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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 1 John 5:14 - 5:14
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14. καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ παρ. And the boldness that we have towards Him is this: see on 1Jn 1:5 and 1Jn 2:28. For the fourth and last time in the Epistle the Apostle touches on the subject of the Christian’s ‘boldness’. Twice he speaks of it in connexion with the Day of Judgment (1Jn 2:28; 1Jn 4:17); twice in connexion with approaching God in prayer (1Jn 3:21-22 and here). In the present case it is with special reference to intercessory prayer that the subject is retouched. Thus two more leading ideas of the Epistle meet in this recapitulation, boldness towards God and brotherly love; for it is love of the brethren which induces us to pray for them. For the difference between αἰτεῖσθαι and ἐρωτᾶν see on 1Jn 5:16. The difference between αἰτεῖσθαι and αἰτεῖν is not great, as is seen in 1Jn 5:15 : but the middle rather implies that the request in some way is for the gratification of the petitioner.
κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ. This is the only limitation, and it is an exceedingly gracious limitation. His will is always for His children’s good, and therefore it is only when they ignorantly ask for what is not for their good that their prayers are denied. Comp. S. Paul’s case, 2Co 12:9. Ἀκούει of course means that He hears and grants what we ask (Joh 9:31; Joh 11:41-42). Comp. ‘The desire of the righteous shall be granted’ (Pro 10:24).