1 John 2

No new commandment, but old—the word heard from the beginning. Wesley: not any new one; they had it even from their forefathers.

Love is not a novelty John invented. The same word that began with them still binds. Newness will be in the next verse’s fulfillment, not in a replacement law.

Calvin: he taught nothing respecting love but what had been heard from the beginning. Novelty is disliked; an unwonted yoke is not easily taken. Old here is first elements of the gospel, taught from their new entrance into religious life.

This proceeded from Christ Himself. Antiquity is not superstition’s age but Christ’s own first word to them.

The commandment has been there from the beginning. Again, I write new, true in Him and in you, because darkness is passing and the true light already shines. Wesley: new with regard to loving one another; exemplified in Him and now fulfilled by you as never before. The darkness of that dispensation is passed; Christ the true light shines in your hearts.

The command is ancient and freshly true where Christ lives in a people. Light already shining is present grace, not only a future dawn.

Calvin: new because God renews it daily so the faithful practice it through whole life. It does not grow old. This one command respecting love constitutes the whole truth of Christ as to conduct. The knowledge of Christ alone is sufficient to dissipate darkness.

They stood as at the goal; the body of the Church has no other perfection than holy love continually among them. Daily progress remains; each faith has its dawn before noonday.

The one who claims to be in the light while hating his brother is still in the darkness. Wesley: in Christ, united to Him; the very name brother shows the love due; void of Christ and of all true light.

Light-talk with hatred is remaining night. Union with Christ will not sit beside contempt of the brother.

Calvin: all are blind who are strangers to love. Love of God and love of brethren involve no contradiction: the latter is testimony of the former. Love is the rule of life.

Fictitious sanctity dazzles while love is neglected. The saying without the loving is darkness until now.

Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling. Wesley: for Christ’s sake; of God; he that hates is an occasion of stumbling to himself, while the lover has a free journey.

Love is the road, not a decoration on it. Stumbling is what hatred does to the hater first.

Calvin: he who acts in love will never stumble. Taken with Psalm 119:165: no stumbling-block to him.

Love is not a side virtue. It is where the light is stayed in, and the walk is unentangled.

Whoever hates his brother is in darkness, walks in it, and doesn’t know where he is going. Wesley: he must hate if he does not love; there is no medium. In sin, perplexity, entanglement; he knows not that he is on the high road to hell.

No middle between love and hate in this letter’s moral grammar. Darkness is not a mood; it is a road.

Calvin: whatever specious appearance of excellency you show, there is nothing but what is sinful if love is absent. Comparable to 1 Corinthians 13. This doctrine is not understood by the world because most are dazzled by disguises.

Hatred of a brother blinds the one who walks in it. The walk does not know its end because darkness has taken the eyes.

Little children: your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. Wesley: this is the sum of what I have now written; he then proceeds to things built on this foundation.

Forgiveness first, then the addresses to ages. Name’s sake locates pardon in Christ, not in the child’s achievement. The rest of the letter builds on this, it does not replace it.

Calvin: little children means men of all ages here. Lest the exhortation obscure free remission, he again inculcates the doctrine that belongs to faith: salvation is laid up in Christ alone. For His name’s sake: the material cause, lest we seek other means to reconcile us to God.

Holiness must be urged, but faith must retain primacy. Pass by free remission and you build without a foundation. Christ only, not other names.

Fathers know Him who is from the beginning; young men have overcome the evil one; children know the Father. Wesley: the address is first proposed here, then enlarged. Fathers know the eternal God in a manner others do not; young men have overcome in many battles by faith; little children know the Father by the Spirit witnessing they are children of God.

The same gospel fits every stage. Overcoming is by the power of faith, not by having finished the war. Knowing the Father is already a children’s gift.

Calvin: he enumerates ages so no one exempts himself. The old may think they have exceeded the age of learning; children refuse as not yet old enough; the middle are occupied. He accommodates the gospel to all. Fathers: Christ was from the beginning, co-eternal with the Father. Young men: true strength is spiritual, from Christ; they have conquered because the Head has conquered. Children: they find the Father there.

What is particular is also general. We are all like orphans until adoption by the gospel. Each is told what he most needs, that all stand in need of the doctrine.

Fathers again: you know Him from the beginning. Young men: you are strong, the word abides, you have overcome. Wesley: he speaks briefly to fathers who needed not much, having deep acquaintance with God; young men are strong in faith, the word deeply rooted, the adversary often foiled.

Abiding word is how young faith stays in the fight. Overcoming is repeated because the battle is not theoretical. The word in the heart is the difference.

Calvin notes the repetition; some thought copyists filled a number, but the better reading keeps the three twice for emphasis. Young men are strong because the word abides and they have overcome.

We are conquerors before we engage, for our Head has once for all conquered. The word abiding is God’s means, not a second savior.