1 John 1:1-4
#697 Proper of Saints Context (St. John the Evangelist Dec 27)
#781 Ritual Mass Context (IV. For the Conferral of Ministries, 1. Institution of Readers, 5.)
Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 1:1-4
The introduction of the First Letter of John describes the author as not only a believer in Jesus, but also an eyewitness and contemporary of the Lord. He describes the unifying force of faith in the Father, and his joy in passing on the great news of the Savior.
This testimony about Christ is designed to lead to fellowship and complete joy. Fellowship (the Greek word is "koinonia") with the Apostles means having the same faith as those who lived with Jesus: "They saw our Lord in the body," St Augustine reminds us: "and they heard words from his lips and have proclaimed them to us; we also have heard them, but we have not seen him [...]. They saw him, we do not see him, and yet we have fellowship with them, because we have the same faith" ("In Epist. Ioann. ad Parthos", 1, 3).[1]
CCC: 1 Jn 1:1-4 425; 1 Jn 1:3-7 1108; 1 Jn 1:3 2781
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1 John 1:5—2:2
#557 Proper of Saint Context (St. Catherine of Siena Apr 29)
#698 Proper of Saint Context (Feast of Holy Innocents Dec 27)
#949 Mass for Various Needs Context (IV. For Various Needs, 27. For the Remission of Sins, Second Option)
Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
and proclaim to you:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, “We have fellowship with him,”
while we continue to walk in darkness,
we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
then we have fellowship with one another,
and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, “We are without sin,”
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 1:5—2:2
We are given, in this selection, a foundational scripture passage upon which the sacrament of reconciliation rests. The logic St. John uses flows nicely: Jesus, the Christ, is light. When we sin we walk in darkness. When we admit our sin, the Lord who is “expiation for our sins,” brings us back into the light. If we try to deceive ourselves, saying we are not sinful, we fall, and in a sense make Jesus’ sacrifice meaningless.
“Light is to be understood here as truth and goodness; darkness here is error and depravity (cf. John 3:19-21; 17:17; Ephesians 5:8). To walk in light or darkness is to live according to truth or error, not merely intellectual but moral as well. Fellowship with God and with one another consists in a life according to the truth as found in God and in Christ.” Then for v. 8-10: "Denial of the condition of sin is self-deception and even contradictory of divine revelation; there is also the continual possibility of sin's recurrence. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ are assured through acknowledgment of them and repentance.”[2] The final verses of this selection profess the Trinity as One God: “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.”
CCC: 1 Jn 1:5 214; 1 Jn 1:6 2470; 1 Jn 1:7-2:2 2631; 1 Jn 1:8-10 827; 1 Jn 1:8-9 1847; 1 Jn 1:8 1425; 1 Jn 1:10 2147;1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
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1 John 2:1-5
#893 Mass for Various Needs Context (II. For Public Needs, 15. Reconciliation, Third Option)
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:1-5
This selection provides a principle teaching of St. John. He writes to the faithful that they might know the commandments of Christ. He then tells them that in order to keep from sin they must keep “Jesus’” commandments. He contrasts professed faith and observed actions saying that if you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar. (see also 1 John 4:20, 1 John 5:10).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
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1 John 2:1-5a
#47B Solemnities B Context (3rd Sunday of Easter B)
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:1-5a
This selection provides a principal teaching of St. John. He writes to the faithful that they might know the commandments of Christ. He then tells them that in order to keep from sin they must keep Jesus’ commandments. He contrasts professed faith and observed actions, saying that if you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar. (see also 1 John 4:20, 1 John 5:10).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
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1 John 2:3-11
#202 I & II Context (5th Day in the Octave of Christmas)
Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:3-11
This selection provides two consistent teachings of St. John. First is the injunction to keep Jesus' commandments. He uses the same formula we have heard before in this letter. If you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar.
The second teaching is his favorite, perhaps because it is part of the great commandment and fundamental to everything taught by the Lord: “Love one another.” Here St. John again uses the darkness and light theme to demonstrate that the one who walks with Christ is in the light and the one who does not walks in darkness and is lost: “he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
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1 John 2:12-17
#203 Year I & II Context (6th Day in the Octave of Christmas)
I am writing to you, children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the Evil One.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong and the word of God remains in you,
and you have conquered the Evil One.
Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:12-17
St. John addresses his audience individually on sin and forgiveness using an interesting metaphor for the Trinity: children, fathers, young men. The believing community he addresses is armed through faith against the evil one. He focuses in his last paragraph on avoiding the secular world. He exhorts them to separate themselves from “things” of the world, saying that they are of the world and therefore unworthy of special care; they lead the faithful away from God (see also John 17:9-26 and John 15:18-27).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:16 377, 2514, 2534
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1 John 2:18-25
#512 Proper of Saints Context (St. Hilary Jan 13)
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:18-25
After telling his community that they were armed by their knowledge of Christ against evil, the apostle now tells them that his hour is near. Christ has died and is risen and the second coming must be approaching. He warns them to be alert and watch out for the antichrist. (This designation occurs only in the writings of St. John. In Matthew and Mark they are called false messiahs, in St. Paul’s letters the antichrist is designated “lawless one.”) This group of antichrists mentioned by the biblical authors seems to indicate a group of persons who were teaching falsely about Jesus.
