THINKING STUDENTLY – Part 3
Tuesday, January 03, 2017
As most of you
know, I am retired. This does not mean however that I have more time than you.
It means I have much more flexibility than when I punched a time clock and wore
a watch. I do my best to manage my time, including listening to my body clock.
Yesterday I knew at 5pm I should quit tasking, dine, thereafter do no more than
required, read and watch TV, then asleep at my normal 10pm.
One occupation I
enjoy is reading, studying, meditating, keyboarding for those of you still
restricted by time clocks and watches. Sharing my daily thoughts (DTs) is but
one piece of my time. Putting together in-depth Bible studies for inmates and
other interested parties is a connected service project.
Recently, due to
IRP by Pastor Bob Myers in Wednesday evening Bible study group, I decided to
put together a package on 1John (ESV). I’ve taken the entire book and after each
verse put Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible. Using this size font (Calibri 11)
it is 78 pages. Several have already requested and received a copy. One lady
completed the study in just over 2 weeks.
Hard copies require
page turning. Using e-Sword as I do does not as by simply moving cursor over
Bible references pops up the verse. To read verse reference in context I simply
click on the reference and the entire chapter context pops up in a quadrant of
my screen.
Below is sample
using first two verses of 1John. If you are interested in receiving the 78 page
work, just ask. Soon I’ll be doing the same with 2John and 3John.
EBB4
1Jn
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we
have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life,
That which
was from the beginning - There
can be no doubt that the reference here is to the Lord Jesus Christ, or the
“Word” that was made flesh. See the notes at Joh_1:1.
This is such language as John would use respecting him, and indeed the phrase
“the beginning,” as applicable to the Lord Jesus, is unique to John in the
writings of the New Testament: and the language here may be regarded as one
proof that this Epistle was written by him, for it is just such an expression
as “he” would use, but not such as one would be likely to adopt who should attempt
to palm off his own writings as those of John. One who should have attempted
that would have been likely to introduce the name “John” in the beginning of
the Epistle, or in some way to have claimed his authority. The apostle, in
speaking of “that which was from the beginning,” uses a word in the neuter
gender instead of the masculine, (ὅ ho.) It is not to be supposed, I think, that he meant to apply this term
“directly” to the Son of God, for if he had he would have used the masculine
pronoun; but though he had the Son of God in view, and meant to make a strong
affirmation respecting him, yet the particular thing here referred to was
“whatever” there was respecting that incarnate Saviour that furnished testimony
to any of the senses, or that pertained to his character and doctrine, he had
borne witness to.
He was looking rather at the evidence that he was
incarnate; the proofs that he was manifested; and he says that those proofs had
been subjected to the trial of the senses, and he had borne witness to them,
and now did it again. This is what is referred to, it seems to me, by the
phrase “that which,” (ὅ ho.) The sense may be this: “Whatever there was respecting the Word of
life, or him who is the living Word, the incarnate Son of God, from the very
beginning, from the time when he was first manifested in the flesh; whatever
there was respecting his exalted nature, his dignity, his character, that could
be subjected to the testimony of the senses, to be the object of sight, or
hearing, or touch, that I was permitted to see, and that I declare to you
respecting him.” John claims to be a competent witness in reference to
everything which occurred as a manifestation of what the Son of God was.
If this be the correct interpretation, then the
phrase “from the beginning” (ἀπ ̓ ἀρχῆς ap' archēs does not here refer to his eternity, or his being in the beginning of
all things, as the phrase “in the beginning” (ἐν
ἀρχῇ en archē) does in Joh_1:1; but rather means from the very commencement
of his manifestation as the Son of God, the very first indications on earth of
what he was as the Messiah. When the writer says 1Jo_1:3
that he “declares” this to them, it seems to me that he has not reference
merely to what he would say in this Epistle, for he does not go extensively
into it here, but that he supposes that they had his Gospel in their
possession, and that he also means to refer to that, or presumes that they were
familiar with the testimony which he had borne in that Gospel respecting the
evidence that the “Word became flesh.” Many have indeed supposed that this
Epistle accompanied the Gospel when it was published, and was either a part of
it that became subsequently detached from it, or was a letter that accompanied
it. See Hug, Introduction P. II. Section 68. There is, it seems to me,
no certain evidence of that; but no one can doubt that he supposed that those
to whom he wrote had access to that Gospel, and that he refers here to the
testimony which he had borne in that respecting the incarnate Word.
Which we have heard - John was with the Saviour through the whole of his ministry, and he
has recorded more that the Saviour said than either of the other evangelists.
It is on what he said of himself that he grounds much of the evidence that he
was the Son of God.
Which we have seen with our eyes - That is, pertaining to his person, and to what he did. “I have seen
him; seen what he was as a man; how he appeared on earth; and I have seen
whatever there was in his works to indicate his character and origin.” John
professes here to have seen enough in this respect to furnish evidence that he
was the Son of God. It is not hearsay on which he relies, but he had the
testimony of his own eyes in the case. Compare the notes at 2Pe_1:16.
