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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN

CHAPTER FOUR:
HOW TO KNOW TRUTH AND LOVE OF GOD

[“Knowing Relationship”]

1 John 4:1 – Believe Not Every Spirit

1JN4:1 Beloved, do not believe every claim of inspiration, 194 but test the inspirations and so be sure they are from The God, 195 because many pseudo-prophets have gone forth into the world-order of humanity. 196

194

Do not believe every claim of inspiration: The Greek is PNEUMATI. [pneumatic] Or, KJV: believe not every spirit; NEB: do not trust any and every spirit; GDS: do not believe every inspired utterance; KNX: not all prophetic spirits, brethren, deserve your credence; BAR: do not trust every man who claims to be inspired by the Spirit. Having mentioned the indwelling Pneuma in the previous verse John now warns the community about a variety of prophets who have appeared on the scene. It seems by the use of pneumatic he alludes to the so-called inspired messages coming from different quarters, particularly the Gnostics. John is the last ‘restraint’ (2 Thessalonians 2:1-9) against the flood of fermenting weeds foretold by the Nazarene. (See notes on Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:37-43) It is the “last hour” and “many antichrists have appeared.” One way to test any message and the source of its inspiration is to imitate the noble Boreans: Acts 17:11, “Now the Beroeans were more admirable than those in Thessalonica. They accepted Paul’s message with considerable enthusiasm of thought. They would readily examine the Scriptures every day if these things might be so.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Every member of the Christian community is charged by the beloved apostle John to examine against Scripture every message they hear or read. No Christian teacher can protest against such a test or insist his or her view cannot be challenged in a proper manner. Paraphrase of verse 1, “My dearly beloved friends, do not put your trust in every ‘inspiration’. Rather, test out these ‘inspirations’ to know whether they originate with God. The need for this is because many false prophets have proceeded from the world.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

195

Test the inspirations and so be sure they are from The God: The Greek is PNEUMATA. Or, KJV: try the spirits; MOF: test the spirits. The word “spirits” may mean “inspirations” or so-called inspired messages on the part of the many prophets circulating among the early Church. Romans 12:2, “… prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Even Jesus was tested: John 8:6, “… they were saying this to put him to the test.” Romans 2:18, “… and test the things that differ.” (RHM) Revelation 2:2, “You do not put up with harmful persons and you put to the test those who claim to be apostles. It turned out they were not but were liars.” Since we are so charged by John there is nothing wrong in testing or proving a message whether spoken or written. 2 Timothy 4:3, 4, “For a certainty the time is coming when they will no longer tolerate healthy teaching, but instead they will appoint their own teachers to suit their fancy and to tickle their ears. They will turn away for sure from listening to the Truth, and instead they will turn aside to myths.” [NCMM Paraphrase] [Compare also 1 Timothy 4:1, 2.] One danger is turning an ear toward what one wants to hear rather than the truth or the will of God.

196

Many pseudo-prophets have gone forth into the world-order of humanity: The Greek is PSEUDOPROPHETAI. Or, KJV: false prophets. There Scriptures reveal several ways to test or prove a prophet’s message. Deuteronomy 18:20-22, “Now the prophet who claims to speak in My Name a message that I never commanded – or who speaks in the name of other gods – that prophet should be put to death. However, the situation may arise where someone will ask in their heart: ‘How will we be able to recognize the message that Yehowah did not speak?’ When such a prophet speaks in the name of Yehowah and the prophecy does not come true, that is the message that Yehowah never spoke. Such a prophet was brash and arrogant when he spoke. Such a prophet should never cause you fear.” [NCMM Paraphrase] So, if a prophecy did not come true as predicted it was not from Jehovah. There would be no need to fear the authority of such a presumptuous prophet. 1 Timothy 4:1, 2, “But, now, the Pneuma expressly says that in latter times some will apostatize from the Faith. They will give heed to deceitful ‘inspirations’ and the doctrines of demons. These speak in [the] hypocrisy of those [who] utter falsehoods, their own conscience having been seared.” [NCMM Paraphrase] If teachings “mislead” from Scriptural truth, or have as their source teachings of the demons, they are not from The God of our Master Jesus. Also, there are certain messages that our Lord particularly identified as something to avoid: Luke 21:8 and Mark 13:21, 22, “Jesus told them: Beware that you are not deceived, for many pseudo-anointed will come claiming my authority, preaching, ‘The time is at hand,’ or, ‘The Christ is here!’ Do not join them.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Peter and Jude go to lengths to characterize false prophets and teachers. Read the Epistle of Jude and the second chapter of 2 Peter. False prophets and teachers will disown the teachings of doctrine of Jesus the Nazarene.

