KJV: 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.
YLT: Brethren, a new command I write not to you, but an old command, that ye had from the beginning -- the old command is the word that ye heard from the beginning;
Darby: Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard.
ASV: Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.
| Ἀγαπητοί | Beloved |
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Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural Root: ἀγαπητός Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love. |
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| ἐντολὴν | a commandment |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ἐντολή Sense: an order, command, charge, precept, injunction. |
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| καινὴν | new |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: καινός Sense: new. |
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| γράφω | I am writing |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: γράφω Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters. |
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| ὑμῖν | to you |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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| παλαιὰν | old |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: παλαιός Sense: old, ancient. |
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| εἴχετε | you have had |
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Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: ἔχω Sense: to have, i.e. to hold. |
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| ἀρχῆς | [the] beginning |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ἀρχή Sense: beginning, origin. |
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| ἐντολὴ | commandment |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ἐντολή Sense: an order, command, charge, precept, injunction. |
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| ἡ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| παλαιά | old |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: παλαιός Sense: old, ancient. |
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| λόγος | word |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λόγος Sense: of speech. |
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| ὃν | that |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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| ἠκούσατε | you have heard |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: ἀκουστός Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf. |
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Greek Commentary for 1 John 2:7
First instance of this favourite form of address in these Epistles (1 John 3:2, 1 John 3:21; 1 John 4:1, 1 John 4:7; 3 John 1:1, 3 John 1:2, 3 John 1:5, 3 John 1:11). [source]
Not novel or new in kind Ancient as opposed both to καινος kainos and νεος neos The Mosaic law taught love for one‘s neighbours and Christ taught love even of enemies.Which ye had Imperfect active, reaching back to the beginning of their Christian lives They had heard it expressly from Jesus (John 13:34), who, however, calls it “a new commandment.” [source]
Ancient as opposed both to καινος kainos and νεος neos The Mosaic law taught love for one‘s neighbours and Christ taught love even of enemies. [source]
Imperfect active, reaching back to the beginning of their Christian lives They had heard it expressly from Jesus (John 13:34), who, however, calls it “a new commandment.” [source]
The correct reading is ἀγαπηοί belovedThe first occurrence of this title, which is suggested by the previous words concerning the relation of love. [source]
Four words are used in the New Testament for old or elder. Of these γέρων and πρεσβύτερος refer merely to the age of men, or, the latter, to official position based primarily upon age. Hence the official term elder. Between the two others, ἀρχαῖος and παλαιός , the distinction is not sharply maintained. Ἁρχαῖος emphasizes the reaching back to a beginning ( ἀρχή ) Thus Satan is “that old ( ἀρχαῖος ) serpent,” whose evil work was coeval with the beginning of time (Revelation 7:9; Revelation 20:2). The world before the flood is “the old ( ἀρχαῖος ) world” (2 Peter 2:5). Mnason was “an old ( ἀρχαῖος ) disciple;” not aged, but having been a disciple from the beginning (Acts 21:16). Sophocles, in “Trachiniae,” 555, gives both words. “I had an old ( παλαιὸν ) gift,” i.e., received long ago, “from the old ( ἀρχαίου ) Centaur.” The Centaur is conceived as an old-world creature, belonging to a state of things which has passed away. It carries, therefore, the idea of old fashioned: peculiar to an obsolete state of things. Παλαιός carries the sense of worn out by time, injury, sorrow, or other causes. Thus the old garment (Matthew 9:16) is παλαιόν . So the old wine-skins (Matthew 9:17). The old men of a living generation compared with the young of the same generation are παλαιοί . In παλαιός the simple conception of time dominates. In ἀρχαῖος there is often a suggestion of a character answering to the remote age. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- The commandment is here called old because it belonged to the first stage of the Christian church. Believers had had it from the beginning of their Christian faith. [source]
The Rev., properly, places these words first in the sentence as emphatic, the point of the verse lying in the antithesis between the new and the old. On new, see on Matthew 26:29. [source]
The commandment of love. Compare John 13:34. This commandment is fulfilled in walking as Christ walked. Compare Ephesians 5:1, Ephesians 5:2. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 John 2:7
