| Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
The apostle directs to the atonement of Christ for help against sinful infirmities.(1, 2)
The effects of saving knowledge in producing obedience, and love to the brethren.(3–11)
Christians addressed as little children, young men, and fathers.(12–14)
All are cautioned against the love of this world, and against errors.(15–23)
They are encouraged to stand fast in faith and holiness.(24–29)
Verses 1, 2
When have an Advocate with the Father; one who has undertaken, and is fully able, to plead in behalf of every one who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on his pleading for them. He is 「Jesus,」 the Saviour, and 「Christ,」 the Messiah, the Anointed. He alone is 「the Righteous One,」 who received his nature pure from sin, and as our Surety perfectly obeyed the law of God, and so fulfilled all righteousness. All men, in every land, and through successive generations, are invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement, and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have sinned.
Verses 3–11
What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going.
Verses 12–14
As Christians have their peculiar states, so they have peculiar duties; but there are precepts and obedience common to all, particularly mutual love, and contempt of the world. The youngest sincere disciple is pardoned: the communion of saints is attended with the forgiveness of sins. Those of the longest standing in Christ's school need further advice and instruction. Even fathers must be written unto, and preached unto; none are too old to learn. But especially young men in Christ Jesus, though they are arrived at strength of spirit and sound sense, and have successfully resisted first trials and temptations, breaking off bad habits and connexions, and entered in at the strait gate of true conversion. The different descriptions of Christians are again addressed. Children in Christ know that God is their Father; it is wisdom. Those advanced believers, who know Him that was from the beginning, before this world was made, may well be led thereby to give up this world. It will be the glory of young persons to be strong in Christ, and his grace. By the word of God they overcome the wicked one.
Verses 15–17
The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature. 1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness. 3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause. The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.
Verses 18–23
Every man is an antichrist, who denies the Person, or any of the offices of Christ; and in denying the Son, he denies the Father also, and has no part in his favour while he rejects his great salvation. Let this prophecy that seducers would rise in the Christian world, keep us from being seduced. The church knows not well who are its true members, and who are not, but thus true Christians were proved, and rendered more watchful and humble. True Christians are anointed ones; their names expresses this: they are anointed with grace, with gifts and spiritual privileges, by the Holy Spirit of grace. The great and most hurtful lies that the father of lies spreads in the world, usually are falsehoods and errors relating to the person of Christ. The unction from the Holy One, alone can keep us from delusions. While we judge favourably of all who trust in Christ as the Divine Saviour, and obey his word, and seek to live in union with them, let us pity and pray for those who deny the Godhead of Christ, or his atonement, and the new-creating work of the Holy Ghost. Let us protest against such antichristian doctrine, and keep from them as much as we may.
