A paraphrase and commentary upon all the epistles of the New Testament By Daniel Whitby, D.D. and chantor of the church of Sarum.

CHAP. IV.

Ver. 1. BEloved, believe not every (preten∣der to the) Spirit (of God,) but try the Spirits, whether they be of God (or not,) because many false Prophets are gone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into the world, (pretending to be the Christ, or the Messiah promised to the Jews.)

Ver. 2. (And for your direction in this trial;) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God (from that of error;) every Spirit (i. e. person pre∣tending to the Spirit of God, or of prophe∣cy) which confesseth that Jesus Christ (Gr. Je∣sus Christ which) is come in the flesh, is of God.

Ver. 3. And every (pretender to the) Spi∣rit which confesseth not that Jesus Christ (Gr. Jesus Christ which) is come in the flesh, is not of God; and this is that Spirit of Antichrist, thereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.

Note, The Jews being then generally in expectation of their Messiah, were divided in∣to two parts, a Remnant who believ'd that he was come already, and that our Jesus was the very Person promised under that Character, and a more prevailing part of them who rejected him, and looked for another. Now among these appeared many who took upon them to be the Messiah, or the Prophet pro∣mised by Moses like unto him, saying, Lo Christ is here, and lo he is there: (See the Note on Matt. 24.24, 26.) And these decla∣ring themselves Prophets, must also pretend to the Spirit of Prophecy, and do this as Jose∣phus saith they did, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 under the pretence of a divine Afflatus. These, saith the Apostle here, are Antichrists, i. e. Pre∣tenders falsly to be Christ, in opposition to him who truly was so; nor could they belong to him, or truly confess him who was the word made flesh. Now the strength of this Argu∣ment depends on these Considerations, that the effusion of the Spirit promised in the times of the Messiah could only belong to them who owned and believed in the true Messiah, this being made one character of the true Messiah, that he should baptize them who believed in him, with the Holy Ghost, Mat. 3.11. This pro∣mise of the Father, as the Holy Ghost is stiled, was to be sent by Christ, Luk. 24.49. to his Disciples, Joh. 16.7.15.26. to be sent in his name, Joh. 14.26. And when he came, his office was to enable those who received him to testifie of Christ that he was indeed risen from the dead, and was the Christ, Joh. 15.26. Act. 1.8.5.32. and to convince the world of sin because they believed not in him, Joh. 16.9. The condition of receiving him was Faith in Christ, Joh. 7.37. Act. 2.38, 39. And by his assistance did his Disciples prove that Jesus Christ who appeared to the Jews in flesh, and was crucified among them, was the Christ. He therefore who was made par∣taker of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of the Holy Ghost must be one who believed in that Jesus who suffer∣ed in the flesh for us; and therefore they who denied this, could not be assisted by the Spirit who was only sent by him, and given to be∣lievers: whence the Apostle saith, That no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus A∣nathema, as these false Prophets who own'd him not must do, 1 Cor. 12.3, and that no man could say that Jesus was the Christ but by the Holy Ghost: that is, he could not confess; and testifie to the World this Truth, but by the assistance of the Holy Ghost promised; and given to Believers for that end. See v. 6, 13, 14, 15.

Note therefore, that the Apostle is not here speaking of the trial of Doctrine, but of Spi∣rits, nor of the Faith necessary to be believed to Salvation, but only of the Faith necessary to the reception of the Holy Ghost, that Unction which would teach them all things; 1 Joh. 2.27.

Ver. 4. Ye (to whom he hath given this Spirit Chap. 3.24.) are of God, little children; and have overcome them, (these Antichrists and false Prophets;) because greater is he (the Spirit) that is in you, than he (the Spirit) which is in the world.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] The Doctrine which you preach and confirm by these Gifts and Distri∣butions of the Holy Ghost, hath mightily prevailed over all the opposition which the unbelieving Jews, and their false Prophets, and false Apostles, make against it; because the Spirit which acts in them is only able to work by them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, false, Counter∣feit, and lying Wonders; whereas the Spirit that is in you enables you to confirm the Truth with real Miracles, and Signs, and divers Di∣stributions of the Holy Ghost by which God beareth witness to the truth of that Doctrine which you preach, Hebr. 2.4. Rom. 15.19. 1 Thess. 1.5.

