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Selected Verse: 1 John 5:2 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Jo 5:2 |
King James |
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. |
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] |
By--Greek, "In." As our love to the brethren is the sign and test of our love to God, so (John here says) our love to God (tested by our "keeping his commandments") is, conversely, the ground and only true basis of love to our brother.
we know--John means here, not the outward criteria of genuine brotherly love, but the inward spiritual criteria of it, consciousness of love to God manifested in a hearty keeping of His commandments. When we have this inwardly and outwardly confirmed love to God, we can know assuredly that we truly love the children of God. "Love to one's brother is prior, according to the order of nature (see on Jo1 4:20); love to God is so, according to the order of grace (Jo1 5:2). At one time the former is more immediately known, at another time the latter, according as the mind is more engaged in human relations or in what concerns the divine honor" [ESTIUS]. John shows what true love is, namely, that which is referred to God as its first object. As previously John urged the effect, so now he urges the cause. For he wishes mutual love to be so cultivated among us, as that God should always be placed first [CALVIN]. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
By this we know that we love the children of God ... - This is repeating the same truth in another form. "As it is universally true that if we love Him who has begotten us, we shall also love His children, or our Christian brethren, so it is true also that if we love His children it will follow that we love Him." In other places, the apostle says that we may know that we love God if we love those who bear His image, Jo1 3:14. He here says, that there is another way of determining what we are. We may have undoubted evidence that we love God, and from that, as the basis of an argument, we may infer that we have true love to His children. Of the fact that we may have evidence that we love God, apart from that which we derive from our love to His children, there can be no doubt. We may be conscious of it; we may find pleasure in meditating on His perfections; we may feel sure that we are moved to obey Him by true attachment to Him, as a child may in reference to a father. But, it may be asked, how can it be inferred from this that we truly love His children? Is it not easier to ascertain this of itself than it is to determine whether we love God? Compare Jo1 4:20. To this it may be answered, that we may love Christians from many motives: we may love them as personal friends; we may love them because they belong to our church, or sect, or party; we may love them because they are naturally amiable: but the apostle says here, that when we are conscious that an attachment does exist toward Christians, we may ascertain that it is genuine, or that it does not proceed from any improper motive, by the fact that we love God. We shall then love Him as His children, whatever other grounds of affection there may be toward them.
And keep his commandments - See the notes at Joh 14:15. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
By this (ἐν τούτῳ)
Not by this or from this, as an inference (see on Jo1 4:6), but in the very exercise of the sentiment toward God, we perceive.
When (ὅταν)
More strictly, whenever. Our perception of the existence of love to our brethren is developed on every occasion when we exercise love and obedience toward God.
Keep (τηρῶμεν)
Read ποιῶμεν do. So Rev. See on Joh 3:21; see on Jo1 3:4. The exact phrase ποιεῖν τὰς ἐντολὰς to do the commandments, occurs only here. See on Rev 22:14. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Hereby we know - This is a plain proof. That we love the children of God - As his children. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| By this we know that we love the children of God - Our love of God's followers is a proof that we love God. Our love to God is the cause why we love his children, and our keeping the commandments of God is the proof that we love him. |
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.