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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - 1 John 3:20 - 3:20
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1Jn 3:20. Ὅτι ἐὰν) whatever: Col 3:23, note: nearly equivalent to ὅ ἐὰν, afterwards in 1Jn 3:22. Whatever, or in whatever things, our heart shall condemn us, that we shall be able to tranquilize. Or rather, if you prefer to take ὅτι and ἐὰν separately, you will have to repeat because after the sentence, understanding I say, as is very often done.-καταγινώσκῃ, condemn) not respecting our entire condition, but respecting one or two failures or errors. This word is to be pronounced with emphasis: but in the following verse the emphasis falls upon the word heart.-ὅτι μείζων, because greater) Conscience is weak, and knows something of ourselves only, not without trembling; nor has it the ability to pardon: but God is great, knows all our affairs, present, past, and future, and those of all men; and has the right and the will of pardoning. This by itself does not yet tranquilize our hearts; but while the righteous acknowledge this very thing, and confess their faults, and appeal from conscience to God, who is greater than it, and endeavour in no matter to withdraw themselves from the omniscience of God, they attain to tranquility, ch. 1Jn 1:9. See examples, Psa 51:8, with the context; Psa 32:5; Psa 19:13; Psa 90:8.-γινώσκει, knows) nor however does He condemn (καταγινώσκει). In the Greek there is a pleasant change[11] of the word.
[11] An instance of the figure Paregmenon, by which cognate words, both simple and compound, are joined together. See Appendix.