First Epistle of John

Transcription

1 A Comprehensive Commentary of the First Epistle of John together with references for further study from the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Encyclopedia of Mormonism and other doctrinal texts by General Authorities of the Church Written and compiled by Paul Nolan Hyde Parrish Press Orem, Utah

2 Copyright 2010; 2015 by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. All rights reserved. First Electronic Edition Copyright 2015 Parrish Press, Orem, Utah 1842 South 50 East Orem, Utah

3 Preface This project began as an attempt to provide my children and grandchildren something of their ancestor s love and understanding of the scriptures. I began producing volumes many years ago which I was pleased to call Paraphrastic studies. I wrote one of these studies for each of the four Gospels and the letters of Paul. Eventually, however, I began to sense that there was much that I knew about the New Testament that my translations could not communicate. I therefore thought to write a comprehensive commentary on the entire New Testament, beginning with Matthew and concluding with the book of Revelation. As I published each of the nine volumes, I included the paraphrastic studies, where I had them, in conjunction with the commentary for each book in the New Testament. I began this project in 2005 and completed the final volume in The whole effort was a delight to my soul. A year before I retired from the Church Educational System, in 2003, I thought to produce an 1830 formatting of the Book of Mormon using the present text of the 1981 edition. This was a relatively easy task, given the technology available to me. I distributed these to my colleagues at the Orem Institute of Religion, members of my family, and a few other interested parties for the cost of printing and binding them. Sometime in the early spring of 2007, I was impressed to begin a verse by verse commentary on the Book of Mormon, a task that I had not presumed to attempt, inasmuch as there are no translation difficulties that abound in the Old and New Testaments. Yet, there were instances of nineteenth-century word usage and syntactic issues that I thought a commentary might help to clarify. As I began, however, I discovered that there was much more that I could communicate to my children of my understanding of the ancient record of the Nephites, material that I had gleaned as I taught the scriptures during my thirty-five year career with CES. This labor eventually produced five volumes of moderate size. As I published each segment of the commentary, I enclosed the 1830 formatting of each book in the Book of Mormon that I had devise several years before. The last volume also appeared in late By the time that I was fully engaged with writing commentaries on both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, I had become infatuated with the idea that I might be able to expand the commentaries to include the other volumes of scripture as well. Thus, in the winter of 2010 I began writing commentaries on the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Once I finished with the Pearl of Great Price, I began to move ahead with the book of Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament. In the late fall of 2014 I finished the last of the commentaries on the Old Testament, for a total of thirty-three printed and bound volumes. With these volumes and the others produced over the past ten years, I have completed commentary on every verse of the Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My procedure for writing the Commentary was similar to that used in creating the original paraphrastic studies. The same reference texts were employed. For difficult words in Greek, Hebrew, 3

4 and English I resorted to the works of James Strong and other lexicographers for linguistic insight. I consider the contributions made by conservative Protestant scholarship (as recorded in the New International Version) and conservative Catholic scholarship (as related in the New Jerusalem Bible). I resorted to the considered thought of Adam Clarke, one of the most prominent and prolific commentators on the sacred manuscripts available at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who, I believe, was a man of great faith. I consulted with the Joseph Smith Translation at appropriate times (including in another column an indication that a JST change had been made for any given verse), and frequently to the writings of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, as I contemplated the possible meanings of each word and phrase. From time to time I resorted to Smith s Bible Dictionary and Discovering the World of the Bible by LaMar Berrett for some of the more arcane information that I thought would illuminate the text. I have attempted to maintain a steady course throughout my commentaries, treating each verse as unique, and where appropriate, duplicate notes and the text rather than use cross-references within the volume. Some may find this a waste of paper and ink, but I frankly dislike having to rifle through pages or volumes trying to find the first instance of the note or commentary. The duplications are easily ignored; fumbling through pages cannot be. It is in the best interests of the reader, however, to contemplate the reasons why such duplications exist in the biblical text in the first place. They are purposeful and I have attempted to point out their purpose as I have progressed through each volume. My numbering system for the notes used in the body of the commentary was adapted from historical linguistic texts with which I am familiar and which I had found quite useful. The pattern used is chapter.verse.word; thus note would contain material referring to the fifth word in the book of Hosea 3:4, for example. I make no comprehensive promises regarding the preciseness of my word count in any particular verse, but it will be close enough to eliminate any distressing confusion. Inasmuch as I began this series with the Gospel of Matthew, there will be times when I will make reference to my own work in that first volume. Sometimes there will be no more than a reference, MT-C ; other times I may quote directly from the original text. In either case my sole motivation will be to facilitate the flow of ideas rather than to multiply words. There are enough words already. References to the Commentaries on other books of the New Testament are abbreviated as follows: Matthew MT-C Mark MK-C Luke LK-C John JN-C Acts AC-C Romans RM-C 1 Corinthians 1 CO-C 2 Corinthians 2 CO-C Galatians GA-C Ephesians EP-C Philippians PP-C Colossians CL-C 1 Thessalonians 1 TH-C 2 Thessalonians 2 TH-C 1 Timothy 1 TM-C 2 Timothy 2 TM-C Titus TT-C Philemon PL-C Hebrews HB-C 1 Peter 1 PE-C 2 Peter 2 PE-C 1 John 1 JN-C 2 John 2 JN-C 3 John 3 JN-C Revelation RV-C 4