1 John 4:2-3 – How to Know the Source

1JN4:2 In this way you will know 197 the Pneuma of The God: every inspired message that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh comes from The God. 198

197

In this way you will know: Or, KJV: hereby know ye the Spirit of God; WEY: the test by which you ma recognize the Spirit of God is that; MOF: you can recognize the Spirit of God by this; NEB: this is how we can recognize the Spirit of God. Like Moses identifying a true prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) John now narrows the identifying feature of a truly inspired message. Paraphrase of verses 2, 3, “This is the way you will recognize the inspiration of God: every inspiration that confesses Jesus Christ came in the flesh has its source in God. In contrast, every ‘inspiration’ which does not confess Jesus does not have God as its source. This ‘inspiration’ is the one which comes from the antichrist which you heard was going to makes its appearance. The antichrist is already in the world right now.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

198

Every inspired message that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh comes from The God: Or, GDS: every inspired utterance that acknowledges. One of the most powerful growing influences in the Church were the Gnostics who believe Jesus was only a phantom, a ghost who appeared in flesh but was not really physical. It for this reason John makes the statement here. John uses EN SARKI (in flesh) whereas Paul mentions the true manhood or humankind of Jesus Christ in the word ANTHROPOU (human) making the manifest Word a true “anthropoid” like his human fellows. Regarding this “anthropoid” Paul writes “ADAM HOS ESTI TUPOS… TOU HENOS ANTHROPOU IESOU CHRISTOU.” (Adam who is a type of the one man Jesus Christ). (Romans 5:14, 15, 19) Paul makes a similar comparison in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49. Thus the Son of God is true man, a real anthropoid and for this reason calls himself Son of man. He was not a ghost, or phantasm, or materialized spirit. Caution must be exercised here because John’s words were written in a precise context. Just because someone today teaches that Jesus came in the flesh is not a guarantee that the person is inspired of God and that everything else he or she teaches must also be true.

1JN4:3 And every inspired message that does not confess Jesus is not from The God. 199 And this is the [inspired message] of the antichrist which you heard was coming and is already now present in the world of humanity. 200

199

Every inspired message that does not confess Jesus is not from The God: Or, NEB: does not thus acknowledge Jesus. The Gnostics (‘Knowers’) believed, like some of the ancient Greek philosophers, that all flesh was evil, and therefore Jesus was only a ghost. There is no universal agreement on the Gnostics though the Nag Hammadi codices shed some light. To John it is very simple: if an ‘inspiration’ does not confess Jesus is simply not from God. Such a distinction is now highly obscured in the modern explosion of thousands of Christian sects. John 1:14, “So the Word became flesh and live right among us. We experienced his glory.” [NCMM Paraphrase] 1 Corinthians 12:3, “No on speaking by the inspiration of God ever says: ‘Curse Jesus!’ Also no one can say, ‘Jesus is Master!’ save by the holy Pneuma.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Revelation 19:10, “Inspired prophecy originates from the testimony of Jesus.” [NCMM Paraphrase] The Scriptures are inspired of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 puts it this way, “All Scripture is God- breathed [THEO-PNEUSTOS].” [NCMM Paraphrase] “Confess.” Greek HOMOLOGEI (same + speech) Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Volume 1, pages 344-347: “… to say the same, to agree with one’s statement… occurs 26 times in the NT (10 times in John)… An integral part of true faith is the public confession of the incarnate Son of God, for fellowship with God is dependent on it. It is a mark of true christology in the face of heretical movements, possibly Gnostic, which denied the identity of Jesus with the Christ. John never means isolated teachings, when he writes of confession, but the whole truth which produces fellowship with God. This truth is not a theological proposition but the person of Jesus. In his confession a man indicates that he stands by the fact of Christ and submits his life to it. It becomes a touchstone, a sign which tests the spirits.”

