John Bengel Commentary - 1 John 2:14 - 2:14

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

John Bengel Commentary - 1 John 2:14 - 2:14


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

1Jn 2:14. Ἔγραψα, I have written) In 1Jn 2:13-14, he passes from I write to I have written: and not without reason. For by transposing the verb of writing from the present to the past, he suggests a most strong admonition.-ὅτι) because.-ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ye have known Him who is from the beginning) He who is from the beginning is Jesus Christ. Ἀρχὴ is not the beginning of the Gospel, but the beginning of all things: ch. 1Jn 1:1, note. Artemon objects, that God the Father might also be thus spoken of: Part ii. c. 13. I reply, Why not? But the figure Antonomasia is frequently employed by John, when he speaks of Christ. Comp. 1Jn 2:20. The fathers, as well as the apostle, were already alive at that time, in which Jesus Christ had been conspicuous on earth: and some of them, as it is probable, had known Him both in person and by faith. Comp. ch. 1Jn 3:6, note; 1Co 15:6; Mat 13:16. Certainly all had known Him by faith, and had seen that golden age of the Church, to which the age of the younger men, who ought to avoid antichrists, is opposed. John repeats this clause from the preceding verse, without the addition of more words, subjoining to the statement a treatment of the subject equally brief, and using modesty towards the fathers, to whom it was not necessary that many things should be written. The knowledge of even these respecting Christ is very great, comprising all things. Knowledge is assigned to fathers and children; strength to young men.-ἰσχυροὶ, strong) Other young men are strong in body; you, in faith.-ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ, the Word of God) from which is strength: ch. 1Jn 4:4.-ἐν ὑμῖν μένει, abideth in you) Nor can the Evil One tear it away from you, nor does Antichrist endanger you.-τὸν πονηρὸν, the Evil One) who especially lies in wait for youth. John appears to refer to a certain remarkable instance of virtue exhibited by the young men to whom he writes. Of this nature was their constancy in confession in the persecution of Domitian; and also the return of that young man, whom the apostle, with the greatest gentleness, led back from robbery to repentance (although the apostle made that expedition not until he had returned from Patmos: comp. 1Jn 2:22, note), as it is most pleasantly described by Clement of Alexandria, in his treatise, What rich man can be saved? ch. 42; by Eusebius, Eccle. Hist., Book iii. 20; and by Chrysostom, in his 1st Exhortation to the fallen Theodore, ch. 11.