1 John 2:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 2:5

But whoso keepeth his word - That is, what he has spoken or commanded, The term “word” here will include all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct.In him verily is the love of God perfected - He professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its completion or filling up by obedience to the will of God. That obedience is the proper carrying out, or the exponent of the love which exists in the heart. Love to the Saviour would be defective... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 2:3-6

1 John 2:3-6. Hereby we do know that we, truly and savingly, know him As he is the Advocate, the righteous One, the Propitiation; if we keep his commandments Particularly those of faith and love. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar “The Nicolaitans and Gnostics, notwithstanding they lived in an habitual course of the most criminal sensual indulgences, boasted that they were the objects of God’s love, and sure of obtaining eternal life, merely because... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:1-6

1:1-2:17 LIVING IN THE LIGHTFellowship with God (1:1-2:6)In the opening few words of his letter, John states clearly certain facts about Jesus Christ that are basic to Christianity. Jesus Christ is the eternal God and he became a real man whom John and his fellow apostles have seen, heard and touched (1:1-2). John’s joy will be complete if he knows that he and his readers share together in the eternal life that comes to them through Jesus Christ. This life unites them to one another as well as... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 John 2:5

word. App-121 . love . App-135 . God . App-98 . perfected . App-125 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 2:5

but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:Whoso keepeth his word ... This is identical in meaning with "if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3).The love of God has been perfected ... Here is another glimpse of that absolute perfection which is the goal of all Christian living, mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 5:48, and referred to by all the New Testament writers. Although unattainable by humans in their own strength, it will... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 2:5

1 John 2:5. His word— The word of Jesus Christ; the same with his commandments in the preceding verse. The love of God is sometimes put for that love which God bears to us; but as the fear of God signifies our fear of offending the Divine Being, and the faith of Christ signifies our believing in him, so the love of God signifies that love which genuine believers bear unto God, and which all men ought to bear to that most amiable Being. See Jude, 1 John 2:21. In this latter sense the love of God... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 2:5

5. Not merely repeating the proposition, 1 John 2:3, or asserting the merely opposite alternative to 1 John 2:3- :, but expanding the "know Him" of 1 John 2:3- :, into "in Him, verily (not as a matter of vain boasting) is the love of (that is towards) God perfected," and "we are in Him." Love here answers to knowledge in 1 John 2:3- :. In proportion as we love God, in that same proportion we know Him, and vice versa, until our love and knowledge shall attain their full maturity of perfection.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 2:3-11

B. Reaching the Goal by Knowing the God of Light 2:3-11"The author is explaining to the members of his church, in answer to developing heretical tendencies, the nature of true Christian belief and practice, and the way in which these interact. To do this he first chooses as his theme and for his exhortation the necessity of ’living in the light’ (1 John 1:5-7). The first (negative) condition required for a genuinely Christlike existence, the writer suggests, is the renunciation of sin (1 John... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 2:5

On the other hand the Christian who is careful to observe all of God’s Word (not just His commandments, 1 John 2:4) gives evidence that he has come to understand and appreciate God’s love for him. God’s love is perfected in him in the sense that the Christian has perceived it, has responded to it, and it is having its intended effect in his or her behavior. Our love for God is in view here rather than His love for us (cf. 1 John 2:15; 1 John 4:12; 1 John 5:3). [Note: Bruce, p. 51; Stott, p. 91;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 2:5-6

John’s use of the phrase "in Him" is different from Paul’s. Paul used this phrase to describe every believer’s relationship to Christ because of his or her justification. The unsaved are not "in Christ." However, John used "in Him" as Jesus did in the Upper Room Discourse to describe not all believers but the group of believers who abide in Christ (John 15:1-8). In John 15:8 Jesus said, "By this [abiding] is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit. So you will be my disciples." To abide... read more

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