200

The antichrist which you heard was coming and is already now present in the world of humanity: See notes on 1 John 2:18. 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “The mystery of this lawlessness is already at work.” Compare the word lawlessness in the notes on Matthew 7:21-23 and Matthew 13:41. The foretold apostasy is reaching full bloom with one ancient apostle left to restrain it. The antichrist(s) is not some future individual expected at the End-Times but is already present and active as Paul also agreed 30 years earlier. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

1 John 4:4-6 – How to Know the Truth

1JN4:4 Little children, you are from The God, 201 and because the One in you is greater than the one in the world-order, 202 you have conquered them. 203

201

Little children, you are from The God: Or, NEB: but you, my children, are of God’s family. 1 John 5:19, “We realize God is our source while the entire world is under the control of the Wicked One.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Paraphrase of verses 4-6, “My little children, you have God as your source. Because the One within you is greater that the worldly antichrists. You have triumphed over them. These antichrists are worldly. They speak worldly things and so the world listens to their messages. We have God as our source. The individual with an intimate relationship with God listens to us. Those who do not originate with God do no listen to us. This is how we identify the inspiration of truth and the inspiration of error.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

202	Because the One in you is greater than the one in the world-order: Or, the message from you is greater than the message from them. (2 Chronicles 20:6) That is, “since it is God who resides within you, you are stronger than the world.”

203	You have conquered them: Or, KJV: have overcome them; NEB: you have the mastery over these false prophets. 1 John 5:4, “Anyone God-born overcomes the world.”

1JN4:5 They are from the world-order of humanity. 204 They speak about the world-order 205 and so the world-order listens to them. 206

204	They are from the world-order of humanity: Or, BEC: these men belong to the world. John 15:19, “If you were worldly the world would love their own.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

205

They speak about the world-order: Or, WEY: and so their language is that of the world. In the later development of the Jesus movement there was a worldly tendency to compromise simple Christian truth and remake it in the philosophical language of the Greek world. People and groups are identified by their language and the subjects of their discussions. Their vocabulary and syntax makes their identity known. “Buzz-words” quickly reveal who a person is and where he is coming from.

206	The world-order listens to them: Or, PME: pays attention to what they say.

1JN4:6 We are from The God. 207 The person knowing The God listens to us. 208 Whoever is not from The God does not listen to us. 209 From this we know the truthfully inspired-message and the erroneous inspired-message. 210

207	We are from The God: Or, NOR: we, on the other hand, are God’s people. (1 John 3:10) When John says “we” he means the Saints, those who have “the anointing” he mentions in 1 John 2:20 and particularly those who represent Christ as “apostles.” (3 John 9)

208

The person knowing The God listens to us: Or, BER: whoever has acquaintance with God listens to us. John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice.” Those who truly “know” God in intimate acquaintance will automatically listen to the “anointed” who have kept the word of those original teachings of the Nazarene Master

209	Whoever is not from The God does not listen to us: Or, NEB: refuses us a hearing. John 8:47, “The person who originates from The God listens to the Sayings of The God. This is the reason you never listen, because you do not originate from The God.” (John 14:17 [NCMM Paraphrase])

210

From this we know the truthfully inspired-message and the erroneous inspired-message: Or, WEY: by this test we can distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error; MOF: this is how we recognize. (1 John 4:1) John’s argument is simple: if you are from God you will listen to us; if you are not from God you will not listen to us. It is the same argument Jesus used. (John 8:47) This recognition of those teachings coming from the “anointed” is the simple test of what is truth and what is error – this in response to 4.1. The test of “inspired expressions” is three-fold: a) listen to righteous anointed persons; b) confess a flesh and blood Christ; c) a loving spirit.

1 John 4:7-10 – Love Demonstrates God-Birth

1JN4:7 Beloved, may we continue to show compassionate affection to one another, 211 because such Love is from The God, 212 and every person who shows compassionate affection is born from The God 213 and so such a person knows The God. 214

211

May we continue to show compassionate affection to one another: Or, love, benevolent empathy. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: “Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son, I John 4:9, 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Romans 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, cp. Deuteronomy 7:7, 8.” (1981, Volume 3, page 21) 1 Peter 1:22, “Show intense compassionate affection for one another.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Based on 1 John 3:16, 17 this love is no mere abstraction or feeling of sentimentality but manifest, according to John, in physical charity and that self-surrender which manifests the spirit of Philippians 2:4, “Pay attention not just to your own self but also the concerns of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:24, “Let everyone continue to seek self-interests but the interests of others.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Paraphrase of verses 7-10, “My loved ones, let us all continue to have loving concern for each other, because this kind of loving concern is from God. Every individual who continues to show loving concern is God-born. Such a person has an intimate relationship with God. The individual who refuses to show loving concern has no intimate relationship with God because God is love. This is how God’s loving concern was revealed to us: God sent His only-begotten Son into this world so that we might live because of him. This loving concern is a case, not of us loving God, but of His loving concern for us. He sent forth His Son as a joyous atonement for our sins.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

