic time is called: καιρός ἔσχατος (1 Pet. 1:5, 20; Jude 18; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18); πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου (Gal. 4:4); τῶν καιρῶν (Eph. 1:10); τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰώνων (1 Cor. 10:11); συντέλεια τῶν αἰώνων (Heb. 9:26; cf. F. Spadafora, Ezechiele, Turin 1948, pp. 280 f., 291 …
economy, has ceased (II Cor. 5:17; Heb. 8:13); we are near the "end of all things" of the world (Heb. 10:25, 37; Jas. 5:8; I Pet. 4:7; I John 2:18). When the Apostles proclaim "the Lord is near" (Phil. 4:5; Rom. 13:11; Jas. 5:8; Rev. 3:20), it is a matter of a spatial-spiritual nearness rather than a temporal one; it is the presence …
2:20
all that I have said to you ». St. John adds (1 Jn. 2:20): « You, my children, have received the anointing from the Holy One and know all things ».
2:21
John, Apostle, Evangelist, Saint
… ἁμαρτία, τεκνίον (and Gal. 4:19), τιθέναι ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ (I Jn. 3:16; Jn. 10:11, 17 f., 15:13). Other terms and phrases occur commonly: ποιεῖν τὴν ἀλήθειαν (I Jn. 1:6 = Jn. 8:44); οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀλήθεια ἐν τινι (I Jn. 1:8; 2:4 = Jn. 8:44); ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας εἶναι (I Jn. 2:21 = Jn. 18:37); ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου εἶναι (I Jn. 3:8 = Jn. 8:44); ἐκ θεοῦ εἶναι (I Jn. 3:4, 1 = Jn. 7:17; 8:47); ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου εἶναι (I Jn. 4:5 = Jn. 3:23); ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου λαλεῖν (I Jn. 4:5 …
2:22
… The central theme of apostolic preaching is that Jesus is the Ch., from Peter (Act. 2:36) and Paul (Act. 9:22; 17:3; 18:5, 28) to John (Io. 20:31; I Io. 2:22; 5:1; II Io. 7, 9). The polemic on this point burns against the Jews, who awaited the Ch. (Io. 1:20, 25, 41; 3:28; Lc. 3:15), suspected that it was Jesus (Io. 4:29; 7:26 ff. …
… It is a spirit of falsehood, he explains, like Paul, an antichrist, whoever alters the doctrine about Jesus: qui soluit Christum (1 Jn. 4:1-6; 2:22-25; 1 Cor. 12:3). "If anyone does not bring you the word of Christ, do not receive him into your house, do not greet him" (2 Jn. 7, 11).
2:24
… by mandate and indefectible divine assistance (Mt. 28, 18-20; Mk. 16, 15-16; Jn. 14, 16 ff.; 15, 26; 17, 18-20; I Cor. 1, 17; II Cor. 5, 20; I Tim. 3, 14 ff.), every man must fully adhere to it (Mk. 16, 16; Rom. 1, 5; II Cor. 10, 4; I Jn. 2, 24), nor ever give ear to contrary doctrines (Rom. 6, 16; Gal. 1, 8; II Jn. 1, 10) under penalty of shipwreck in the faith (I Tim. 1, 19). In these simple propositions: there …
… Now the mission and power of Christ had as their object the preaching of the doctrine received from the Father: cf. Mt. 18:18; 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16, 20; Lk. 10:16; Rom. 1:5; I Cor. 1:17; II Cor. 5:20; 10:4; I Tim. 1:19; I Jn. 2:24; II Jn. 1:10.
The Evangelist John handed down to us the evocative title of the Savior, which he learned "from the beginning" at the moment of his vocation (Jn. 1:36; cf. 1 Jn. 1:1; 2:24), and made it the scenic pivot of the Apocalypse, where the living symbol of the Lamb (= Jesus) occurs 28 times (always τὸ ἀρνίον). …
2:28
… The "coming with power and glory" (Mt. 24:30) of Jesus is called p. by St. Paul 7 times (I Cor. 15:23 and 6 times in I-II Thess., besides the p. of the Antichrist in II Thess. 2:9), by Jas. 5:7, 8, by II Pt. 1:16; 3:4, 12, by I Jn. 2:28, and by Mt. 24:3, 27, 37, 39. Equivalent to it are the terms: "day [of the Lord or Christ]" (17 times in St. Paul: Acts 2:20; I Pt. 3:10, 12; Apoc. 16:14), "manifestation" …
2:29
… With an even stronger term, St. John in his I Letter calls Christians "born of God," having within themselves a seed of him (σπέρμα αὐτοῦ: I Io. 3:9; cf. ibid., 2:29; 3:13; 4:7 and P. De Ambroggi, op. cit., p. 227).
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Rheims 1582), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.