The Epistles of John

The Commandment to

LOVE

The First Epistle of John betrays

throughout, in thought and style, the author of

the fourth Gospel.

It is a postscript to it, or a practical application

of the lessons of the life of Christ to the wants of the church at the close

of the first century.

It is a circular letter of the venerable apostle to his beloved children in Asia Minor, exhorting them to a holy life of

faith and love in Christ,

and earnestly warning them against the

Gnostic "antichrists," already existing or to

come,

who deny the mystery of the incarnation,

sunder religion from morality, and run into Antinomian practices.

The Second and Third Epistles of John are,

like the Epistle of Paul to Philemon, short

private letters, one to a Christian woman by the

name of Cyria,

the other to one Gaius, probably an officer of a

congregation in Asia Minor. They belong to

the seven Antilegomena,

and have been ascribed by some to the

"Presbyter John," a contemporary of the apostle, though of

disputed existence.

But the second Epistle resembles the first,

almost to verbal repetition, and such

repetition well agrees with the familiar

tradition of Jerome

concerning the apostle of love, ever exhorting the congregation, in his advanced age, to love

one another.

The difference of opinion in the ancient

church respecting them may have risen partly

from their private nature and their brevity,

and partly from the fact that the author styles himself, somewhat

remarkably, the "elder," the "presbyter."

This term, however, is probably to be taken,

not in the official sense, but in the original, signifying age and

dignity;

for at that time John was in fact a venerable

father in Christ, and must have been

revered and loved as a patriarch among his

"little children." (Schaff, History of the Christian Church)

G26 αγαπη agapeThayer Definition:

1) brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence

2) love feastsPart of Speech: noun

feminineA Related Word by

Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G25

1 John 2:5 MSG But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's

mature love. (agape) This is the only way to be sure we're in God.

The design of God’s love in sending Jesus Christ into the world to

die for the sin of man, is accomplished, in that man who receives the

doctrine,

and applies for the salvation provided for him. This seems to be

the meaning of the apostle.

(Clark’s Commentary on the Bible)

1 John 2:15 MSG Don’t love (agapao) the world's ways. Don't love (agapao) the world's goods. Love

(agape) of the world squeezes out love (agapao)

for the Father.

G25 αγαπαω agapaoThayer Definition:

1) of persons1a) to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

2) of things2a) to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing

Part of Speech: verb

This means more than that he does not love God: rather that the

love of God does not dwell in him as the

ruling principle of his life.

Westcott cites a parallel from Philo: “It is

impossible for love to the world to coexist with

love to God, as it is impossible for light and darkness to coexist.”

(Vincent’s Word Studies)

1 John 3:1 MSG What marvelous love (agape)

the Father has extended to us! Just

look at it--we're called children of God!

That's who we really are. But that's also why

the world doesn't recognize us or take us

seriously, because it has no idea who he is

or what he's up to.

The last verse of chapter 2 speaks of the saints as born of God. That thought suggests the wonderful love in

allowing us to be born again and thus to

become God's children. (Peoples New Testament )

1 John 3:10 MSG Here’s how you tell the

difference between God's children and the

Devil's children:

The one who won't practice righteous ways

isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love (agapao) brother or sister.

A simple test.

The general sense is, that brotherly love is

essential to the Christian character, and

that he who does not possess it cannot be a

Christian. (Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible)

1 John 3:11 MSG For this is the original message we heard: We should

love (agapao) each other.God's charge has

always been that we should love each other.

(PEOPLES NEW TESTAMENT)

1 John 3:14 MSG The way we know we've

been transferred from death to life is that we

love (agapao) our brothers and sisters. Anyone

who doesn't love (agapao) is as good as dead.

If our hearts are filled with brotherly love this

shows that we are God's children; and the opposite is also true. (PEOPLES NEW TESTAMENT)

1 John 3:16 MSG This is how we've come to

understand and experience love: (agape)

Christ sacrificed his life for us.

If our hearts are filled with brotherly love this

shows that we are God's children; and the opposite is also true. (PEOPLES NEW TESTAMENT)

1 John 3:17 MSG If you see some brother

or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder

and do nothing, what happens to God's love? (agape) It disappears. And you made it disappear.

Here is a test of this love; if we do not divide

our bread with the hungry, we certainly

would not lay down our life for him.

Whatever love we may pretend to mankind, if we are not charitable and benevolent, we give the lie to our

profession.

If we have not bowels of compassion, we have not the love of

God in us;

if we shut up our bowels against the

poor, we shut Christ out of our hearts, and ourselves out of

heaven. (Clark’s Commentary on the Bible)

1 John 3:18 MSG My dear children, let's not just talk about love; (agapao) let's practice real

love. (agapao) What John means is

“not merely by word or by the tongue.”

