Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles

1See what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God! the world for this reason knoweth us not, because it did not know him.

2Beloved, we are now the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when lie shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is:

3And every one who hath this hope in him purifieth himself, inasmuch as he is pure.

4Whosoever doeth sin, doeth also iniquity; and sin is iniquity.

5But ye know that he appeared that he might take away our sins, and sin is not in him.

6Whosoever abides in him doth not sin; whosoever sins, hath not seen him, nor known him.

7Little children, let no one deceive you, — he who doeth righteousness is righteous, inasmuch as he is righteous:

8He who doeth sin, is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. The Son of God was for this end manifested, that he might undo the works of the devil.

9Whosoever has been born of God, doth not do sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

10By this are made manifest the sons of God, and the sons of the devil, — every one who doeth not righteousness, is not of God, nor he who loves not his brother.

11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we love one another:

12Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and why did he slay him? because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

13Wonder not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren; he who loves not his brother, remains in death.

15Every one who hates his brother, is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16By this we know love, that he laid down his own life for us; and we ought to lay down ourlives for the brethren.

17But when any one has this world’s goods, and seeth his brother in want, and closeth up his bowels from him, how abideth the love of God in him?

18My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth:

19And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20For if our heart accuse us, doubtless God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21Beloved, if our heart do not accuse us, we have confidence towards God:

22And if we ask anything, we receive itfrom him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things which are pleasing in his sight.

23And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24And he who keepeth his commandment, abideth in him, and he in him; and by this we know that he abideth in us, evenby the Spirit whom he hath given us.