5 References to the Commentaries in the books of the Old Testament are as follows: Genesis GE-C Exodus EX-C Leviticus LV-C Numbers NM-C Deuteronomy DT-C Joshua JO-C Judges JD-C Ruth RU-C 1 Samuel 1 SM-C 2 Samuel 2 SM-C 1 Kings 1 KG-C 2 Kings 2 KG-C 1 Chronicles 1 CR-C 2 Chronicles 2 CR-C Ezra ER-C Nehemiah NE-C Esther ES-C Job JB-C Psalms PS-C Proverbs PV-C Ecclesiastes ES-C Song of Solomon SS-C Isaiah IS-C Jeremiah JR-C Lamentations LM-C Ezekiel EZ-C Daniel DA-C Hosiah HS-C Joel JL-C Amos AM-C Obadiah OB-C Jonah JH-C Micah MH-C Nahum NA-C Habakkuk HB-C Zephaniah ZP-C Haggai HG-C Zechariah ZE-C Malachi ML-C I have also made reference to the other standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The references to the Book of Mormon are articulated in bold and italics lettering using the following abbreviations: 1 Nephi 1 NE-C 2 Nephi 2 NE-C Jacob JA-C Enos EN-C Jarom JM-C Omni OM-C Words of Mormon WM-C Mosiah MS-C Alma AL-C Helaman HE-C 3 Nephi 3 NE-C 4 Nephi 4 NE-C Mormon MM-C Ether ET-C Moroni MR-C The abbreviation TPW-C refers to the material found on the Title Page of the Book of Mormon and in the Testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The references to Sections that are in the Doctrine and Covenants are indicated as DC-C followed by the section number and verse (OD1-C and OD2-C are self-explanatory); The Pearl of Great Price references contained herein use the following abbreviations: MO-C, AB-C, SM-C, SH-C, and AF-C. In some cases I have taken on what some would consider controversial material. I make no apologies for so doing. I have found that my children are best served when an issue is approached head on, the differing points of view presented, and the rationale given as to why one school of thought ought to be preferred over another. Sometimes the decisions are logically founded; others the result of doctrinal points that are unique to theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In most cases I have not argued authorities, even though I could have inserted multiple references to the writings of scholars with whom I am familiar. I have chosen to have my sources on any particular issue to remain anonymous in the text of the commentary for several reasons. First and foremost, this work is my commentary, what I believe and hold to be true. In the end, that is what my children wish to know. Secondly, I did not wish to have my children accept or dismiss a particular view merely because of who had been the author of it. Many wonderful insights have been made by scholars both inside and outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wherein I have found one view to be preferable over another has not been a partisan matter, but rather a matter of the mind, heart, and spirit cooperating together in an attempt to understand what must be the truth. Thirdly, I have been quite clear who my authorities have been. It is my fondest 5