He does not condemn kind words which are

comforting and cheering, but warm

words should be accompanied by warm deeds to make real.

Here is a case where actions do speak louder

than mere words. (Robertson’s Word Pictures)

1 John 3:23 MSG Again, this is God's command:

to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us

to love (agapao) each other, in line with the original command.

And this is his commandment - All his commandments in one word. That we should

believe and love - in the manner and degree

which he hath taught.

This is the greatest and most important

command that ever issued from the throne

of glory.

If this be neglected, no other can be kept: if this be observed, all others

are easy.

(Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)

1 John 4:7 MSG My beloved friends, let us continue to love (agapao) each other since love

(agape) comes from God.

Everyone who loves (agapao) is born of

God and experiences a relationship with God.

He returns to the commending of

brotherly love and charity. The first

reason: because it is a very divine thing,

and therefore very fitting for the sons of

God: so that whoever is missing it cannot be

said to know God correctly.

(Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

1 John 4:8 MSG The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love

(agape) --so you can't know him if you don't

love. (agape)

God is love - This little sentence brought St.

John more sweetness, even in the time he was

writing it, than the whole world can bring.

God is often styled holy, righteous, wise; but not

holiness, righteousness, or

wisdom in the abstract, as he is said to be love;

intimating that this is his darling, his reigning

attribute, the attribute that sheds an amiable glory on all his other

perfections. (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)

1 John 4:9 MSG This is how God showed his love (agape) for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might

live through him.

A confirmation: for it is the nature of God to

love men, of which we have a most manifest proof above all other,

in that of his only free and infinite good will

towards us his enemies, he delivered

to death, not a common man,

but his own Son, indeed his only begotten Son,

to the end that we being reconciled through his

blood might be partakers in his

everlasting glory. (Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

1 John 4:10 MSG This is the kind of love (agape) we are talking about--not that we once upon a

time loved (agapao) God,

but that he loved (agapao) us and sent

his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and

the damage they've done to our relationship

with God.

love in the abstract: love, in its highest ideal, is herein. The love was all on God’s side, none

on ours.

not that we once upon a time loved God —

though so altogether worthy of love.

he loved us — though so altogether unworthy

of love.

The Greek aorist expresses, Not that we did any act of love at any time to God, but that He did the act of love to us in sending

Christ. (Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary)

1 John 4:11 MSG My dear, dear friends, if

God loved (agapao) us like this, we certainly ought

to love each other.

1 John 4:12 MSG No one has seen God, ever.

But if we love (agapao) one another, God dwells deeply within us, and

his love (agape) becomes complete in us--perfect

love! (agape)

He is invisible to mortal eyes, yet we may have a sense of his presence

in us. If we love each other he dwells in us.

his love becomes complete in us, It is

made complete by our loving each other. It is incomplete unless his

love for us is supplemented by brotherly love.

This love in us is the proof that God is in us.

(PEOPLES NEW TESTAMENT)

1 John 4:16 MSG We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love (agape) that comes from God. God

is love. (agape)

When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, (agape) we live in God and God

lives in us.

He that dwelleth in love - he who is full of love to God and man is full

of God, for God is love; and where such love is, there is God, for he is

the fountain and maintainer of it. (Adam

Clark’s Commentary on the Bible)

1 John 4:17 MSG This way, love (agape) has the

run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day--our

standing in the world is identical with Christ's.

Again (as before) he commends love, seeing that by our agreement with God in this thing,

we have a sure testimony of our

adoption,

it comes to pass by this that without fear we

look for that latter day of judgment, so that

trembling and torment of conscience is cast

out by this love.

This signifies a likeness, not an

equality. (Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

1 John 4:18 MSG There is no room in love (agape) for fear. Well-formed

love (agape) banishes fear.

Since fear is crippling, a fearful life--fear of

death, fear of judgment--is one not

yet fully formed in love. (agape)

There may be reverential fear, but

there is no terror. Fear of God gives way to love. fear is crippling

Because it fills us with forebodings.

(Peoples New Testament)

1 John 4:19 MSG We, though, are going to

love (agapao) —love (agapao) and be loved. (agapao) First we were loved, (agapao) now we love.

(agapao) He loved (agapao) us first.

The statement is general, relating to the entire operation of the

principle of love. All human love is preceded

and generated by the love of God.

1 John 4:20 MSG If anyone boasts, "I love (agapao) God," and goes

right on hating his brother or sister,

thinking nothing of it, he is a liar.

If he won't love the person he can see, how

can he love (agapao) the God he can't see?

The sense is, that no man, whatever may be

his professions and pretensions, can have any true love to God, unless he loves his

brethren.