With evident allusion to the first word of Genesis. But John elevates the phrase from its reference to a point of time, the beginning of creation, to the time of absolute pre-existence before any creation, which is not mentioned until John 1:3. This beginning had no beginning (compare John 1:3; John 17:5; 1 John 1:1; Ephesians 1:4; Proverbs 8:23; Psalm 90:2). This heightening of the conception, however, appears not so much in ἀρχή , beginning, which simply leaves room for it, as in the use of ἦν , was, denoting absolute existence (compare εἰμί , I am, John 8:58) instead of ἐγένετο , came into being, or began to be, which is used in John 1:3, John 1:14, of the coming into being of creation and of the Word becoming flesh. Note also the contrast between ἀρχή , in the beginning, and the expression ἀπ ' ἀρχῆς , from the beginning, which is common in John's writings (John 8:44; 1 John 2:7, 1 John 2:24; 1 John 3:8) and which leaves no room for the idea of eternal pre-existence. “In Genesis 1:1, the sacred historian starts from the beginning and comes downward, thus keeping us in the course of time. Here he starts from the same point, but goes upward, thus taking us into the eternity preceding time” (Milligan and Moulton). See on Colossians 1:15. This notion of “beginning” is still further heightened by the subsequent statement of the relation of the Logos to the eternal God. The ἀρχή must refer to the creation - the primal beginning of things; but if, in this beginning, the Logos already was, then he belonged to the order of eternity. “The Logos was not merely existent, however, in the beginning, but was also the efficient principle, the beginning of the beginning. The ἀρχή (beginning ), in itself and in its operation dark, chaotic, was, in its idea and its principle, comprised in one single luminous word, which was the Logos. And when it is said the Logos was in this beginning, His eternal existence is already expressed, and His eternal position in the Godhead already indicated thereby” (Lange). “Eight times in the narrative of creation (in Genesis) there occur, like the refrain of a hymn, the words, And God said. John gathers up all those sayings of God into a single saying, living and endowed with activity and intelligence, from which all divine orders emanate: he finds as the basis of all spoken words, the speaking Word ” (Godet). [source]
Failure to believe kills the life in the words of Jesus. Knew from the beginning In the N.T. we have εχ αρχης ex archēs only here and John 16:4, but απ αρχης ap' archēs in apparently the same sense as here in John 15:27; 1 John 2:7, 1 John 2:24; 1 John 3:11 and see Luke 1:2; 1 John 1:1. From the first Jesus distinguished between real trust in him and mere lip service (John 2:24; John 8:31), two senses of πιστευω pisteuō Were Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse. And who it was that should betray him Same use of εστιν estin and note article and future active participle of παραδιδωμι paradidōmi to hand over, to betray. John does not say here that Jesus knew that Judas would betray him when he chose him as one of the twelve, least of all that he chose him for that purpose. What he does say is that Jesus was not taken by surprise and soon saw signs of treason in Judas. The same verb is used of John‘s arrest in Matthew 4:12. Once Judas is termed traitor (προδοτης prodotēs) in Luke 6:16. Judas had gifts and was given his opportunity. He did not have to betray Jesus. [source]
Rev., correctly, the old things. See on 1 John 2:7, and see on Revelation 12:9. [source]
Lit., His Son, the only-begotten (Son). A mode of expression common in John, enlarging upon the meaning of a noun by the addition of an adjective or a participle with the article. See 1 John 1:2; 1 John 2:7, 1 John 2:8, 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:4; John 6:41, John 6:44, John 6:50, John 6:51; John 15:1, etc. On only-begotten, see on John 1:14. [source]
See 1 John 2:7. [source]
Sin is defined by John as ἀνομία, lawlessnessCompare Romans 6:19. A.V., transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). It may be regarded either as condition or as act; either with reference to the normal, divine ideal of manhood, or to an external law imposed upon man by God. Any departure from the normal ideal of man as created in God's image puts man out of true relation and harmony with his true self, and therefore with God and with his fellowman. He thus comes into false, abnormal relation with right, love, truth, and light. He walks in darkness and forfeits fellowship with God. Lawlessness is darkness, lovelessness, selfishness. This false principle takes shape in act. He doeth ( ποιεῖ ) or committeth sin. He doeth lawlessness ( τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ ; 1 John 3:4, 1 John 3:8). He transgresses the words ( ῥήματα , John 17:8) of God, and His commandments ( ἐντολαί , 1 John 2:3) as included and expressed in His one word or message ( λόγος , 1 John 2:7, 1 John 2:14). Similarly the verb ἁμαρτάνειν , to sin, may signify either to be sinful (1 John 3:6), or to commit sin (1 John 1:10). Sin, regarded both as principle and act, is designated by John by the term ἁμαρτία . The principle expressed in the specific acts is ἡ ἁμαρτία (John 1:29), which occurs in this sense in Paul, but not in the Synoptists, nor in Acts. Many of the terms used for sin by other New Testament writers are wanting in John; as ἀσέβεια ungodliness(see on Judges 1:14); ἀσεβεῖν tobe ungodly (2 Peter 2:6); παραβαίνειν totransgress; παράβασις transgression παραβάτης transgressor(see on Matthew 6:14; see on James 2:11); παρανομεῖν toact contrary to the law; παρανομία breachof law (see on Acts 23:3; see on 2 Peter 2:16); παράπτωμα trespass(see on Matthew 6:14). [source]
See 1 John 1:1 for this phrase and 1 John 2:7 for the idea. They had the message of love for the brotherhood from the beginning of the gospel and it goes back to the time of Cain and Abel (1 John 3:12).That we should love one another (ινα αγαπωμεν αλληλους hina agapōmen allēlous). Sub-final clause (content of the αγγελια aggelia) with ινα hina and present active subjunctive. John repeats the message of 1 John 2:7. [source]