6 desire that my children would become as familiar with their writings as I have. Were I to cite all of my sources with extensive quotes from each, there would be no need for them to open any of the books that I have come to love. That, in part, is why I included the third column containing crossreferences to the various doctrinal works in the Commentaries. Exceptions to this practice should be noted as being of extreme importance. In addition to the text of the Standard Works, together with my own commentary, I inserted a column of references for further study. The citations are taken from three major sources: the Conference Reports of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from April 1980 to November 2002 (abbreviated as CR followed by the year, month and page number); the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (four volumes, abbreviated EM followed by the volume and page number); and A Scripture Index (a compilation of scripture references cited in various texts published by General Authorities of the Church). For those not familiar with the abbreviations used in A Scripture Index. I include them below: TPJS Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith GD Gospel Doctrine MA Mediation and Atonement FWR Far West Record DHC History of the Church (7 vols.) TSWK Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball MF Miracle of Forgiveness FPM Faith Precedes the Miracle MD Mormon Doctrine PM Promised Messiah MM Mortal Messiah (4 vols.) MLM Millennial Messiah DNTC Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (3 vols.) JC Jesus the Christ AF Articles of Faith DS Doctrines of Salvation (3 vols.) AGQ Answers to Gospel Questions (5 vols.) As with each of the volumes previously published, I include two lists. The first, bound in front of the Commentary, is a listing of all of the words and phrases upon which I have made extensive remarks, a kind of sequential table of contents. I have also arranged this list alphabetically and have placed it at the end of the Commentary as a kind of index. A comprehensive alphabetical index for the entire volume appears as the last section of this book. Needless to say that all of the errors in the material submitted herein to the reader are the product of my own limitations as a scholar; all of the brilliance which may appear here is the product of minds and hearts filled with the fire of the Spirit of God, from whom all truth and beauty ultimately derive. A Note on the Electronic Edition Not only did my children and other family members receive bound copies of commentaries, but there were a number of friends and neighbors who had expressed an interest in them. There were requests from others who desired copies of what I had done, but I was not in a position to provide them with hard copies. Inasmuch as I had all of the volumes in computer files, I thought to compile each of the commentaries in some format that could be read on a smart device. I opted to use the Adobe Acrobat, turning all of the work into PDF files. I have used these on my tablet for many years and have found them useful and far easier to cart about with me. In the early spring of 2015, my neighbor David Dollahite arranged for a meeting with Jack Welch and Marny Parkin regarding the possibility of BYU providing a dedicated web site so that there would be greater public access to my 6

7 work. Thus began the present enterprise of editing and standardizing all that had done during the last ten years. My commentary on the Gospel of Mark is the second of these electronic volumes. Within a year or so I hope to have all of the books available in the same format. PNH Orem, Utah July

8 Sequence of Specifically Noted Words and Phrases in 1 John Commentary beginning Word Jesus Christ Jesus Christ children Jesus Christ propitiation children children children Jesus Christ denieth anointing him him children him he law children Cain children Jesus Christ gone out Jesus Christ Jesus Christ children them confess boldness believeth Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Jesus Christ children Amen 8

9 A Commentary on the Scriptures by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. The First Epistle of John 1.0 The scholars are almost universally agreed that the author of this general epistle was John the Beloved, one of the Twelve original Apostles chosen by Jesus during his mortal ministry, the brother of James the Great, and the son of Zebedee the fisherman. He is most certainly the same who penned the Gospel which bears his name, as well as the two subsequent letters to the present under consideration, and the book of Revelation. There is disparity, however, regarding the timing of the letter and some disagreement as to the identity of the recipients of the epistle. Some academics hold that the letter was written sometime just prior to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. Others assert that the epistle was penned quite late in John s ministry, perhaps just shortly before writing his Gospel and the book of Revelation. Most of the arguments have little merit, however, primarily because they do not take into account the nature of John s ministry or the manner in which it would be manifested over the two millennia following the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It seems probably that most of that which we attribute to the pen of the beloved Apostle was written just before the end of the first century after the birth of Christ. 1 Jn. EM 2:757, There is a superior translation of this verse. Brethren, this is the testimony which we give of 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, of the Word of life; (JST, 1 John 1:1) John and others of the original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were first disciples of John the Baptist, who performed the preparatory ordinances of the Gospel after having called the inhabitants of the land to repentance. The disciples of John were told that there would come one after him who would be the Messiah, the Son of the living God. In their presence, he personally testified of Jesus, commending them into the Savior s hands. John and his companions accompanied Jesus during the years of his mortal ministry and were eyewitnesses of all that he said and did in establishing his Church and teaching the fullness of the Gospel of salvation and exaltation. Peter, James, and John were privy to the transfiguration of the Savior during which they were shown the future glory of the resurrected Lord. Together with the other faithful Apostles, they were witnesses of the literal resurrection of their Lord and were given leave to touch him, that they might know that he was, in that form, a being of flesh and bone. See also JN-C beginning We might limit John s testimony of the Savior to that which the disciples had witnessed since the beginning of the Savior s mortal ministry, but the Apostle s allusion here is far more expansive, reaching back to the beginning of creation, when Jesus and others of the sons of God were tasked with the responsibility to bring the earth into existence Word John used this terminology in his Gospel in reference to Chapter 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, of the Word of life; 1 Jn. 1:1 JST JC 10 MD 844 PM 200 EM 3: Jn. 1:1 3 JC 10 1 Jn. 1:1 7 DNTC 2 303, 313 9

