Christian Classics
‹ The People's New Testament
Contents
PrefaceOur Lord's ParablesOur Lord's Discourses and ConversationsA Table of MeasuresA Table of WeightsMeasures of LiquidsMeasures of Dry ThingsIntroduction to MatthewThe Genealogy and Birth of ChristThe Wise Men and the Flight into EgyptJohn the Baptist and the Baptism of ChristThe Temptation, and Christ's Ministry in GalileeThe Sermon on the MountThe Sermon on the Mount:—Continued.The Sermon on the Mount:—Concluded.Miracles at Capernaum and on the SeaThe Ministry at CapernaumThe Call and Charge to the ApostlesThe Message from John the BaptistThe Pharisees Take Counsel Against and Seek to Destroy JesusSeven Parables of the KingdomThe Miracles Beyond and Upon the Sea of GalileeChrist and the Pharisees: The Woman of CanaanThe Foundation of the ChurchThe TransfigurationThe Greatest in the KingdomMarriage and Divorce; The Rich RulerThe Laborers in the Vineyard; The Ambitious MotherChrist Entering JerusalemThe Marriage of the King's Son; Attempts to Entrap the SaviorThe Last Appeal to IsraelThe Judgments on the Jewish NationThe End of the WorldThe Preparation for the Lord's DeathJesus CrucifiedThe ResurrectionIntroduction to MarkThe Beginning of the Ministry of ChristThe First Conflict with the Scribes and PhariseesBlasphemy Against the Holy SpiritTeaching in ParablesHealing the AfflictedThe First CommissionMaking Void the Law of GodIn the Coasts of Cæsarea PhilippiThe TransfigurationChrist's Law of DivorceThe Royal Entrance into JerusalemA Day of ControversyChrist's Discourse on the Last DaysThe Seizure, Trial, and Condemnation of ChristThe CrucifixionThe ResurrectionIntroduction to LukeThe Birth of JohnThe Birth of JesusJesus Anointed by the Holy SpiritThe Beginning of Christ's MinistryChrist Teaching and HealingThe Twelve Apostles ChosenThe Widow's Son Raised from the DeadSpeaking in ParablesThe TransfigurationThe Seventy Disciples Sent ForthRebuking the PhariseesVarious WarningsChrist Still TeachingTeaching in ParablesJoy of Repenting SinnersThe Rich Man and LazarusVarious Sayings of ChristParables Concerning PrayerThe Entrance into JerusalemA Day of ConflictDiscourse on the Last DaysThe Last SupperThe CrucifixionThe Risen LordIntroduction to the Gospel of JohnThe Beginning of Christ's MinistryThe First MiracleChrist and NicodemusJesus at SycharJesus in JerusalemChrist, the Bread of LifeJesus at the Feast of TabernaclesChrist Teaching in JerusalemThe Man Born BlindThe Good ShepherdLazarus Raised from the DeadThe Royal Entrance into JerusalemThe Lord Washes the Disciples' FeetJesus Comforts His DisciplesThe True VineThe Work of the Holy SpiritThe Lord's Prayer for His DisciplesJesus Betrayed and CondemnedThe CrucifixionThe ResurrectionThe Risen Lord at the Sea of GalileeIntroduction to the Acts of the ApostlesThe Acts of the Apostles · Chapter IThe Day of PentecostThe First PersecutionPeter and John Before the SanhedrimThe Sin and Punishment of Ananias and SapphiraStephen Seized and Called Before the SanhedrimThe Martyrdom of StephenThe Missionary Labors of PhilipThe Conversion of Saul of TarsusThe Doors of the Kingdom Opened to the GentilesPeter's Defence Before the Church at JerusalemPersecutions in JudeaThe Era of Gentile MissionsMissionary Labors in the Cities of Asia MinorThe Question of CircumcisionThe Gospel Carried into EuropePaul at AthensPaul at CorinthPaul at EphesusThe Second Visit to Europe and ReturnPaul Seized in the TemplePaul's Address to the Jews in the TemplePaul's Defence Before the SanhedrimPaul's Defence Before FelixThe Appeal to CæsarPaul's Address Before King AgrippaThe Sea Voyage to RomePaul at RomeIntroduction to the Epistle to the RomansIntroduction: The Morals of PaganismThe Sinfulness of the Jews; Their Need of the GospelThe Condemnation of IsraelAbraham Justified While Still a GentileReconciliation Through ChristDying and Living with ChristDeliverance from BondageThe Privileges of the Children of GodThe Rejection of the JewsThe Jews Excluded from UnbeliefThe Two Olive TreesChristian LifeThe Christians and CIVIL GovernmentDifferences of OpinionMutual Love and Forbearance EnjoinedPersonal SalutationsIntroduction to First CorinthiansThe Divisions in the Church Brought to LightChrist CrucifiedCarnal DivisionsThe Apostles and the ChurchImpurity in the ChurchLitigation Among BrethrenMarriageThe Duty of the Strong Toward Weaker BrethrenThe Apostleship