Which we have looked upon - The word used here seems designed to be more emphatic or intensive
than the one occurring before. He had just said that he had “seen him with his
eyes,” but he evidently designs to include an idea in this word which would
imply something more than mere beholding or seeing. The additional idea which
is couched in this word seems to be that of desire or pleasure; that is, that
he had looked on him with desire, or satisfaction, or with the pleasure with
which one beholds a beloved object. Compare Mat_11:7;
Luk_7:24; Joh_1:14;
Joh_11:45. See Robinson, Lexicon. There was an
intense and earnest gaze, as when we behold one whom we have desired to see, or
when one goes out purposely to look on an object. The evidences of the
incarnation of the Son of God had been subjected to such an intense and earnest
gaze.
And our hands have handled - That is, the evidence that he was a man was subjected to the sense of
touch. It was not merely that he had been seen by the eye, for then it might be
pretended that this was a mere appearance assumed without reality; or that what
occurred might have been a mere optical illusion; but the evidence that he
appeared in the flesh was subjected to more senses than one; to the fact that
his voice was heard; that he was seen with the eyes; that the most intense
scrutiny had been employed; and, lastly, that he had been actually touched and
handled, showing that it could not have been a mere appearance, an assumed
form, but that it was a reality. This kind of proof that the Son of God had appeared
in the flesh, or that he was truly and properly a man, is repeatedly referred
to in the New Testament. Luk_24:39; “behold my
hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones as ye see me have.” Compare Joh_20:25-27.
There is evident allusion here to the opinion which early prevailed, which was
held by the Docetes, that the Son of God did not truly and really become a man,
but that there was only an appearance assumed, or that he seemed to be a man.
See the Introduction, Section 3. It was evidently with reference to this
opinion, which began early to prevail, that the apostle dwells on this point,
and repeats the idea so much, and shows by a reference to all the senses which
could take any cognizance in the case, that he was truly and properly a man.
The amount of it is, that we have the same evidence that he was properly a man
which we can have in the case of any other human being; the evidence on which
we constantly act, and in which we cannot believe that our senses deceive us.
Of the Word of life - Respecting, or pertaining to, the Word of life. “That is, whatever
there was pertaining to the Word of life, which was manifested from the
beginning in his speech and actions, of which the senses could take cognizance,
and which would furnish the evidence that he was truly incarnate, that we have
declared unto you.’ The phrase “the Word of life,” means the Word in which life
resided, or which was the source and fountain of life. See the notes at Joh_1:1, Joh_1:3.
The reference is undoubtedly to the Lord Jesus Christ.
==/
1Jn
1:2 (for the Life was revealed, and we have seen it and bear witness, and show to you the
everlasting Life, who was with the Father and was revealed to us),
For the
life was manifested - Was
made manifest or visible unto us. He who was the life was made known to people
by the incarnation. He appeared among people so that they could see him and
hear him. Though originally with God, and dwelling with him, Joh_1:1-2, yet he came forth and appeared among
people. Compare the Rom_1:3 note; 1Ti_3:16 note. He is the great source of all life,
and he appeared on the earth, and we had an opportunity of seeing and knowing
what he was.
And we have
seen it - This
repetition, or turning over the thought, is designed to express the idea with
emphasis, and is much in the manner of John. See Joh_1:1-3.
He is particularly desirous of impressing on them the thought that he had been
a personal witness of what the Saviour was, having had every opportunity of
knowing it from long and familiar contact with him.
And bear
witness - We testify in
regard to it. John was satisfied that his own character was known to be such
that credit would be given to what he said. He felt that he was known to be a
man of truth, and hence he never doubts that faith would be put in all his
statements. See Joh_19:35; Joh_21:24; Rev_1:2;
3Jo_1:12.
And shew
unto you that eternal life - That
is, we declare unto you what that life was - what was the nature and rank of
him who was the life, and how he appeared when on earth. He here attributes
eternity to the Son of God - implying that he had always been with the Father.
Which was
with the Father - Always
before the manifestation on the earth. See Joh_1:1.
“The word was with God.” This passage demonstrates the pre-existence of the Son
of God, and proves that he was eternal. Before he was manifested on earth he
had an existence to which the word life could be applied, and that was eternal.
He is the Author of eternal life to us.
And was
manifested unto us - In
the flesh; as a man. He who was the life appeared unto people. The idea of John
evidently is,
(1) that
the Being here referred to was forever with God;
(2) that
it was proper before the incarnation that the word life should be given to him
as descriptive of his nature;
(3) that
there was a manifestation of him who was thus called life, on earth; that he
appeared among people; that he had a real existence here, and not a merely
assumed appearance; and,
(4) that
the true characteristics of this incarnate Being could be borne testimony to by
those who had seen him, and who had been long with him. This second verse
should be regarded as a parenthesis.