10 the Son of God. The Word of God is the Father s promise, His covenant with His children that the path to exaltation would be prepared before them if they would enter into mortality. To leave the confines of the eternal worlds in order to descend upon a fallen world required great faith on the part of the children of God. Their faith, our faith, was in that covenant of redemption from the vicissitudes of mortal life which was personified in the Son of God. It was our confidence in the ability of the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us from the bonds of death and hell which persuaded us in that premortal Council, to proceed forward. The covenant is the Gospel; the promise of salvation through a divine Redeemer. 1.2 Jesus has been and always will be the exemplar of that sort of faith and obedience which brings a man or woman back into the presence of God unspoiled. In nothing did Jesus displease his Father in Heaven; in nothing did Jesus injure his fellow men. The Apostles were true witnesses of all that he said and did. They had, in vision and in the full light of day, observed the effects of obedience on the person of Jesus. Their perception of the principles which brought the Son back into the presence of the Father was such that they could easily articulate all that would be required of any disciple of Christ to obtain forgiveness, and from thence to salvation and exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. See also JN-C The Apostles were ordained and commission by the Savior to take those things which they had learned from him and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost into all of the world, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The ultimate purpose was to establish Zion, to bring a people to a unity of heart and mind, living together in harmony and prosperity as becomes the saints of God Jesus Christ The author of eternal salvation, both of the body and the spirit through the power of the resurrection and his atoning sacrifice for sin. 1.4 John had been and ever would be an articulate witness of the truth, whether in person or as a purveyor of the Gospel with pen and ink. Most if not all of his companions were equally gifted, even though our present records do not include the writings of several of the original Twelve Apostles. 1.5 The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth. The Son of God can only speak the truth of God for he is like Him every whit. The Holy Ghost is the spirit of truth and revelation. A man in communion with any or all of these beings cannot remain in darkness, whether literally or figuratively speaking. The Apostles had, because of their association with and obedience to the powers of Heaven, become filled with that same light and truth and had been commanded to share all that they knew of the potential salvation of the children of men with the inhabitants of the earth. 1.6 Here lies the heart of hypocrisy. To profess communion with the God of Heaven and yet live outside of the pale of the Gospel of Christ constitutes one of the greatest of blasphemies. This is pretence at its worst. An ignorant man may believe that he is adhering to the will of God, innocently falling short of the truth and light which he might desire. But those who feign righteousness, knowing full well that they are not living consistently by the light and truth that they possess, these suffer a darkness of mind and heart which should 2. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 Jn. 1:5 DNTC MD 179, 278, 444, Jn. 1:5 7 MA 34 1 Jn. 1:5 10 DNTC Jn. 1:6 9 MD Jn. 1:6, 8 EM 3:

11 terrify and distress them. 1.7 Those who adhere to the light of Christ, living by that which they are convinced is the will of God, will invariably continue to grow in light and truth until they are led to a fullness of that light, as manifested in the gift of the Holy Ghost. As the power and influence of the spirit of God grows within the heart and mind of the disciple, he is drawn to the fellowship of the faithful and rejoices in their company. As he associates with those who have put off the natural man, both mortal and immortal, the man improves upon the gifts that have been revealed to him, progressing from one point of grace to another, until he finds that he has been purified and sanctified in Christ, prepared to come into the presence of the Father and the Son unafraid and unashamed Jesus Christ The author of eternal salvation, both of the body and the spirit through the power of the resurrection and his atoning sacrifice for sin. 1.8 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It is a gross imposture for anyone who has come to the age of accountability to declare that he or she is free from transgression against the will of God. Only the Lord Jesus Christ walked upon this earth as a mortal free of sin. Only pride and vanity, coupled with gross ignorance or perversity, could bring any of the children of men to believe that they are equal to the Son of God without faith, repentance, and the ordinances of salvation. 1.9 As the disciples of Christ exercise their faith in the Master, they become aware of their tragically disparate nature in comparison to his divine nature. In all that he did and said there is grace and perfection, yet no truthful man or woman can justifiably say that of themselves in reference to the whole of their lives. Our faith in the Savior as our model of conduct causes us to evaluate ourselves according to his standard. The act of repentance testifies first of our own follies and sins which we have entertained in the past, and secondly that we are prepared to conform ourselves to the pattern that he has set before us. By putting off the natural man in this fashion, we begin our lives anew in harmony with the will of God. Forgiveness for our misdeeds in the past is now possible and we are no longer held culpable for that which we have done contrary to the will of God. The absence of unrighteousness, however, is not sufficient; a man or woman must then fill his or her life with well-doing. A vacuum of conduct will not suffice anyone who desires to be in the company of Lord No man can favorably compare himself to the Lord Jesus Christ in his lost and fallen state. To assert that this is the case is to suggest unspeakable things about the character of the Savior. He is the standard and we are not. He has testified that we must come unto him for salvation. To suggest any other course of action is to deny the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God. To teach such heresies is to enjoin the practice of priestcraft. 2.1 There is a superior translation of this verse. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. But if any man sin and repent, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (JST, 1 John 2:1) 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Chapter 2 1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 Jn. 1:7 MD 92, 446 MLM 246 MM 4 3, 383 PM 248, Jn. 1:7 10 DNTC MD 736, Jn. 1:8 AF 89, 113, 118, 482 JC 26 MD 811 MF 31 CR01-A 30 EM 1:309 1 Jn. 1:8 9 AF 110 CR97-A 11 1 Jn. 1:8 10 DNTC 2 109, 412 DNTC MD Jn. 1:9 AF 118 MF 180 MF Jn. 1:10 MF 31 CR01-A 30 1 Jn. 1:19 (JST) DS Jn. 2:1 JST AGQ 1 15 AGQ 3 58 DS 1 26 MD 25, Jn. 2:1 (JST) 11