212

Because such Love is from The God: That is, compassionate affection; benevolent empathy. Or, KNX: springs from God; WMS: originates with God. The origin of “love” is not from Christ as he confessed he can “do nothing of himself” but from that Absolute Source of goodness – God. The first expression of “love” was the Son and the ultimate expression of “love” is through the Son and by the Son’s own sacrifice.

213	Every person who shows compassionate affection is born from The God: See 1 John 3:6, 9; 4:16. It seems he speaks of a divine kind of love as well limiting his thought to those who have “received” Christ (John 1:12, 13) and experienced regeneration. (John 3:3-5)

214	Such a person knows The God: That is, is acquainted with; experiences a close relationship. As elsewhere “know” (GINOSKEI) is more than intellectual knowledge. It is rather and intimate relationship with the Father. (Romans 8:15-17)

1JN4:8 The person who does not show compassionate affection does not know The God 215 because The God is love. 216

215

The person who does not show compassionate affection does not know The God: Or, WEY: has no knowledge of; RHM: doth not understand. Despite all claims and attestations those without love, those who do not manifest or characterize themselves as loving persons, do not “know” God in intimate acquaintance. They are liars and hypocrites according to John. Just as the sin mentioned by John above is something habitual, just so the love here described is something done consistently to both friends and enemies.

216	The God is love: God is the absolute personification of “love”. It is interesting to note John does not says, “The Son is love.” Exodus 34:6, “Yahweh, Yahweh, a God compassionate and beneficent, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness and loyalty.” (Micah 7:18 [NCMM Paraphrase])

1JN4:9 This is how the compassionate affection of The God was manifested in us, 217 because The God sent forth His only-begotten Son 218 into the world-order of humanity so that we might live through him. 219

217	This is how the compassionate affection of The God was manifested in us: Or, RSV: in this the love of God was made manifest among us; GDS: God’s love to us has been revealed in this way; MOF: this is how the love of God has appeared to us; MON: in this was the love of God clearly shown to us.

218

The God sent forth His only-begotten Son: God’s sending of His Son to save humanity is His premier example of love. Love almost always involves some form of sacrifice. The Greek is MONOGENES. (See John 1:18) Or, RSV: his only Son. Mono + genes means the Son is monogenetic of the Father; that is, the only one genetically related to God. (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1889, p. 417; Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford, 1968, p. 1144) Edward Robinson’s Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament (1885, p. 471) defines MONOGENES as: “only born, only begotten, i.e. an only child.” The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by W. Hickie (1956, p. 123) has: “only begotten.” The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by G. Kittel, says: “The mono- [mo-no-] does not denote the source but the nature of derivation. Hence monogenes [mo-no-ge-nes] means ‘of sole descent,’ i.e., without brothers or sisters. This gives us the sense of only-begotten. The ref. is to the only child of one’s parents, primarily in relation to them…. But the word can also be used more generally without ref. to derivation in the sense of ‘unique,’ ‘unparalleled,’ ‘incomparable,’ though one should not confuse the refs. to class or species and to manner.”-Translator and editor, G. Bromiley, 1969, Vol. IV, p. 738.

219	We might live through him: Or, TCN: that we might find Life through him. How closely associated love is with life. Ideally all things were born or came into existence – receiving life – out of love and now in manifestation of this perfect ideal true “life is through the Son.”

1JN4:10 By this we come to understand divine compassionate affection. Not that we have loved The God, but that He loved us. 220 And He sent forth His Son as a propitiatory [sacrifice] concerning our sins. 221

220

By this we come to understand divine compassionate affection. Not that we have loved The God, but that He loved us: Or, MOF: love lies in this, not in our love for God but in his love for us; GDS: the love consist not in our having loved God, but in his loving us; RSV: in this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us. (See notes at 1 John 4:19) Romans 3:25, 26, “As a gift given freely, by His unmerited favor, they are pronounced innocent by the atonement in Christ Jesus. [It is him] whom The God exhibited for a display – as an atonement by believing in the blood [of Jesus] – while in the past God tolerated the sins which previously occurred, exhibiting His righteousness.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

221	A propitiatory [sacrifice] concerning our sins: The Greek is HILASMON. Or, GDS: atoning sacrifice; RSV: the expiation; PME: personal atonement. (See notes on 1 John 2:2.) To John one of the worst sins is failure to demonstrate charity to brothers and sisters in need.