Ver. 5. They (these Antichrists and False Prophets) are of the world, (setting up to be temporal Princes, and to give to the Jews dominion over the Heathen World,) and there∣fore speak they of the World, (i. e. of that tem∣poral Dominion over the Heathens, which the Carnal Jews expect, when their Messiah doth appear,) and the world (he that is worldly-minded) heareth them.

Dominion over the Heathens.] That the hopes of this encourag'd some of them to set up for the Messiah, and others to fight, see the Testimonies of Josephus; Note on James 4.

v. 1, 2, 3. And on this account they rejected the true Messiah because his Kingdom was not of this world.

Ver. 6. We are of God (Deriving our Faith and Doctrine from that Jesus who was a pro∣phet sent from God, and delivered his Do∣ctrine in his name. As therefore he said to the Jews then, so we his Disciples say now) he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. (Joh. 8.47.6.45.) hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of Error (see Note on v. 1, 2, 3.)

When the Romish Prelates have once pro∣ved they are of God, as the Apostles did, it will be time to consider the inference of Esthi∣us from this place, that he that is of God must hear their Prelates, and their Church, and come to them to be resolved of any doubt by them.

Ver. 7. Beloved let us (who are of God, v. 6.) love one another, for love is of God (the fruit of his good Spirit in us, Gal. 5.22. 1 Pet. 1.22.) and every one that loveth is born of God, (by the Spirit, Joh. 3.5.) and (this resemblance he hath to him, in love to mankind in general, and to those he hath so highly loved in particular, v. 9, 10. shews that he) knoweth God (aright, because he keepeth his Commandments, Chap. 2.3, 4.)

Ver. 8. He that loveth not (his Brother) knoweth not (Gr. hath not known) God (a∣right,) for God is (the God of) love.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, God is love.] The Apostle by these words intends not to express what God is in his essence, or to say, as the Schools do, that he is Love essentially, and Love causali∣ter as being the Cause, or objective, as being the Object of our Love, but that he is so de∣monstrative, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, shewing great Philanthropy to Men in all his dealings with them, or his dispensations toward them: as appears from the two following Verses.

Ver. 9. In this was manifested (the Great∣ness of) the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, (and freely gave him up to the death, Rom. 8.32.) that we might live through him.

Ver. 10. Herein is (the demonstration of his) love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us (first, v. 19.) and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our Sins, (which de∣served death, and so to fit us for eternal life.)

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] Here the Apostle most lively doth express the Freedom, and the Greatness of the love of God; the Freedom of it, in that he loved us first, when there was nothing in us to deserve or move affection, but our Misery; but many things which both deserv'd, and might have mov'd him to the execution of his Wrath, we being Enemies to God by wicked works. The Greatness of it, 1. In the Person sending, the great God of heaven who humbles himself even to behold what's done in heaven and earth; oh! there∣fore what is man that he should be thus mind∣ful of him? 2ly. The Person sent, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 only begotten, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 his proper Son, Rom. 8.32. for if to call God 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, his proper Father, was to make himself equal to God, Joh. 5.18. the Father himself by calling him his proper Son must equally exalt him. Hence even Episcopius here declares him to be so called, because essentiam suam à Patre per ve∣ram Generationem accepisset, he had received his Essence from the Father by a true Genera∣tion: For it is certain that the Apostle is here extolling the Love of God to the highest pitch, and therefore must use this Phrase the only be∣gotten Son of God in the sublimest sense in which that word is used in the Scripture. 3dly. The Place whither he was sent, into the world which lay in wickedness. 4thly, The Er∣rand for which he was sent, 1. To give up him∣self a Sacrifice for the Propitiation of our Sins. See Note on Chap. 2. v. 2. 2dly, To procure to us, who were dead in trespasses and Sins, eternal life.

Ver. 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Ver. 12. (And say not, that it is enough that you love God again, though you love not your Brother, ver. 20. for) No man hath seen God at any time, (as we daily see and converse with our Brother, and therefore if we love not him whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen, ver. 20. but) if we love one another (after his Example, though we see him not we may be sure that) God dwelleth in us (by his Spirit,) and (that) his love is perfected in us.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, his love is perfected in us.] He then loves us entirely, according to those words of Christ, If any man keep my words my father will love him, and we will come un∣to him, and take up our abode with him, Joh. 14.23. Or then is our love to him entire, be∣cause then we love him so as to keep his com∣mandments, Chap. 2.5. and so as to follow that example of Love which he hath set us; and as he is, so are we in the world, ver. 17.

