1 João 3
Didymus the Blind · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
1 João 3:2
By writing these things John is exhorting his readers to recognize what it means to be born again of God. He tells them that they are now worthy to be loved as children of God, even in this world, and that the adoption of sons is a reality here and now. For since we now know in part and have the first fruits of the Spirit, we already have something of the adoption of sons and can see what the fullness of it will be like when it arrives. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:6
Just as the person who dwells in virtue and true doctrine does not sin and is not ignorant, so the one who remains in Christ, who is his righteousness and sanctification, does not sin. For how can someone act unrighteously when he is in the company of righteousness, and how can he be content to place corruption alongside holiness? Therefore anyone who sins is outside Christ and has no part or fellowship in him. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:8
Since the devil was first and foremost sent into the world in order to lead people astray, that is where his name comes from. Thus anyone who sins can be called a devil. Sin is not inherent in the human race, since if it were it could not have been eradicated by a sinless human being. But this is exactly what happened when the Son of God appeared in human flesh, and so sin must be regarded as accidental to human nature, not as intrinsic to human nature. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:9
Heretics, who are deceived in everything by everything, like to object that any birth which is produced by the creator of this world is automatically sinful, whereas any birth which comes from the God of the New Testament is not so. They base this idea on the supposition that sinners and the righteous must have different creators, but this notion is based on a misunderstanding of the teaching of Scripture. The Bible does not say that whoever is born of God is sinless but that such a person will not sin as long as he walks according to the way of righteousness. If he turns aside from that he will sin, and indeed those who do sin have turned away from their Creator. The ability not to sin is guaranteed by the presence of God's seed in us. This seed is either his power or the spirit of adoption, which cannot sin. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:10
Since a person who walks in righteousness is born of God, it follows that someone who is so born will love his brothers. Someone who lacks righteousness because he does not practice it, but instead hates his brother, is not born of God. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:12
We have had the commandment to love one another from the beginning, so that we should not fall into evil as Cain did, who murdered his brother. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:13
It is not to be wondered at if evil people, who are here called the "world," hate those who live godly lives according to the commands of Christ. It would be much more surprising if such people loved us instead! — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN
1 João 3:14
Whoever loves his brothers in God's way has passed from death to life, but whoever does not have this love remains in death. In the same way the widow who enjoyed herself was dead, even if technically she was alive. For anyone who lives like that has obviously forgotten God. — COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN