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Selected Verse: 1 John 1:6 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Jo 1:6 |
King James |
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
say--profess.
have fellowship with him-- (Jo1 1:3). The essence of the Christian life.
walk--in inward and outward action, whithersoever we turn ourselves [BENGEL].
in darkness--Greek, "in the darkness"; opposed to "the light" (compare Jo1 2:8, Jo1 2:11).
lie-- (Jo1 2:4).
do not--in practice, whatever we say.
the truth-- (Eph 4:21; Joh 3:21). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
If we say that we have fellowship uith him - If we reckon ourselves among his friends, or, in other words, if we profess to be like him: for a profession of religion involves the idea of having fellowship with God, (compare the notes at Jo1 1:3), and he who professes that should be like him.
And walk in darkness - Live in sin and error. To "walk in darkness" now commonly denotes to be in doubt about our religious state, in contradistinction from living in the enjoyment of religion. That is not, however, probably the whole idea here. The leading thought is, that if we live in sin, it is a proof that our profession of religion is false. Desirable as it is to have the comforts of religion, yet it is not always true that they who do not are not true Christians, nor is it true by any means that they intend to deceive the world.
We lie - We are false professors; we are deceived if we think that we can have fellowship with God, and yet live in the practice of sin. As God is pure, so must we be, if we would be his friends. This does not mean necessarily that they meant to deceive, but that there was an irreconcilable contradiction between a life of sin and fellowship with God.
And do not the truth - Do not act truly. The profession is a false one. Compare the notes at Joh 3:22. To do the truth is to act in accordance with truth; and the expression here means that such an one could not be a Christian. And yet how many there are who are living in known sin who profess to be Christians! How many whose minds are dark on the whole subject of religion, who have never known anything of the real peace and joy which it imparts, who nevertheless entertain the belief that they are the friends of God, and are going to heaven! They trust in a name, in forms, in conformity to external rites, and have never known anything of the internal peace and purity which religion imparts, and in fact have never had any true fellowship with that God who is light, and in whom there is no darkness at all. Religion is light; religion is peace, purity, joy; and though there are eases where for a time a true Christian may be left to darkness, and have no spiritual joy, and be in doubt about his salvation, yet still it is a great truth, that unless we know by personal experience what it is to walk habitually in the light, to have the comforts of religion, and to experience in our own souls the influences which make the heart pure, and which bring us into conformity to the God who is light, we can have no true religion. All else is but a name, which will not avail us on the final day. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
If we say (ἐὰν εἴπωμεν)
The subjunctive mood puts the case as supposed, not as assumed.
Walk in the darkness
The phrase occurs only in John's Gospel and First Epistle. Darkness here is σκότος, instead of σκοτία (Jo1 1:5). See on Joh 1:5. Walk (περιπατῶμεν), is, literally, walk about; indicating the habitual course of the life, outward and inward. The verb, with this moral sense, is common in John and Paul, and is found elsewhere only in Mar 7:5; Act 21:21.
We lie and do not the truth
Again the combination of the positive and negative statements. See on Jo1 1:5. The phrase to do the truth occurs only in John's Gospel and First Epistle. See on Joh 3:21. All walking in darkness is a not doing of the truth. "Right action is true thought realized. Every fragment of right done is so much truth made visible" (Westcott). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| If we say - Either with our tongue, or in our heart, if we endeavour to persuade either ourselves or others. We have fellowship with him, while we walk, either inwardly or outwardly, in darkness - In sin of any kind. We do not the truth - Our actions prove, that the truth is not in us. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
If we say that we have fellowship - Having fellowship, κοινωνια, communion, with God, necessarily implies a partaking of the Divine nature. Now if a man profess to have such communion, and walk in darkness - live an irreligious and sinful life, he lies, in the profession which he makes, and does not the truth - does not walk according to the directions of the Gospel, on the grace of which he holds his relation to God, and his communion with him.
The Gnostics, against whose errors it is supposed this epistle was written, were great pretenders to knowledge, to the highest degrees of the Divine illumination, and the nearest communion with the fountain of holiness, while their manners were excessively corrupt. |
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.