1 John 4:11-16a – Knowing God’s Love

1JN4:11 Beloved, if The God showed such compassionate affection to us, 222 we also owe it to one another to show compassionate affection. 223

222

God showed such compassionate affection to us: Or, BEC: dear friends, if that’s how God loved us. Paraphrase of verses 11-16, “My beloved friends, if this is the way God showed benevolent empathy for us, we are obliged to continue showing benevolent empathy for each other. Never has anyone ever seen God. If we always continue showing benevolent empathy for one another, God dwells within us and His benevolent empathy for us is complete. Because God has given us His Pneuma we have become aware that He dwells in us and we in Him. Also, we have experienced Him and so we give our testimonial evidence that the Father sent His Son as Savior of the world. God dwells in any person who acknowledges that Jesus Christ is the Son of the God – and such a person dwells in God. And so we have experienced and trusted that benevolent empathy God has shown us.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

223	We also owe it to one another to show compassionate affection: That is, obligated. Or, BEC: then we should love one another. (See notes on 1 John 3:16; John 15:12; Romans 13:8) To John this “love” is manifest in charity.

1JN4:12 At no time has any one viewed God. 224 If we are always show compassionate affection to one another The God remains in us 225 and His own compassionate affection is perfected in us 226 it is.

224

At no time has any one viewed God: Or, KJV: no man hath seen God at any time; WEY: no one has ever seen God; TCN: no human eyes have ever seen God. Exodus 33:20, “No person may see me and remain alive.” John 1:18, “No person has ever seen God.” John 5:37, “None of you has either heard God’s voice or ever seen His form.” John 6:46, “The only one who has seen the Father is the One who came from The God.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

225	If we are always show compassionate affection to one another The God remains in us: Or, KJV: if we love one another; MOF: God then remains within us; PME: God does actually live within us. This “love” is manifest in charity.

226	His own compassionate affection is perfected in us: Or, MOF: and love for him is complete in us; PME: his love grows in us toward perfection. (See notes on 1 John 2:5.)

1JN4:13 By this we know we remain in Him and He in us, 227 because He has given us the Pneuma from Him. 228

227	By this we know we remain in Him and He in us: Or, MOF: this is how we may be sure we remain in him and he in us; TCN: we know that we remain in union with him. John 15:4, “Abide in me and I abide in you.” (John 6:56)

228	Because He has given us the Pneuma from Him: Or, MOF: given us a share in his own Spirit; TCN: by his having given us some measure of his Spirit. (See notes on 1 John 3:24)

1JN4:14 And we have viewed Him 229 and are giving our testimony 230 that the Father sent forth His Son, savior of the world of humanity 231.

229

We have viewed Him: The Greek is TETHEAMETHA. [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2300] Or, KJV: we have seen; ASV: we have beheld; PME: we ourselves are eyewitnesses. Job 19:26, “In desiccated flesh I will see God.” [NCMM Paraphrase] It would seem John means they have experienced or comprehended God. He uses the word as a figure of speech.

230	Giving our testimony: Or, ASV: bear witness; PME: willing to testify to the fact. (See notes on 1 John 1:2) John uses a form of “testify” or “witness” 16 times in 1 John.

231	The Father sent forth His Son, savior of the world of humanity: Or, BEC: to save the world. Compare Matthew 1:21; John 3:17. John 4:42, “… we know that this man is for a certainty the savior of the world.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

1JN4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus Christ is the Son of The God, 232 The God remains in that one and that one remains in The God. 233

232	Whoever confesses that Jesus Christ is the Son of The God: Or, TCN: acknowledges. As in John 1:12, 13 John taught that anyone or whoever receives and confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah is a child of the Father. (Compare 1 John 5:1; Romans 8:14)

233	The God remains in that one and that one remains in The God: KJV: dwelleth; WMS: remains in union with. Romans 10:9, “For if you testify and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and deeply believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” [NCMM Paraphrase] (1 John 2:23)

1JN4:16a And we have known and we have believed the compassionate affection which The God has shown us. 234

234	We have known and we have believed the compassionate affection which The God has shown us: Or, RHM: we have come to understand and to trust the love which God hath in us; WMS: so we know by experience.

