| 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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版权所有归17191164主内翻译事工群
--【译】何叶）-【校】湑然-【编】何叶2012年8月05日日)12:29 (CST)
第二章
章节大纲
第1-2节，约翰开门见山指出，基督的赎罪为着帮助我们抵挡犯罪的软弱。
第3-11节，指出遵循顺服和爱弟兄这些命令，其果效何在。
第12-14节，约翰在信中分别对小子们、青年人和长老们致辞。
第15-23节，告诫众信徒务要警惕爱恋世界并防备谬误。
第24-29节，鼓励众信徒要牢牢持守真理和圣洁。
第1-2节
我们有一位与父同在的调停者，祂已担保并完全代表所有奉祂名求饶赦、信靠祂作辩护的人去向神求情。祂就是耶稣，是救主，是基督，是弥赛亚，是受膏者。祂是唯一公义的那一位，祂具有神的性情，全然无罪，祂作为中保彻底遵行神的律法，并由此成就了全部的公义。在世界的每一寸地土上，一切的人，世代相续，都经由这位担当了一切的救主，凭借这崭新鲜活的途径，受邀来到神的面前。福音，当实实在在、明白且领受时，便在我们的心里为一切的罪设了防，杜绝对罪的纵容，同时给那些因犯过罪而受伤的灵魂以喜乐的抚慰。
第3-11节
怎么能认为基督不是最配得我们完全顺服的呢？不顺服的生命在宣言里表现出来的既无信仰也不忠诚。神的爱在遵守神诫命的人是完全的。神的恩典在其身上刻上了真印记，并产生出其至高无上的果效，甚至可以遍及世人，这便是人的重生了。尽管在此并没有绝对的完全。不过，遵守基督命令的已经具有了圣洁和美善，倘若能包容一切，便可在地上如同天上。彼此相爱的命令本来从世界的最初承载而来，在此却可以说是赐予基督徒的新命令。 这命令在他们中是新的，因为相应于命令的动机、条例和职责，他们的境况是新的了。那些行憎恨和敌视信徒的，依然处在黑暗里。基督的爱教导我们要尊重我们弟兄的灵魂，要警醒会伤害灵魂纯净和平安的一切。灵魂的黑暗一旦滋生在脑里，那么审判与良心也就一并暗昧了，就会认不出通向天国的道了。这一切都需要认真的自我审查；需要恒切祷告，求神指示我们我们是什么、该往何处去。
第12-14节
基督徒有了特殊的身份，也就有了特殊的职责，不过，有些命令和顺服还是需要全人共同遵守的，尤其是像要彼此相爱、轻视凡尘这样的命令。即便最幼小的虔诚信徒也获得了饶恕：因为圣徒的相交随之而来的就是对罪的饶恕。那些在基督教派里最长久忍耐的人需要进一步的忠告和命令。没有人会因年老而不能学习，即便是父辈，我们也该多多对其致信、为其讲道。当然，更要紧的还是那在基督耶稣里的年轻人，尽管他们获得了灵的力量和健全的领悟，并顺利地抵挡住了最初的试炼和诱惑，绝交了恶习和恶性，进入了真皈依的苦门。约翰再一次给不同阶层的基督徒致辞。在基督里的孩童认识神是他们的父，这就是明智了。那些高层次的信徒，知道神源于万有以先，也许会受此引导而放弃世界。年轻人在基督及其恩典里变得刚强，这就是极大的荣耀了，并且，他们藉着神的道胜了那恶者。
第15-17节
对于世间万物，信徒要按上帝意定的目标、用途去盼望和获取，要照神的恩典，以实现神的荣耀去使用。切勿顺着罪恶对其滥用的意念去加以寻求并重视。世界将人心拽离神，所以爱恋世界太多，爱神的心就更败坏了。根据败坏性情趋之若鹜的三大倾向，世界的种种不外乎如下几类：1．肉体的情欲：心中不义的欲望，放纵并激惹肉体快感的一切情欲。2．眼目的情欲：眼目被财富及奢华的物质取悦，这就是贪婪的情欲。3．今生的骄傲：爱慕虚荣之人恋慕虚华生活的富丽和显赫，追求虚名和掌声。世界的万有急速地腐败消逝，情欲本身也不久就会衰微并终结，只有圣洁的情感不会像这些情欲那样如过眼云烟。唯有神的爱永不止息。许多人不惜以限制、定规和免除来逃避这段话的效力，这不过是徒劳。也有许多人试图阐释我们究竟该离开世俗欲念和爱恋多远，然而，这些经节清晰的含义是不能随意曲解的。除非超越尘世的胜利起自内心，否则，就没有在心里生根，就会衰退，至终残留一个不结果子的结局。既然这些空虚还在迷惑我们内心以至腐化，若没有不懈的警醒和祷告，我们就不能逃离这世界，也不能胜过这世界的权王魔头。
第18-23节
凡否认基督位格及其使命的，都是敌基督的；不认子也就是不认父，抵挡基督的伟大救赎自然也就没有获得基督恩宠之份。预言明明白白地告诉我们，引诱人的会出现在基督徒的世界里，就让这预言保守我们免于受诱吧！教会不太知道谁真谁假，但真基督徒是受过试炼的，学会了更警惕、更谦卑；真基督徒是蒙神拣选的，他们的名传达出他们是恩典的圣灵用恩惠、恩赐和灵的特权抹了膏油的。大而有害的谎言说谎言之父纵横全世，通常都是对于基督位格的谬见误论。唯有从这位圣洁者耶稣基督而来的油膏能保守我们不受蒙骗。有些人信赖基督是神赐下的救主，遵循祂的命令，竭力持守在与主的相交里，而有些人则不认基督的神性，不认祂的受膏并圣灵新作的工。对于这两类人，当我们欣然赞赏前者时，也怜悯后者并为其祷告吧！让我们与那敌基督的种种学说斗争，并尽可能地远离吧！
第24-29节
在我们里面的基督真理是隔绝罪的方法，将我们与神的儿子联合在一起（参看约15:3，4）。我们该何等珍视福音真理啊！由此，永生的应许是确凿无疑的。神的应许，是称于祂的伟大、权柄和良善的，这应许便是永生。真理的灵不会撒谎，教导我们在目前分配中的一切，教导我们在基督里认识神所预备的一切，教导我们在福音中领受父并子的一切荣耀。使徒约翰重复着和蔼的话语“小子们啊”，借此透射了他的深情厚爱。他总是用爱来劝服。福音特权赋予了福音职责。那些蒙主耶稣拣选的就得以与主同住。新生灵的性情源自主基督。那在艰难困苦中对信仰不懈操练的，表明了自己是从上而生，从主基督而来的。故而，我们要在不义中清醒持守真理，牢记只有蒙受神圣洁形象的才是唯一从神而生的，并要行走在神至正的义路上。
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