12 Forgiveness of sins is contingent upon faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and sincere repentance from the act of rebellion against the mind and will of God. John the Beloved perceived his calling in the priesthood as being proactive in comforting and strengthening those who were seeking salvation and exaltation in the Kingdom of God. The disciples of Christ must endure unto the end of their mortal lives and he was determined to help them do so children Inasmuch as the disciples of Christ looked upon John the Beloved as their spiritual leader, he felt comfortable referring to them as his children. In addition, the Apostle was advancing in years and would continue to do so, making him venerable in the eyes of the saints of God Jesus Christ The author of eternal salvation, both of the body and the spirit through the power of the resurrection and his atoning sacrifice for sin. 2.2 The Lord Jesus Christ has rescued us from those awful monsters, death and hell. Through the power of the resurrection vested in him, all mankind with come forth from the dust to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. Through the power of the atoning sacrifice, we may be freed from the damning punishments attendant to our unfaithful conduct while in mortality, even as many as will desire to do so propitiation The Greek word which is here translated as propitiation derives from roots that mean atonement, expiator cheerfulness, alacrity, conciliate, gracious, avert calamity. 2.3 Eternal life is based on our personal knowledge of and personal acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ and his Father (see JN-C 17.3). This does not come in a moment, but requires a willing obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel of Christ and a continual hearkening to every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God. Obedience to the law of Heaven teaches us something of the mind and will of God, and instills within us the truths that define the divine nature. We come to know God when we begin to live like Him. In the end, having eternal life is living in the eternities thinking and acting as does the Father. There is no academic road to exaltation. 2.4 Jesus taught with complete clarity the manner in which the disciples might discern those of their number. Those who had fervent testimonies of the Son of God, naturally loved him and therefore kept his commandments (JN-C 14.15). In the same vein, he taught that those who were true prophets, those who were true witnesses of his divinity and calling, would conduct themselves in accordance with his teachings, bearing the fruits of righteousness (see MT-C ). Thus, anyone who professed Christ and yet did not attempt to live in accordance with the principles and ordinances of the Gospel was a fraud, a hypocrite, a liar of the worst dye. 2.5 For every act of willing obedience to the principles of truth, the Holy Ghost bears witness that that course of action is in conformity with the mind and will of God. A man or woman so blessed would naturally respond with a deep and abiding affection toward divinity and would awake in him or her an increased desire to serve. Thus, by moving from grace to grace, from one divine gift to another, our awareness of the Father and the Son is enhanced until we know perfectly how the Father feels about us as individuals and about humanity as a whole. Having arrived at that point in our progression, it is no longer possible to feel anything but perfect love toward the sons of men. 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. MA 35 1 Jn. 2:1 2 DNTC 2 231, 412 DNTC MA 34 MD Jn. 2:1 4 MD 65 1 Jn. 2:1 8 DNTC Jn. 2:2 AF 86 PM Jn. 2:3 5 AF 108 DS PM 18 1 Jn. 2:4 MD 441 EM 2:800 1 Jn. 2:5 DHC Jn. 2:5 6 PM