of PaulWarnings Against IdolatryDress and Conduct in the ChurchSpiritual GiftsThe Greatest of All ThingsOrder in Public WorshipThe Resurrection from the DeadConcluding WordsIntroduction to Second CorinthiansPaul's Anxiety Over the Corinthian ChurchThe Repentance of the CorinthiansThe Two Covenants ComparedGlory Through SufferingThe House Not Made with HandsThe Apostolic MinistryThe Effect of Paul's First Letter at CorinthThe Grace of GivingLiberal and Cheerful GivingJudaizing False Teachers RebukedPaul and His AntagonistsPaul's Revelations and Thorn in the FleshConcluding WordsIntroduction to the Epistle to the GalatiansPaul's Apostleship of God, Not of MenThe Gospel Not Bondage to the LawJustification Belongeth to Abraham's Children by FaithThe Two CovenantsThe Fruits of the Flesh and of the SpiritConcluding AdmonitionsIntroduction to the Epistle to the EphesiansThe Foreordination of the ChurchThe Church Redeemed in ChristPaul's Office as Apostle to the GentilesThe Unity of the ChurchDuties Which Become the Children of GodThe Christian WarfareIntroduction to the Epistle to the PhilippiansGreetings from a Roman PrisonExhortation to a Holy LifeAttaining to the Power of the ResurrectionPrecepts for Christian LifeIntroduction to the Epistle to the ColossiansThe Epistle of Paul to the Colossians · Chapter IWarnings Against False TheoriesThe New Life in ChristFinal ExhortationIntroduction to the First Epistle to the ThessaloniansIntroductory GreetingsPaul's Ministry at ThessalonicaPaul's Feelings Toward the ThessaloniansExhortation to a Godly LifeClosing AdmonitionsIntroduction to the Second Epistle to the ThessaloniansGreetingsThe Man of SinClosing AdmonitionsIntroduction to the First Epistle to TimothyThe Work Assigned to TimothyDirections Concerning Public WorshipBishops and DeaconsA Falling Away PredictedThe Widows of the ChurchVarious Duties EnjoinedIntroduction to the Second Epistle to TimothyTimothy's Preparation for His WorkTo Be a Workman Approved of GodA Defection from the Truth ForetoldThe Last Solemn ChargeIntroduction to the Epistle to TitusDirections to TitusPractical Duties Versus Unsound DoctrineVarious Duties of Social LifeIntroduction to the Epistle to PhilemonThe Appeal of OnesimusIntroduction to the Epistle to the HebrewsChrist Greater Than Angels and ProphetsThe Superiority of the New DispensationChrist Superior to MosesThe Rest that Remaineth for the SaintsThe Superiority of Christ's PriesthoodGoing on Toward PerfectionChrist's Priesthood After the Order of MelchizedecThe Two TestamentsThe Old and New TestamentChrist's Sacrifice Offered Once for AllLiving by FaithPerseverance and the Christian RaceClosing AdmonitionsIntroduction to the General Epistle of JamesOn TemptationsFaith and WorksThe Control of the TongueControl of the PassionsWarnings to the RichIntroduction to the First Epistle General of PeterThe Gospel the Foreordained Purpose of GodThe Temple of Living StonesVarious Practical DutiesCounsels to Suffering SaintsConclusionIntroduction to the Second Epistle of PeterMaking the Calling and Election SureWarnings Against False TeachersThe End of All ThingsIntroduction to the First Epistle of JohnFellowship with GodThe New LifeChildren Born of GodTrying the SpiritsConclusionIntroduction to the Second Epistle of JohnThe EpistleIntroduction to the Third Epistle of JohnThe EpistleIntroduction to the Epistle of JudeThe Epistle (Jude 1:1) (Jude 1:2)Introduction to RevelationThe AuthorThe DateThe Real DateInternal TestimonyThe PlaceSystems of InterpretationTable of SymbolsThe Scope of RevelationDivisionsThe Vision of the Son of ManLetters to the Churches:The Epistles to the Seven Churches ContinuedThe Open Door in HeavenThe Book with Seven SealsThe Opening of the SealsThe Sealing of the Servants of GodThe Seventh Seal OpenedThe Woe TrumpetsThe Open BookThe Two WitnessesThe Vision of the ChurchThe Seven-Headed BeastThe Triumph of ChristAnother Great and Marvellous Sign in HeavenThe Seven Last PlaguesThe Judgment and the Great HarlotThe Doomed CityThe Marriage Supper of the LambThe MillenniumThe New JerusalemThe New Jerusalem (Continued): EpilogueKey Thoughts of the New Testament BooksQuotations from the Old Testament in the New TestamentI. In JudæaII. In SamariaIII. In GalileeIV. In PeræaV. DecapolisVI. In PhoeniciaVII. In SyriaVIII. In Asia MinorIX. In MacedoniaX. GreeceXI. In the Isles of the SeaXII. Italy