1 John 4:16b-19 – God’s Love Perfected

1JN4:16b The God is love, 235 and the person remaining in the love is remaining in The God 236 and The God is remaining in that person. 237

235

God is love: That is, “God is empathy in positive action seeking the highest good of another.” One of the most famous and quoted statements in the Bible. This verse 16 is split in some paragraphs so this one is called 16b. The Greek is HO THEOS AGAPE ESTIN. See notes on 1 John 4:8. Agape may be defined as “concern based on motive and principle demonstrated by some action.” This may either be a godly motivated or selfishly motivated. So there may be a hypocritical agape or a concern based on wrong principle or motive. Here John uses the article so it is “the Love” referring to a specific kind in imitation of God. For more details see Nazarene Commentary 2000© notes on 1 Corinthians 13:1ff. Paraphrase of verses 16-19, “God is compassionate affection in action. The individual who abides in such compassionate affection abides in God. God abides in that kind of individual. In this manner compassionate affection is made complete within us. Therefore we will be able to speak freely on the Day of Judgment. The reason for this is because just as that One is so we are also in this world-order. Where compassionate affection exists there is no need to be frightened because perfect compassionate affection drives fear away. The individual not perfected in compassionate affection is still frightened because fear implies a judgment. We continue to show compassionate affection because He showed compassionate affection toward us first.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

236	The person remaining in the love is remaining in The God: Or, BER: and he who continues in love continues in God and God continues in him; BAR: lives a life of love. See notes on Matthew 22:37.

237	God is remaining in that person: Or, BAR: he enters into the life of God. See John 17:21.

1JN4:17 In this way the Love [of God] has been perfected with us, 238 so that we may have freedom of speech in the Day of the Judgment. 239 Because just as that One is, so also we are in this world-order of humanity. 240

238

In this way the Love [of God] has been perfected with us: Or, KJV: herein is our love made perfect; TCN: it is through this that love has attained its perfection in us; WEY: in this will love in its perfection be displayed in us. The Church is one of the most perfect examples of God’s love and will be an object lesson throughout the ages to come. (See notes on Ephesians 2:7.)

239

So that we may have freedom of speech in the Day of the Judgment: Or, KJV: boldness; MOF: absolute confidence; GDS: perfect confidence; BAR: on the day of judgment we have nothing to fear. All claiming Jesus as Lord will be raised to their personal judgment before the throne of Christ upon his Return. (John 5:28; 2 Corinthians 5:10) This occurs during the parousia-judgment when the Master returns to inspect his Household. (Matthew 24:44-25:46; 1 Corinthians 4:5) Compare the notes on 1 John 2:28. Research the word judgment, or see the Biblical Article God and Judgment. (Hebrews 9:26) Hebrews 4:16, “So with a freedom of speech let us approach the Throne of Grace so that we may receive divine mercy and Grace when we need help.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

240

Because just as that One is, so also we are in this world-order of humanity: Or, KJV: because as he is, so are we in this world; MOF: since in this world we are living as he is; PME: for we realize our life in this world is actually his life lived in us; BAR: our relationship with to the world is the same as his was. John 17:18, “Just as you sent me forth into the world-order of humanity, I also sent them forth into the world-order.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

1JN4:18 There is no fear in love, 241 but the perfect love expels fear outside, 242 because such fear cuts us off. 243 The person who continues to be afraid has not been perfected in the love. 244

241

There is no fear in love: Or, MOF: love has no dread in it; NEB: there is no room for fear in love; AR: if a man is still afraid, he has not yet experienced love in all of its perfection. Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive a slave’s bent of mind shrinking in fear, but you received a mental disposition as adopted sons, and so because of this attitude we can cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” [NCMM Paraphrase] There is no fear, dread, or sense of condemnation between two loving parties. The verse is much abused. The meaning is: if a person has continued in a path of hate and been lacking in love – that is, has failed to be charitable to brothers and sisters in need – such a Christian is bothered by a sinking feeling that he or she has fallen terribly short of God’s commandment to love. Note Hebrews 10:27 which could be considered a commentary on this verse.