13 2.6 Those who profess to be disciples of the Savior ought to conduct themselves as would their Lord, at any time and at any place. This is generally an act of selfless courage; not all men are willing to be blessed and benefited by the sons and daughters of God. 2.7 There is a superior translation of this verse. Brethren, I write a new commandment unto you, but it is the same commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. (JST, 1 John 2:7) We may quibble about when the commandment to love God and one s neighbor as one s self was revealed, whether by Jesus Christ in his discourses to his disciples or as revealed to the prophet Moses. This is a bootless exercise, for in reality, there has never been a time, since the days of Adam and Eve, when the God of Heaven as declared anything different. The love of God is vital to salvation, for without that sentiment in active force in the heart and mind of the disciple, no man would be sufficiently motivated to keep the commandments and walk uprightly before Heaven in all things. The absence of love for one s fellows is indicative of little or no contact with the Father and the Son, for their love for the children of men is perfection itself. We cannot enter into the Kingdom of God alone; the saints of God must be unified, in heart and mind in order for there to be a Zion on earth or in the Celestial Kingdom. 2.8 There is a superior translation of this verse. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing was of old ordained of God; and is true in him, and in you; because the darkness is past in you, and the true light now shineth. (JST, 1 John 2:8) Notwithstanding the free access that the children of men have had with the angels of heaven during the past six thousand years, there have been times, places, and peoples that have refused to be governed by the laws and ordinances of the Kingdom of God. Prior to the mortal advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, the knowledge of God and His Kingdom had been confided to a relative few. Therefore, for many of the converts to Christianity, the principles of divine love were unfamiliar and seemed new. The new and everlasting covenant of the Gospel seems oxymoronic in its phrasing, when in fact it reveals the rather moronic conduct of the children of men while dwelling upon the earth, vacillating between righteousness and wickedness in what seems to be the twinkling of an eye. 2.9 Here, then, is the face of hypocrisy and ignorance. Those who are the beneficiaries of the Gift of the Holy Ghost cannot hate their brethren. The moment that that negative sentiment is articulated, the Spirit of the Lord will depart. Therein lays personal, but hopefully momentary, apostasy. When we look about the world and witness the degradation of humanity and the senseless perversions perpetrated by one people upon another, we can know that such conduct is neither inspired nor condoned by the Lord God. Pettiness among the disciples of Christ is just as unacceptable The first apparent sign of discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ is the affection that the convert has toward those who have brought to him the 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is 1 Jn. 2.7 JST 1 Jn. 2:7 14 DNTC 3 50, Jn. 2:8 JST MD Jn. 2:8 11 MD Jn. 2:9 MD

14 truths of eternity. Next, the man finds solace and comfort in the company of those who share the same divine gifts has he does, rejoicing in their many congregations. He willingly bears the burdens of his brethren, mourning with them if occasion requires, looking after and providing for the wants and needs of his fellow saints as is he is able. At some point in his progression as a Christian, the man will come to know how the Heavens feel about the unlettered and uninspired masses of humanity that welter in spiritual ignorance all around him. He, then, will partake of the divine nature, seeking to do all within his power to bring his fellow beings into the light of everlasting salvation and exaltation, whether among the living or the dead The natural man is an enemy to God and an enemy to the children of God. Hatred is like fear and stands in diabolical opposition to the pure love of Christ just as fear stands in opposition to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hatred and fear cannot abide in the presence of love and faith. Therefore, if hatred has taken possession of a man, it is not possible for him to bask in the love of God. Neither is it possible for him to reciprocate the love of the saints with whom he associates. Therefore, a man in his hatred is utterly alone John the Beloved s motivation for writing this epistle to the new converts was to warn them about the folly of indulging in any antipathy whatsoever towards the children of men. How can anyone who has been forgiven of their transgressions against the law of God not perceive the rightness of forgiving all those with whom they come in contact? Charity, or the pure love of Christ, embraces all of humanity, not just a selected few children Inasmuch as the disciples of Christ looked upon John the Beloved as their spiritual leader, he felt comfortable referring to them as his children. In addition, the Apostle was advancing in years and would continue to do so, making him venerable in the eyes of the saints of God No one of the disciples, regardless of their experience or knowledge is exempt from the commandment to love all men as themselves. No one is sufficiently wise to make any sort of justifiable distinction between one child of God and another. The crowning principle is, however, that God the Father and His Son are sufficiently wise to do so, but will not be respecters of persons, but love all of humanity with a perfect and enduring love. They have, in their infinite wisdom, provided for the salvation of every soul who has come to this earth, so that not one of them need be lost. John the Beloved warns the saints that no one s feet are so firmly planted in this matter that they need not worry children Inasmuch as the disciples of Christ looked upon John the Beloved as their spiritual leader, he felt comfortable referring to them as his children. In addition, the Apostle was advancing in years and would continue to do so, making him venerable in the eyes of the saints of God The experienced and venerable members of the Church were in a position to be a blessing and a benefit to the rest of the Church of Christ for they had communed with the spirit of God over a long period of time and were sufficiently perceptive enough to recognize the faintest hint of the kind of discord that would lead to disunity among the saints. Those who had been anxiously engaged in the work of the ministry were avid students of the scriptures, understanding the principles and ordinances of the Gospel logically, none occasion of stumbling in him. 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 Jn. 2:13 14 JC 10 14