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The Epistle

Chapter I

Summary —The Address to an Woman and Her Family. The Commandment of Love. Antichrists. Godspeed Not To Be Given to These Opposers. Greetings.

1–3. The elder. John, unlike Peter and Paul, nowhere in his writings speaks of himself as an apostle. Peter also speaks of himself as an elder. John probably uses the term here, not officially, but in reference to his great age, as the only survivor of the apostles, and perhaps then the only personal disciple of the Lord living. Unto the lady. The term is Kyria in the Greek, a term which we know to have been a female proper name. Hence many of the best commentators from the time of Athanasius have held that this is the name of the sister. If not a proper name Kyria would be the feminine form of Kurios (Lord), the term applied to Christ, a title unaccountable in the church, which does not recognize artificial distinctions of rank. To avoid this difficulty some have held that by “Kyria” the church is meant. It is better to regard the term a proper name. Whom. That is, the mother and her children. 2. For the truth's sake. Those who love in truth, love for the truth's sake. 3. be with you. The usual benediction of the . The Lord Jesus Christ. The Revision omits Lord, a word which occurs nowhere else in John's Epistles.

4–6. I rejoiced greatly. Because he had found her children walking in the truth, by keeping the commandment of the Father. The commandment referred to, the one which sums up all, is love. 5. And now I thee, lady. Kyria in Greek. If lady at all it would mean “your ladyship.” Not as though I wrote a new commandment. Love embraces all. Compare 1 John 2:7. See notes there. 6. And this is love, etc. Keeping the commandments is the demonstration of love. Compare 1 John 5:3, and John 14:15, 14:23.

7–11. For many deceivers are entered into the world. See notes on 1 John 2:18; 2:22–24, and 4:1. Antichrist. Opposed to Christ. 8. Look to yourselves. Let not these deceivers lead you astray. The full reward. Belonging to all who continue to in Christ. 9. Whosoever transgresseth. He that lives a life of cannot in Christ. in the doctrine. The teaching, the Gospel. 10. If there come … and bring not this doctrine. That of Christ. If he be a deceiver, an opposer of Christ, one who denies that “Jesus Christ came in the flesh.” Receive him not into your house. Do not recognize him as a brother and extend to him a brotherly welcome. He is not to be fellowshipped. Neither bid him God speed. Give him no encouragement in his work of destruction. To give him greetings is to wish for his success. 11. For he that biddeth, etc. He that gives him these prayerful greetings and encouragement becomes a partaker, to that extent, in his evil deeds.

12, 13. Having many things. Though many more things occurred that he wished to write about, he hopes soon to see her and speak face to face. 13. The children of thy sister. It is usually supposed that this refers to a sister in the flesh, also one of the , whose children, probably grown up and Christians, were at that time with John.