Ver. 13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and be in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit, (who by his powerful Energies proves whose Spirit he is.)

Ver. 14. And (by the Spirit given to us according to his Promise) we have seen, (i. e. perceived,) and do testifie, that the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. (See Note on ver. 3.)

Ver. 15. Whosoever, (believing this our Te∣stimony,) shall (from his heart believe and Rom. 10.9, 19.) confess, that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God (by the spirit of Adoption.)

For to as many as received him gave he pow∣er to become the Sons of God, even to them

that believe on his name, John 1.12. And be∣cause we are Sons, God hath sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying Abba Father, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4.6. Only let it be noted, that this hearty Confession must be attended with a readiness to believe all that this Son of God hath taught us in his Father's name, for if he say the truth, why do we not believe him? Joh. 1 46. and a firm purpose to obey his Com∣mandments, for why call we him Lord, Lord, and do not the things that he saith? Luk. 6.46.

Ver. 16. And we (by this Spirit) have known, and believed the love that God hath (shewed) to us, (in sending his Son to be the Saviour of the World. v. 10, 11, 14.) God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him, (v. 7.)

Ver. 17. Herein is our Love made perfect, (i. e. exactly corresponding to the divine Pat∣tern and Command, Note on ver. 12. so) that We (who thus love) may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world, (conforming our selves to the pattern of God's affection to mankind, and walking as Christ walked, Chap. 2.6.)

Ver. 18. There is no fear (of failing at that day) in love (thus perfect,) but perfect love casteth out fear, for (that) fear (which takes away this boldness) hath torment in it, (tor∣ments the mind with dreadful Expectations, and) he that (thus) feareth is not made per∣fect in love.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, there is no fear in love.] Christ having so expresly promised a Come ye blessed to the charitable person, Matt. 25.34, 35, 36. and the Apostle recommending it as the most excellent of Christian Graces, 1 Cor. 13.13. and the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.8, 10. when this Love is made perfect in us, it may well give Boldness, and cast out fear of Condemnation in the day of Judg∣ment.

Others expound the words thus; There is no fear of what we may lose or suffer, in (perfect) love (of our Brother,) but (such) Love casteth out (this) Fear, for fear (of what we may lose or suffer) hath torment in it: (And therefore) he that thus feareth is not made perfect in love (to him.)

Ver. 19. We love him, (and testifie this love to him by loving our Brother for his sake, after his Example, and in Obedience to his Command,) because he loved us first.

That is, Whosoever thus loves God, and shews it by loving thus his Brother, can chal∣lenge nothing on that account as due from God, it being God's preventing Love to him, which gave the rife to all the Love he bears to God, or to his Brother for his sake. If therefore any person be constrained by this Love to that Obedience which testifies the sincerity of his Affection to God, or to imi∣tate his Love to us by servile Love to the Bre∣thren, 'tis the divine Philanthropy which hath excited this Affection in him. Or if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be the Subjunctive Mood, the sense runs thus. Let the great Love of God to us, mentioned ver. 9, 10. provoke us to returns of Love to him, and to our Brethren for his sake, since we do hypocritically pretend to love him, if we do not shew it by fervent Charity towards his Children, and our Brethren: for,

Ver. 20. If any man say, I love God, and (yet) hateth his brother, he is a Lyar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen.

That is, If what we have more opportuni∣ty to do, and can perform with less difficulty, we do not do, how shall we perform what is more difficult? Now we have our Christian Brethren still in our view, they are the Ob∣ject of our Senses, we daily converse with them, and their Wants and Miseries being the Objects of our Senses, must naturally move Compassion in us; and so it is less diffi∣cult to express our Love to them, than to that God whom we have not seen, and who is only present to our Minds by raised Medi∣tations, which do not naturally occur to us, and which we cannot long continue, and so is more difficult than the Love of our Brother.

Ver. 21. And (he moreover shews, by his Disobedience to the Command of God, the want of true Affection to him; for) this Com∣mandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his Brother also.