1 John 4:21 MSG The command we have from

Christ is blunt: Loving (agapao) God includes loving (agapao) people.

You've got to love (agapao) both.

That is, the command to love a brother is as obligatory as that to love God. If one is

obeyed, the other ought to be also;

if a man feels that one is binding on him, he should feel that the

other is also;

and he can never have evidence that he is a true Christian, unless

he manifests love to his brethren as well as love

to God.

1 John 5:1 MSG Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-

begotten.

If we love (agapao) the One who conceives the

child, we'll surely love (agapao) the child who was

conceived.

This belief, accepted in the heart, confessed with the mouth, and

perfected by the obedience of faith

makes one a child of God. (Peoples New Testament)

1 John 5:2 MSG The reality test on whether or not we love (agapao)

God's children is this: Do we love (agapao) God?

Do we keep his commands?

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. (Adam Clark’s

Commentary on the Bible)

1 John 5:3 MSG The proof that we love (agape) God comes when we

keep his commandments and

they are not at all troublesome.

For this is the love of God - The only sure proof of it. That we

keep his commandments:

and his commandments are not grievous - To any that are born of

God.

(John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)

2 John 1:1 MSG My dear congregation, I, your pastor, love (agapao) you in very truth. And I'm not alone--everyone who knows the Truth

John, unlike Peter and Paul, nowhere in his writings speaks of

himself as an apostle. Peter also speaks of himself as an elder.

John probably uses the term here, not officially, but in reference to his

great age,

as the only survivor of the apostles, and

perhaps then the only personal disciple of the

Lord living.

(Peoples New Testament)

Whom I love as the Christian religion

requires us to love one another. (Adam Clark’s

Commentary on the Bible)

2 John 1:3 MSG Let grace, mercy, and

peace be with us in truth and love (agape) from

God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son

of the Father!

With true knowledge which always has love

united with it, and following it.

(Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

2 John 1:5 MSG But permit me a reminder,

friends, and this is not a new commandment but

simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love

(agapao) each other.

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.

(Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible)

2 John 1:6 MSG Love (agape) means following his commandments,

and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. (agape) This is the

first thing you heard, and nothing has

changed.

That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments

of God;

for love is the principle of obedience.

(Adam Clark’s

Commentary on the Bible)

3 John 1:1 MSG The Pastor, to my good

friend Gaius: How truly I love (agapao) you! An example of a

Christian greeting. (Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

3 John 1:6 MSG They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your

love. (agape)

It's good work you're doing, helping these

travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of

God himself!

These traveling brethren reported to the Church how Gaius had

aided them.

(Peoples New Testament)

He Did It Without Regret

United States Senator Jake Garn of Utah did something most of us admire-and perhaps

should consider doing ourselves.

He donated one of his organs to save a life.

A recent survey says 73 percent of Americans

approve organ donation.

But only about 20 percent actually sign

donor cards and make arrangements for our corneas, kidneys, or

other organs to be used when we die.

In Senator Garn's case, however, he did not

wait until his death to donate his left kidney.

His 27-year-old daughter, Susan Garn Horne, suffered from progressive kidney

failure due to diabetes.

Her condition deteriorated, and

doctors determined that she needed a kidney

transplant immediately.

Jake Garn and his two sons were all found to be compatible donors. The senator insisted that he should be the

one to give the kidney.

"Her mother carried her for nine months," he

said, "and I am honored to give her part of me."

So, on September 10, 1986, in a Washington, D.C. hospital, a six-hour surgical procedure was performed to remove

one of his kidneys and to implant it into his

daughter.

The radio news broadcast a story on

Garns, and in it was a comment from the doctor who put the donated kidney into

Susan's body.

At a press briefing at Georgetown University

Hospital, the doctor said, "The senator is awake, has a bit of a

grin on his face.

He seems very self-satisfied, and happy

and peaceful.“

The senator had to be in pain at that moment.

The incision through which his kidney was

removed goes from his back to his front ribs.

There were tubes in him, needles yet to come, and several

weeks of recuperation lying ahead. But he was

smiling!

That grin on Jake Garn's face could have meant only one thing:

no regrets. Love makes it possible for a person to do the most difficult and dreaded of things without looking back.

Think for a moment about what Jesus did to

save you. He left the worship of angels to be

born in a stable.

He accepted the limitations of human

form, suffered indignities of the

greatest magnitude, and shed His lifeblood

to purchase your redemption.

The most astounding thing about all He did is that there is not a word

in the Bible which indicates that the Son of God regretted doing

it.

the day of His ascension back to the

Father, there may have been a bit of a grin on

His face.

His only regret would come if you refused His

gift of life.