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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 John 5:18 - 5:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
We know (oidamen). As in 1Jo 3:2, 1Jo 3:14; 1Jo 5:15, 1Jo 5:19, 1Jo 5:20. He has “ye know” in 1Jo 2:20; 1Jo 3:5, 1Jo 3:15.
Sinneth not (ouch hamartanei). Lineal present active indicative, “does not keep on sinning,” as he has already shown in 1Jo 3:4-10.
He that was begotten of God (ho gennētheis ek tou theou). First aorist passive articular participle referring to Christ, if the reading of A B is correct (tērei auton, not tērei heauton). It is Christ who keeps the one begotten of God (gegennēmenos ek tou theou as in 1Jo 3:9 and so different from ho gennētheis here). It is a difficult phrase, but this is probably the idea. Jesus (Joh 18:37) uses gegennēmai of himself and uses also tēreō of keeping the disciples (Joh 17:12, Joh 17:15; Rev 3:10).
The evil one (ho ponēros). Masculine and personal as in 1Jo 2:13, not neuter, and probably Satan as in Mat 6:13, not just any evil man.
Touchest him not (ouch haptetai autou). Present middle indicative of haptō, elsewhere in John only Joh 20:17. It means to lay hold of or to grasp rather than a mere superficial touch (thigganō, both in Col 2:21). Here the idea is to touch to harm. The devil cannot snatch such a man from Christ (Joh 6:38.).