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Selected Verse: 2 John 1:5 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 2Jo 1:5 |
King James |
And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. |
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] |
I beseech--rather (compare Note, see on Jo1 5:16), "I request thee," implying some degree of authority.
not . . . new commandment--It was old in that Christians heard it from the first in the Gospel preaching; new, in that the Gospel rested love on the new principle of filial imitation of God who first loved us, and gave Jesus to die for us; and also, in that love is now set forth with greater clearness than in the Old Testament dispensation. Love performs both tables of the law, and is the end of the law and the Gospel alike (compare Notes, see on Jo1 2:7-8).
that we--implying that he already had love, and urging her to join him in the same Christian grace. This verse seems to me to decide that a Church, not an individual lady, is meant. For a man to urge a woman ("THEE"; not thee and thy children) that he and she should love one another, is hardly like an apostolic precept, however pure may be the love enjoined; but all is clear if "the lady" represent a Church. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And now I beseech thee, lady - Dr, "And now I entreat thee, Kyria," (κυρία kuria.) See the introduction, Section 2. If this was her proper name, there is no impropriety in supposing that he would address her in this familiar style. John was probably then a very old man; the female to whom the Epistle was addressed was doubtless much younger.
Not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee - John presumed that the command to love one another was understood as far as the gospel was known; and he might well presume it, for true Christianity never prevails anywhere without prompting to the observance of this law. See the notes at Th1 4:9.
But that which we had from the beginning - From the time when the gospel was first made known to us. See the notes at Jo1 2:7; Jo1 3:11.
That we love one another - That is, that there be among the disciples of Christ mutual love; or that in all circumstances and relations they should love one another, Joh 15:12, Joh 15:17. This general command, addressed to all the disciples of the Saviour, John doubtless means to say was as applicable to him and to the pious female to whom he wrote as to any others, and ought to be exercised by them toward all true Christians; and he exhorts her, as he did all Christians, to exercise it. It was a command upon which, in his old age, he loved to dwell; and he had little more to say to her than this, to exhort her to obey this injunction of the Saviour. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
that we love one another
Law (of Christ), Summary:
The new "law of Christ" is the divine love, as wrought into the renewed heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5); (Heb 10:16) and outflowing in the energy of the Spirit, unforced and spontaneous, toward the objects of the divine love; (Co2 5:14-20); (Th1 2:7); (Th1 2:8). It is, therefore, " the law of liberty"; (Jam 1:25); (Jam 2:12) in contrast with the external law of Moses. Moses' law demands love, (Lev 19:18); (Deu 6:5); (Luk 10:27) Christ's law is love; (Rom 5:5); (Jo1 4:7); (Jo1 4:19); (Jo1 4:20) and so takes the place of the external law by fulfilling it; (Rom 13:10); (Gal 5:14). It is the "law written in the heart" under the New Covenant.
(See Scofield) - (Heb 8:8). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
New (καινὴν)
See on Mat 26:29.
We had (εἴχαμεν)
The apostle identifies himself with his readers. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| That which we had from the beginning - Of our Lord's ministry. Indeed it was, in some sense, from the beginning of the world. That we may love one another - More abundantly. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| That which we had from the beginning - The commandment to love one another was what they had heard from the first publication of Christianity, and what he wishes this excellent woman to inculcate on all those under her care. The mode of address here shows that it was a person, not a Church, to which the apostle wrote. |
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
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.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
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?
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.