242

Perfect love expels fear outside: [compassionate affection; benevolent empathy] Or, BER: perfect love expels fear; TCN: love, when perfect, drives out fear; NEB: perfect love banishes fear. In other words: the Christian who has practiced loving charity after the manner of Matthew 5:45-48 and Luke 6:30-35 need have no lingering dread when standing before God’s judgment. Those who remain fearful within their inner selves know down deep they were never those who were self-sacrificing in their loving charity to others. For example, consider the farmer in the parable of Luke 12:13-21: He will live in fear when he knows that he has failed to use his blessings in caring for the needy. 2 Timothy 1:7, “The God has given us no cowardly attitude but rather a dynamic love in healthy thinking.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

243

Such fear cuts us off: Or, BAR: perfect love banishes fear. The Greek is KOLASIN [W&H] and means a pruning or lopping off. The RT uses BALLO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #906, to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls]. Or, KJV: because fear hath torment; TCN: implies punishment; NWT: acts as a restraint (WEY, GDS) John is explaining why we will have free speech – and not shame (1 John 2:28; Daniel 12:2) – before the judgment throne: because our love and God’s love is complete and perfected. Verse 20 identifies this love as the opposite of a lack of empathy toward someone in the fellowship. John had heard the Nazarene’s parable of the sheep and goats which ends with this same word, KOLASIN. (See notes on Matthew 25:46.) The everlasting punishment or cutting off is endless extinction. (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 20:13-15) There are two ways members of the Church (the sheep and goats) will approach the throne: heads up, bravely, without fear and with freeness of speech; or, cowering in fear and shame. (1 John 2:28; Daniel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

244

The person who continues to be afraid has not been perfected in the love: Or, TCN: and the man who feels fear has not attained to perfect love; WEY: and if a man fears, there is something imperfect in his love; KNX: the man who is still afraid has not yet reached the full measure of love. (See notes on 1 John 2:5) Compare Hebrews 10:19-22. It is the conscience of the rich but stingy person who will experience this fear.

1JN4:19 We show compassionate affection because he first showed us compassionate affection. 245

245	We show compassionate affection because he first showed us compassionate affection: See notes on 1 John 4:10.

1 John 4:20-21 – Love God, Then Love Everyone

1JN4:20 If anyone should ever say, “I continue to love The God,” 246 and continues to hate a fellow member, 247 is a liar. 248 For the person who does not continue to show a fellow member compassionate affection – someone that can be seen 249 – is incapable of loving The God who cannot be seen. 250

246

If anyone should ever say, “I continue to love The God”: Or, KJV: I love God. John likely has someone or a group in mind. Compare 1 John 1:6, 8; 10. Paraphrase of verses 20, 21, “If any individual claims, ‘I have love God!’ and yet refuses to show compassionate affection to another Christian by means of charity – such a person is a liar! For the individual who refuses to have compassionate affection by showing charity to another Christian whom can be seen can never love God whom cannot be seen. Understand the commandment we all received from God: anyone who loves God also continues to show compassionate affection a fellow Christian.” [NCMM Paraphrase]

247	And continues to hate a fellow member: Or, WMS: habitually hates; NEB: while hating. This “hate” is manifest mainly in failure to show charity and hospitality when others are in need. (Compare 1 John 3:17 and 3 John 9-11.)

248	A liar: Or, BAS: his words are false.

249	For the person who does not continue to show a fellow member compassionate affection – someone that can be seen: See notes on 1 John 4:12.

250	Incapable of loving The God who cannot be seen: The Greek for “seen” here is HEORAKEN. See notes on 1 John 4:12.

1JN4:21 And this is the commandment we have received from Him, 251 so that the person loving The God must also continue to show compassionate affection to a fellow member. 252

251	This is the commandment we have received from Him: Research the word commandment(s) in the Gospel of John (10 times) and John’s epistles. (1 John, 14 times; 2 John, 4 times)

252

The person loving The God must also continue to show compassionate affection to a fellow member: Or, TCN: he who loves God must also love his brother; BER: the lover of God shall love his brother too; KNX: the man who loves God must be one who loves his brother as well. Note that the Nazarene carries this even further. (See notes at Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:32-36.) John has already written that this love is manifest in charity. [1 John 3:16, 17]