Verses 24–29
The truth of Christ, abiding in us, is a means to sever from sin, and unites us to the Son of God, Joh 15:3, 4. What value should we put upon gospel truth! Thereby the promise of eternal life is made sure. The promise God makes, is suitable to his own greatness, power, and goodness; it is eternal life. The Spirit of truth will not lie; and he teaches all things in the present dispensation, all things necessary to our knowledge of God in Christ, and their glory in the gospel. The apostle repeats the kind words, 「little children;」 which denotes his affection. He would persuade by love. Gospel privileges oblige to gospel duties; and those anointed by the Lord Jesus abide with him. The new spiritual nature is from the Lord Christ. He that is constant to the practice of religion in trying times, shows that he is born from above, from the Lord Christ. Then, let us beware of holding the truth in unrighteousness, remembering that those only are born of God, who bear his holy image, and walk in his most righteous ways.
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--【譯】何葉）-【校】湑然-【編】何葉2012年8月05日日)12:29 (CST)
第二章
章節大綱
第1-2節，約翰開門見山指出，基督的贖罪為着幫助我們抵擋犯罪的軟弱。
第3-11節，指出遵循順服和愛弟兄這些命令，其果效何在。
第12-14節，約翰在信中分別對小子們、青年人和長老們致辭。
第15-23節，告誡眾信徒務要警惕愛戀世界並防備謬誤。
第24-29節，鼓勵眾信徒要牢牢持守真理和聖潔。
第1-2節
我們有一位與父同在的調停者，祂已擔保並完全代表所有奉祂名求饒赦、信靠祂作辯護的人去向神求情。祂就是耶穌，是救主，是基督，是彌賽亞，是受膏者。祂是唯一公義的那一位，祂具有神的性情，全然無罪，祂作為中保徹底遵行神的律法，並由此成就了全部的公義。在世界的每一寸地土上，一切的人，世代相續，都經由這位擔當了一切的救主，憑藉這嶄新鮮活的途徑，受邀來到神的面前。福音，當實實在在、明白且領受時，便在我們的心裏為一切的罪設了防，杜絕對罪的縱容，同時給那些因犯過罪而受傷的靈魂以喜樂的撫慰。
第3-11節
怎麼能認為基督不是最配得我們完全順服的呢？不順服的生命在宣言裏表現出來的既無信仰也不忠誠。神的愛在遵守神誡命的人是完全的。神的恩典在其身上刻上了真印記，並產生出其至高無上的果效，甚至可以遍及世人，這便是人的重生了。儘管在此並沒有絕對的完全。不過，遵守基督命令的已經具有了聖潔和美善，倘若能包容一切，便可在地上如同天上。彼此相愛的命令本來從世界的最初承載而來，在此卻可以說是賜予基督徒的新命令。 這命令在他們中是新的，因為相應於命令的動機、條例和職責，他們的境況是新的了。那些行憎恨和敵視信徒的，依然處在黑暗裏。基督的愛教導我們要尊重我們弟兄的靈魂，要警醒會傷害靈魂純淨和平安的一切。靈魂的黑暗一旦滋生在腦里，那麼審判與良心也就一併暗昧了，就會認不出通向天國的道了。這一切都需要認真的自我審查；需要恆切禱告，求神指示我們我們是什麼、該往何處去。
第12-14節
基督徒有了特殊的身份，也就有了特殊的職責，不過，有些命令和順服還是需要全人共同遵守的，尤其是像要彼此相愛、輕視凡塵這樣的命令。即便最幼小的虔誠信徒也獲得了饒恕：因為聖徒的相交隨之而來的就是對罪的饒恕。那些在基督教派里最長久忍耐的人需要進一步的忠告和命令。沒有人會因年老而不能學習，即便是父輩，我們也該多多對其致信、為其講道。當然，更要緊的還是那在基督耶穌里的年輕人，儘管他們獲得了靈的力量和健全的領悟，並順利地抵擋住了最初的試煉和誘惑，絕交了惡習和惡性，進入了真皈依的苦門。約翰再一次給不同階層的基督徒致辭。在基督里的孩童認識神是他們的父，這就是明智了。那些高層次的信徒，知道神源於萬有以先，也許會受此引導而放棄世界。年輕人在基督及其恩典里變得剛強，這就是極大的榮耀了，並且，他們藉着神的道勝了那惡者。
第15-17節
對於世間萬物，信徒要按上帝意定的目標、用途去盼望和獲取，要照神的恩典，以實現神的榮耀去使用。切勿順着罪惡對其濫用的意念去加以尋求並重視。世界將人心拽離神，所以愛戀世界太多，愛神的心就更敗壞了。根據敗壞性情趨之若鶩的三大傾向，世界的種種不外乎如下幾類：1．肉體的情慾：心中不義的欲望，放縱並激惹肉體快感的一切情慾。2．眼目的情慾：眼目被財富及奢華的物質取悅，這就是貪婪的情慾。3．今生的驕傲：愛慕虛榮之人戀慕虛華生活的富麗和顯赫，追求虛名和掌聲。世界的萬有急速地腐敗消逝，情慾本身也不久就會衰微並終結，只有聖潔的情感不會像這些情慾那樣如過眼雲煙。唯有神的愛永不止息。許多人不惜以限制、定規和免除來逃避這段話的效力，這不過是徒勞。也有許多人試圖闡釋我們究竟該離開世俗慾念和愛戀多遠，然而，這些經節清晰的含義是不能隨意曲解的。除非超越塵世的勝利起自內心，否則，就沒有在心裏生根，就會衰退，至終殘留一個不結果子的結局。既然這些空虛還在迷惑我們內心以至腐化，若沒有不懈的警醒和禱告，我們就不能逃離這世界，也不能勝過這世界的權王魔頭。
第18-23節
凡否認基督位格及其使命的，都是敵基督的；不認子也就是不認父，抵擋基督的偉大救贖自然也就沒有獲得基督恩寵之份。預言明明白白地告訴我們，引誘人的會出現在基督徒的世界裏，就讓這預言保守我們免於受誘吧！教會不太知道誰真誰假，但真基督徒是受過試煉的，學會了更警惕、更謙卑；真基督徒是蒙神揀選的，他們的名傳達出他們是恩典的聖靈用恩惠、恩賜和靈的特權抹了膏油的。大而有害的謊言說謊言之父縱橫全世，通常都是對於基督位格的謬見誤論。唯有從這位聖潔者耶穌基督而來的油膏能保守我們不受矇騙。有些人信賴基督是神賜下的救主，遵循祂的命令，竭力持守在與主的相交里，而有些人則不認基督的神性，不認祂的受膏並聖靈新作的工。對於這兩類人，當我們欣然讚賞前者時，也憐憫後者並為其禱告吧！讓我們與那敵基督的種種學說鬥爭，並儘可能地遠離吧！
第24-29節
在我們裏面的基督真理是隔絕罪的方法，將我們與神的兒子聯合在一起（參看約15:3，4）。我們該何等珍視福音真理啊！由此，永生的應許是確鑿無疑的。神的應許，是稱於祂的偉大、權柄和良善的，這應許便是永生。真理的靈不會撒謊，教導我們在目前分配中的一切，教導我們在基督里認識神所預備的一切，教導我們在福音中領受父並子的一切榮耀。使徒約翰重複着和藹的話語「小子們啊」，藉此透射了他的深情厚愛。他總是用愛來勸服。福音特權賦予了福音職責。那些蒙主耶穌揀選的就得以與主同住。新生靈的性情源自主基督。那在艱難困苦中對信仰不懈操練的，表明了自己是從上而生，從主基督而來的。故而，我們要在不義中清醒持守真理，牢記只有蒙受神聖潔形象的才是唯一從神而生的，並要行走在神至正的義路上。
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