Sub-final clause (content of the αγγελια aggelia) with ινα hina and present active subjunctive. John repeats the message of 1 John 2:7. [source]
Even human love comes from God, “a reflection of something in the Divine nature itself” (Brooke). John repeats the old commandment of 1 John 2:7. Persistence in loving (present tense αγαπωμεν agapōmen indicative and αγαπων agapōn participle) is proof that one “has been begotten of God” (εκ του τεου γεγεννηται ek tou theou gegennētai as in 1 John 2:29) and is acquainted with God. Otherwise mere claim to loving God accompanied by hating one‘s brother is a lie (1 John 2:9-11). [source]
Anarthrous as in John 1:1; John 6:64; John 16:4. See same phrase in 1 John 2:7. The reference goes beyond the Christian dispensation, beyond the Incarnation, to the eternal purpose of God in Christ (John 3:16), “coeval in some sense with creation” (Westcott).That which we have heard (ο ακηκοαμεν ho akēkoamen). Note fourfold repetition of ο ho (that which) without connectives (asyndeton). The perfect tense (active indicative of ακουω akouō) stresses John‘s equipment to speak on this subject so slowly revealed. It is the literary plural unless John associates the elders of Ephesus with himself (Lightfoot) the men who certified the authenticity of the Gospel (John 21:24).That which we have seen Perfect active, again, of οραω horaō with the same emphasis on the possession of knowledge by John.With our eyes (τοις οπταλμοις ημων tois ophthalmois hēmōn). Instrumental case and showing it was not imagination on John‘s part, not an optical illusion as the Docetists claimed, for Jesus had an actual human body. He could be heard and seen.That which we beheld Repetition with the aorist middle indicative of τεαομαι theaomai (the very form in John 1:14), “a spectacle which broke on our astonished vision” (D. Smith).Handled (επσηλαπησαν epsēlaphēsan). First aorist active indicative of πσηλαπαω psēlaphaō old and graphic verb (from πσαω psaō to touch), the very verb used by Jesus to prove that he was not a mere spirit (Luke 24:39). Three senses are here appealed to (hearing, sight, touch) as combining to show the reality of Christ‘s humanity against the Docetic Gnostics and the qualification of John by experience to speak. But he is also “the Word of life” and so God Incarnate. [source]
Either God or Christ. See Mark 12:29-31 for this old commandment (1 John 2:7.). [source]
Only here and 3 John 1:3 in John‘s writings.I have found (ευρηκα heurēka). Perfect active indicative of ευρισκω heuriskō as in John 1:41, our “eureka,” here with its usual force, a continued discovery. “He sits down at once and writes to Kyria. How glad she would be that her lads, far away in the great city, were true to their early faith” (David Smith).Certain of thy children No τινας tinas as one would expect before εκ ek a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John 16:17).Walking (περιπατουντας peripatountas). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with τινας tinas understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus.In truth As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
No τινας tinas as one would expect before εκ ek a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John 16:17).Walking (περιπατουντας peripatountas). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with τινας tinas understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus.In truth As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
Vocative case and in the same sense as in 2 John 1:1.As though I wrote (ως γραπων hōs graphōn). Common idiom ως hōs with the participle (present active) for the alleged reason.New As in 1 John 2:7., which see.We had (ειχαμεν eichamen). Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing.That we love one another Either a final clause after ερωτω erōtō as in John 17:15 or an object clause in apposition with εντολην entolēn like 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:23 and like 2 John 1:6. [source]
As in 1 John 2:7., which see.We had (ειχαμεν eichamen). Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing.That we love one another Either a final clause after ερωτω erōtō as in John 17:15 or an object clause in apposition with εντολην entolēn like 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:23 and like 2 John 1:6. [source]
Imperfect active (late α ̇a form like ειχαν eichan in Mark 8:7) of εχω echō and note ειχετε eichete with απ αρχης ap' archēs in 1 John 2:7. Not literary plural, John identifying all Christians with himself in this blessing. [source]
The one just mentioned with the same construction with ινα hina as in 1 John 3:23. John changes from the first person plural to the second (ηκουσατε ēkousate as in 1 John 2:7, περιπατητε peripatēte) as in 1 John 2:5, 1 John 2:7. [source]
Object clause in nominative case in apposition with αγαπη agapē with ινα hina and the present active subjunctive of περιπατεω peripateō “that we keep on walking.”The commandment (η εντολη hē entolē). The one just mentioned with the same construction with ινα hina as in 1 John 3:23. John changes from the first person plural to the second (ηκουσατε ēkousate as in 1 John 2:7, περιπατητε peripatēte) as in 1 John 2:5, 1 John 2:7.In it Either to αλητειαι alētheiāi (truth) of 2 John 1:4, αγαπη agapē of this verse, or εντολη entolē of this verse. Either makes good sense, probably “in love.” With περιπατεω peripateō (walk) we have often εν en (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:11, etc.) or κατα kata (according to) as in Mark 7:5; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 10:2, etc. [source]
See on 1 John 2:7. [source]
Lit., the serpent, the old (serpent). For this habitual construction in John, see on 1 John 4:9. For ἀρχαῖος oldsee on 1 John 2:7, and compare “he was a murderer ἀπ ' ἀρχῆς fromthe beginning,” John 8:44; ἀρχή beginningbeing etymologically akin to ἀρχαῖος old The DevilSee on Matthew 4:1. [source]