15 prepared to clarify the truth of any matter that might arise to disturb the peace of the saints. These also had put off the natural man at great cost to themselves temporally, but rejoiced in the freedom from the vanities and lusts of the world. These young men could easily point out the folly of backsliding into the spiritual darkness from which the saints had extricated themselves The disciples of Christ who commune with the denizens of Heaven know that they are strangers and pilgrims upon this lost and fallen world. They recognize that they can find no lasting joy and comfort in the things of the flesh, for the flesh will ultimately waste away and fall into the dust from which it came. The natural man, however, takes great delight in the desires, passions, powers, and possessions which are afforded those who would gratify and exalt themselves while in mortality. No man can love imperfection without becoming imperfect; loving Him who is perfect is the beginning of salvation There is a superior translation of this verse. For all in the world that is of the lusts of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (JST, 1 John 2:16) The consummation of lust and the self-delusion of pride are the desires of the natural man. Not until the disciple of Christ has focused his mind and heart on the glory of God, will the vain pleasures of this world fade away At the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the earth will be transfigured from its current Telestial state into its paradisiacal glory, that which it enjoyed at the time of its creation. At the end of the Millennium, the Terrestrial earth will pass away in preparation for its resurrection. The earth has kept the law of the Celestial Kingdom and will therefore be exalted. Therefore, the inhabitants of this planet during its various transformations will have to be prepared to advance with this sphere, or they cannot and will not abide. Those who have observed to do all that the Father and the Son have required of them will find themselves eternal residents of this exalted place The membership of the Church was already beginning to witness the effects of the false Messiahs on the city of Jerusalem and the kingdom of the Jews. Jesus had predicted these events in some detail (see MT-C ). Many of those who would become disillusioned about the political deliverance by the hand of God through the Messiah, would begin to preach that such a deliverance would not be forthcoming. When the Church of Christ preached to the world that the spiritual deliverance from sin and the victory over mortality were what had transpired during the ministry of Jesus, both Jew and Gentile scoffed at the notion. In addition there were those among the disciples who fell away from the blessings that they once enjoyed, falling back into the vices of the flesh which once had held them captive. In their apostasy, these erstwhile saints propounded all sorts of false doctrines which led some of the tender saints into grievous errors. Many of these factious groups have become known in the modern day as the Gnostics, but there were others that rose up in their personal corruption to lead the children of God astray. They were rampant in the world at the time John wrote to the saints in his keeping children Inasmuch as the disciples of Christ looked upon John the Beloved as their spiritual leader, he felt comfortable referring to 15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1 Jn. 2:15 JC Jn. 2:15 17 DNTC DNTC DNTC 3 53, 61, 109, 264, 445 MD 229, 461, 593, 848 MF 48 MLM Jn. 2:16 JST DNTC 1 225, 369 DNTC MM Jn. 2:18 AF 203 DHC 1 (31) JC 587 MD 40 1 Jn. 2:18 19 DHC 1 (46) 1 Jn. 2:18 23 MLM 50 1 Jn. 2:18, 22 EM 1:45 15

