1 João 1
Adam Clarke · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 João 1:3
Clarke - We deliver nothing by hearsay, nothing by tradition, nothing from conjecture; we have had the fullest certainty of all that we write and preach. G G Findlay feels that "John reiterates "what we have seen and heard" not by way of resuming the thread of an interrupted sentence, but striking once more the key-note, on which he plays a further descant. We observe here, at the outset, the peculiar manner of our author. His thought progresses by a kind of spiral movement, returning continually upon itself, but in each revolution advancing to a new point and giving a larger outlook to the idea that it seeks to unfold. (1 John Commentary) We have seen (horao - used 7x in 6v in 1Jn 1:1, 2, 3, 3:2, 3:6, 4:20 [2x]) refers not merely to the act of seeing, but also conveys the idea that there is the actual perception of what is seen. Notice John's use of seen is in the perfect tense which signifies, yes they saw Jesus and that image continues to be present in their mind. Wuest paraphrases it this way "we have seen it with discernment and have it in our mind’s eye." Kistemaker feels that by repetition of the verbs seen and heard, John "wants his readers to know the core of the apostolic message: “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has appeared in human flesh.” As an eyewitness and ear-witness, John is able to testify to the veracity of this message and proclaim what he has seen and heard. (New Testament Commentary - James, Epistles of John, Peter, and Jude) John wrote of that great day when they first saw the resurrected Christ... When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side (Nailed pierced scars, marks of cutting covenant with us, marks that He will bear throughout eternity signifying the unbreakable nature of His covenant with each of His followers! Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus for being the Messenger of the Covenant [Mal 3:1+]! Amen). The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jn 20:19, 20+) THOUGHT - May God's Spirit so reveal the Resurrected Glorified Lamb of God to us through His Word of Truth, so that we too might have His image emblazoned forever in our mind's eye and with His Divine Visage ever before us, may we be motivated and energized by His Spirit to us to share His "image" with those who have never seen the Life, the Eternal One! Amen. We proclaim (apaggello - present tense - continually) - We in plural speaking for all the apostles. In proclaiming the truth about Christ, John is following the pattern of his Lord. Matthew uses this same verb apaggello in quoting a Messianic prophecy that Jesus "shall proclaim (apaggello) to the Gentiles." (Mt 12:18+) G G Findlay adds that proclaim (apaggello) "signifies the carrying of tidings or messages from the authentic source: we are the bearers to you of the word we received from Him." (1 John Commentary) Paul Apple comments: Jesus came to preach (to proclaim) and to disciple key leaders to reproduce that ministry of proclamation. We are not called to stifle this life, but to proclaim it to others. The mission of the apostles was sharing that life with others. We are not called upon to dream up the message; the revelation comes from God; we are commanded to pass it on. John Trapp on proclaim (apaggello) - That (Theophilus-like) ye may be at a certainty, fully persuaded (Lk 1:1, 2, 3, Acts 1:1), having a plerophory (Full persuasion or confidence) or "full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of Christ," (Col. 2:2+). Steven
1 João 1:6
Clarke commenting on 1 John 1:6 makes the point that "Having fellowship, koinonia, communion, with God, necessarily implies a partaking of the Divine nature (Ed: In short, one needs to experience regeneration, the new birth). Marvin
1 João 1:6-7
Clarke commenting on 1John 1:6 makes the point that Having fellowship, koinonia, communion, with God, necessarily implies a partaking of the Divine nature. Listen to what the venerable preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon has to say about fellowship… When we were united by faith to Christ, we were brought into such complete fellowship with Him, that we were made one with Him, and His interests and ours became mutual and identical. (Ed comment: Notice that Spurgeon associates faith in Christ which brings us into oneness with Him as synonymous with fellowship with Christ. In other words even as their is an initial salvation experience, there is an initial experience of fellowship, which then like salvation becomes our lifestyle, to share His love, His desires, His sufferings, His joys.) We have fellowship with Christ in His love. What He loves we love. He loves the saints-so do we. He loves sinners-so do we. He loves the poor perishing race of man, and pants to see earth's deserts transformed into the garden of the Lord-so do we. We have fellowship with Him in His desires. He desires the glory of God-we also labor for the same. He desires that the saints may be with Him where He is-we desire to be with Him there too. He desires to drive out sin-behold we fight under His banner. He desires that his Father's Name may be loved and adored by all His creatures-we pray daily, "Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven." We have fellowship with Christ in His sufferings. We are not nailed to the cross, nor do we die a cruel death, but when He is reproached, we are reproached; and a very sweet thing it is to be blamed for His sake, to be despised for following the Master, to have the world against us. The disciple should not be above his Lord. In our measure we commune with him in His labors, ministering to men by the Word of Truth and by deeds of love. Our meat and our drink, like His, is to do the will of Him Who hath sent us and to finish His work. We have also fellowship with Christ in His joys. We are happy in His happiness, we rejoice in His exaltation. Have you ever tasted that joy, believer? There is no purer or more thrilling delight to be known this side heaven than that of having Christ's joy fulfilled in us, that our joy may be full. His glory awaits us to complete our fellowship, for His Church shall sit with Him upon His throne, as His well-beloved bride and queen. Marvin
1 João 1:9
Clarke - If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; he is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.