Robertson Word Pictures - 1 John 5:16 - 5:16

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Robertson Word Pictures - 1 John 5:16 - 5:16


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

If any man see (ean tis idēi). Third-class condition with ean and second aorist active subjunctive of eidon (horaō).

Sinning a sin (hamartanonta hamartian). Present active predicate (supplementary) participle agreeing with adelphon and with cognate accusative hamartian.

Not unto death (mē pros thanaton). Repeated again with hamartanousin and in contrast with hamartia pros thanaton (sin unto death). Most sins are not mortal sins, but clearly John conceives of a sin that is deadly enough to be called “unto death.” This distinction is common in the rabbinic writings and in Num 18:22 the lxx has labein hamartian thanatēphoron “to incur a death-bearing sin” as many crimes then and now bear the death penalty. There is a distinction in Heb 10:26 between sinning wilfully after full knowledge and sins of ignorance (Heb 5:2). Jesus spoke of the unpardonable sin (Mar 3:29; Mat 12:32; Luk 12:10), which was attributing to the devil the manifest work of the Holy Spirit. It is possible that John has this idea in mind when he applies it to those who reject Jesus Christ as God’s Son and set themselves up as antichrists.

Concerning this (peri ekeinēs). This sin unto death.

That he should make request (hina erōtēsēi). Sub-final use of hina with the first aorist active subjunctive of erōtaō, used here as in Joh 17:15, Joh 17:20 (and often) for request rather than for question. John does not forbid praying for such cases; he simply does not command prayer for them. He leaves them to God.