16 them as his children. In addition, the Apostle was advancing in years and would continue to do so, making him venerable in the eyes of the saints of God The apostates have been the most vicious of all the banes that have befallen the Church of Jesus Christ since the days of Adam and Eve. Unlike the ignorant and prejudiced, those men and women who have fallen away from the truth cannot leave the saints alone. They are the primary inventors of falsehoods, slanders, and vile accusations. They twist the true doctrines of Christ to purposefully irritate and distress those who know nothing of the teaching of the Gospel, that when the latter are approached by the servants of God, they will not give them heed, John the Beloved s point in all of this is that the apostates were never really converted to the truth, nor had they put off the natural man sufficiently to know the love of God or the sweet whisperings of the Spirit of God Not only did the saints of John s day enjoy the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, but many of the faithful had received the blessings of the House of the Lord, according to the ability of the Church to provide them at that time. Many of them had been blessed with additional ordinances in conjunction with their faith that sealed them up unto eternal life John was concerned somewhat that the saints might be persuaded to accept some of the arcane doctrines that the apostates were promulgating. He desire was to reorient them toward the simple principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that had led them from darkness into light, that had led them from misery unto the supernal joy of the atoning sacrifice. To entertain any doctrines that the saints had not received from the presiding authorities of the Church would be to endanger their eternal progress toward exaltation The father of all lies, the devil himself, is the consummate anti-christ. It is no wonder that those who have succumbed to his temptations in whatever venue are prone to dismiss or make fun of the faith of the saints of God. Lucifer desired to usurp the throne of God, to place himself above all who pertained to the family of Heaven. He incited a premortal war against the Father, but was opposed directly by the faithful sons of God. For his pride and rebellion, Lucifer lost his place and station, and was cast down together with his minions. He and a third of the children of God have continued their war of rebellion here upon the earth, attempting to induce those of the faithful to forsake their covenants of obedience and to join them in their bootless aggression against the Kingdom of God. All those who partake of Satan s cup, share the bitterness of his soul Jesus As was the case with John the Baptist, the name of the Savior was provided by revelation. Jesus is the Hellenized version of the Hebrew name Yehoshua, Oshea or Joshua. The name itself means Savior, literally, Jehovah put [us] into a place of safety Christ Simply put, the name Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah. In both Hebrew and Greek, the terms mean anointed one. Every prophet of God from the days of Adam has been anointed in preparation for their ministry to the world. Every king who has ruled by divine right has also been anointed as part of his ascendancy to the throne and the scepter. The same may be said of every priest who has administered the ordinances of the Priesthood, particularly those of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and most specifically in the 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 Jn. 2:19 DNTC MD 39 1 Jn. 2:20 DNTC MD 813 PM Jn. 2:22 MD 40, 441 PM

17 House of the Lord. Some scholars have suggested that even though certain men have been anointed to be prophets and priests, or kings and priests, or prophets and kings, none but Jesus has been anointed prophet, priest, and king. Of course, these scholars have asserted such out of ignorance, not understanding that all those who are heirs of salvation and exaltation have been anointed prophets, priests, and kings in similitude of their Savior. Jesus is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, the Great High Priest who presides over all priesthood, the prophet who has inspired all prophets in whatever time or place in which they might have lived. He is our Master in all things, but his labors have been designed to bring us all back into the presence of God as he is denieth The Greek word which is here translated as denieth derives from roots that mean contradict, disavow, reject, abnegate. This is not just a philosophical act, but one that is accompanied by vicious and selfish conduct While it is true that the Father and the Son are two separate and distinct physical individuals, they are of the same mind, such that, to speak to one is to speak to the other, for the responses would be the same. They believe and teach the same doctrines; they speak the truth with unfailing preciseness. Those who partake of the divine nature are also at one with the mind and will of God The saints to whom the Apostle is addressing himself once received the emissaries of God, manifested faith in Christ by their sincere repentance, and accepted all of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation which were extended to them, including the divine command to receive the Holy Ghost. By hearkening to and abiding by the simple principles of the Gospel, they would retain the power and influence of the Holy Ghost in their lives, by which they would be able to distinguish between truth and error, particularly those falsehoods perpetrated by the apostates from the Church of Jesus Christ Eternal life comes to those who have completely taken upon themselves the divine nature, by receiving and implementing the whisperings of the spirit of God into their daily lives. Those who are blessed with the greatest of all of the gifts of God have become like the Father and the Son every whit The letter from John the Beloved, a man and priesthood leader with whom the saints had taken counsel for many years, was sent that the members of the Church might fully understand the threat that the apostates presented to the integrity of the Church. These faithless villains were not going to go away, but must be dealt with in the spirit of truth and light Again, the primary value of the gift of the Holy Ghost is that the truths of eternity are available to all those who live for the divine counsel that emanates from him. He has been called the oldest of books and that from his pages might all of the mysteries of God be learned. No doctrine of any nature comes unto the children of men on the earth except through the operations of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, any man is just as susceptible as another to receive knowledge from Heaven if they are both beneficiaries of the Spirit of God anointing This is similar in type and degree to the unction spoken of in him While one may point to the author of all truth, even the 23. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 Jn. 2:27 EM 4: Jn. 2:27 29 DNTC