St. John identifies these antichrists as individuals who schismatically leave the faith community, holding false premises. He then tells those who are faithful to be steadfast because they are anointed in the truth. It clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son. Anyone who denies one denies both and anyone who teaches that neither exists is a “false teacher.”
St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son. In doing so they open the door to eternal life, and they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.
CCC: 1 Jn 2:18 670, 672, 675; 1 Jn 2:20 91, 695; 1 Jn 2:22 675; 1 Jn 2:23 454
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1 John 2:18-21
#204 Weekday Year I & II Context (7th Day in the Octave of Christmas)
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:18-21
After telling his community that they were armed against evil by their knowledge of Christ, the author now tells them that the hour is near. Christ has died and is risen, and the second coming must be approaching. He warns them to be alert and watch out for the antichrist. (This designation occurs only in the writings of St. John. In Matthew and Mark they are called false messiahs, in St. Paul’s letters the same person(s) is designated “lawless one.”) This group of “antichrists” mentioned by the biblical authors seems to indicate a group of persons who were teaching falsely about Jesus.
St. John identifies these antichrists as individuals who schismatically leave the faith community, holding false premises. He then tells those who are faithful to be steadfast because they are anointed in the truth.
CCC: 1 Jn 2:18 670, 672, 675; 1 Jn 2:20 91, 695
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1 John 2:22-28
#205 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 2nd)
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.
And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:22-28
The first paragraph of this reading from St. John’s first epistle is important in that it clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son. Anyone who denies one denies both, and anyone who teaches that either one or the other does not exist is a false teacher.
St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son. In doing so they open the door to eternal life; in doing so they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.
In the selection regarding false teaching there is a definition of the antichrist as one who denies the Father and the Son. This would seem to indicate that the Johannine community was being assailed by teachers of false doctrines. St. John goes on to encourage them to remember that Jesus is the Son of God, the Anointed One, and that they in turn have been anointed in his name. There is the implication, although not an explicit definition, of the Holy Spirit as well: “his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false.”
CCC: 1 Jn 2:22 675; 1 Jn 2:23 454; 1 Jn 2:27 91, 695; 1 Jn 2:28 2778
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1 John 2:29–3:6
#206 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 3rd Christmas Weekday)
If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:29–3:6
This selection, from St. John’s first letter, starts by telling his followers that, since they have chosen to act in accordance with the Lord’s commandments, they have received his adoption. The evangelist first tells his audience that, if they are righteous, they are of God, because God is righteous. Then he goes on to say if they are pure, they are in him (Jesus) because he is purity. Finally he gives us the inverse, saying if they are in sin they cannot be in God, because in God there is no sin. All of this relative description relates to our adopted status in the Lord.
In chapter 3 the evangelist explains Christian adoption. “The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of his Son (John 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.”[7]
In the final paragraph reference to sin and lawlessness are probably references to acting in ways that follow the teachings of the “antichrist” or false teachers.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772; 1 Jn 3:3 2345; 1 Jn 3:5 457
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1 John 3:1-3
#667 Solemnities ABC Context (Solemnity of All Saints, Nov 1)
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:1-3
“The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of his Son (John 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.”[10] “The world” is the biblical term consistently used in reference to the non-Christian populations of that era. In modern terminology it would refer to secular society.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772
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1 John 3:1-2
#50B Solemnities B Context (4th Sunday of Easter B)
#792 Ritual Mass Context (V. For the Pastoral Care of the Sick and of the Dying, Anointing of the Sick, 15.)
#1014 Masses for the Dead Context (14.)
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:1-2
In this selection from St. John’s first epistle, we are reminded that we are all adopted children of God through our baptism. Because of this, we are part of his family, the family of the faithful. St. John goes on to remind us of the obligations of Jesus' adoption. First, we must believe in him, the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. Second, following the formula of the Great Commandment, we must love one another as we are loved by the Father, through the Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772
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1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
#17ABC Context (Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
And so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24
In this selection from St. John’s first epistle we are reminded that we are all, through our baptism, adopted children of God, and hence part of his family, the family of the faithful. St. John goes on to remind us of the obligations of that adoption: First is that we believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. Second, following the formula of the Great Commandment, is that we should love one another.
The ending of the chapter speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus. The Evangelist speaks of how in faith, Christians are assured, through mutual love, that they are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in them. In adhering to this most important of commandments, the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of our obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772; 1 Jn 3:21 2778; 1 Jn 3:22 2631
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1 John 3:7-10
#207 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 4, Christmas Weekday)
Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God’s seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:7-10
St. John continues the theme of living as children of God. In this selection, we find he has taken his comparison in a somewhat reflective direction. He looks at the behavior of those who belong to God and those who belong to the Devil as being distinguishable to God because of their love for one another. His exhortation is against the gnostic notion that all one needs to be considered “righteous” is to have an attitude of righteousness. He refutes this, saying that we must be imitators of Christ, and our actions enhance the righteousness which belongs to those who have faith in Christ Jesus.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:8 385, 392, 394
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1 John 3:11-21
#208 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 5, Christmas Weekday)
#697 Proper of Saints Context (St. John the Evangelist Dec 27)
#781 Ritual Mass Context (IV. For the Conferral of Ministries, 1. Institution of Readers, 5.)
Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 1:1-4
The introduction of the First Letter of John describes the author as not only a believer in Jesus, but also an eyewitness and contemporary of the Lord. He describes the unifying force of faith in the Father, and his joy in passing on the great news of the Savior.
This testimony about Christ is designed to lead to fellowship and complete joy. Fellowship (the Greek word is "koinonia") with the Apostles means having the same faith as those who lived with Jesus: "They saw our Lord in the body," St Augustine reminds us: "and they heard words from his lips and have proclaimed them to us; we also have heard them, but we have not seen him [...]. They saw him, we do not see him, and yet we have fellowship with them, because we have the same faith" ("In Epist. Ioann. ad Parthos", 1, 3).[1]
CCC: 1 Jn 1:1-4 425; 1 Jn 1:3-7 1108; 1 Jn 1:3 2781
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1 John 1:5—2:2
#557 Proper of Saint Context (St. Catherine of Siena Apr 29)
#698 Proper of Saint Context (Feast of Holy Innocents Dec 27)
#949 Mass for Various Needs Context (IV. For Various Needs, 27. For the Remission of Sins, Second Option)
Beloved:
This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ
and proclaim to you:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
If we say, “We have fellowship with him,”
while we continue to walk in darkness,
we lie and do not act in truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,
then we have fellowship with one another,
and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
If we say, “We are without sin,”
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 1:5—2:2
We are given, in this selection, a foundational scripture passage upon which the sacrament of reconciliation rests. The logic St. John uses flows nicely: Jesus, the Christ, is light. When we sin we walk in darkness. When we admit our sin, the Lord who is “expiation for our sins,” brings us back into the light. If we try to deceive ourselves, saying we are not sinful, we fall, and in a sense make Jesus’ sacrifice meaningless.
“Light is to be understood here as truth and goodness; darkness here is error and depravity (cf. John 3:19-21; 17:17; Ephesians 5:8). To walk in light or darkness is to live according to truth or error, not merely intellectual but moral as well. Fellowship with God and with one another consists in a life according to the truth as found in God and in Christ.” Then for v. 8-10: "Denial of the condition of sin is self-deception and even contradictory of divine revelation; there is also the continual possibility of sin's recurrence. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ are assured through acknowledgment of them and repentance.”[2] The final verses of this selection profess the Trinity as One God: “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.”
CCC: 1 Jn 1:5 214; 1 Jn 1:6 2470; 1 Jn 1:7-2:2 2631; 1 Jn 1:8-10 827; 1 Jn 1:8-9 1847; 1 Jn 1:8 1425; 1 Jn 1:10 2147;1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
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1 John 2:1-5
#893 Mass for Various Needs Context (II. For Public Needs, 15. Reconciliation, Third Option)
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:1-5
This selection provides a principle teaching of St. John. He writes to the faithful that they might know the commandments of Christ. He then tells them that in order to keep from sin they must keep “Jesus’” commandments. He contrasts professed faith and observed actions saying that if you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar. (see also 1 John 4:20, 1 John 5:10).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
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1 John 2:1-5a
#47B Solemnities B Context (3rd Sunday of Easter B)
My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:1-5a
This selection provides a principal teaching of St. John. He writes to the faithful that they might know the commandments of Christ. He then tells them that in order to keep from sin they must keep Jesus’ commandments. He contrasts professed faith and observed actions, saying that if you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar. (see also 1 John 4:20, 1 John 5:10).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:1-2 1460; 1 Jn 2:1 519, 692, 2634; 1 Jn 2:2 605, 606
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1 John 2:3-11
#202 I & II Context (5th Day in the Octave of Christmas)
Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 2:3-11
This selection provides two consistent teachings of St. John. First is the injunction to keep Jesus' commandments. He uses the same formula we have heard before in this letter. If you say you belong to Christ but do not follow his commandments, you are a liar.
The second teaching is his favorite, perhaps because it is part of the great commandment and fundamental to everything taught by the Lord: “Love one another.” Here St. John again uses the darkness and light theme to demonstrate that the one who walks with Christ is in the light and the one who does not walks in darkness and is lost: “he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
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1 John 2:12-17
#203 Year I & II Context (6th Day in the Octave of Christmas)
I am writing to you, children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the Evil One.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong and the word of God remains in you,
and you have conquered the Evil One.
Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 2:12-17
St. John addresses his audience individually on sin and forgiveness using an interesting metaphor for the Trinity: children, fathers, young men. The believing community he addresses is armed through faith against the evil one. He focuses in his last paragraph on avoiding the secular world. He exhorts them to separate themselves from “things” of the world, saying that they are of the world and therefore unworthy of special care; they lead the faithful away from God (see also John 17:9-26 and John 15:18-27).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:16 377, 2514, 2534
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1 John 2:18-25
#512 Proper of Saints Context (St. Hilary Jan 13)
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:18-25
After telling his community that they were armed by their knowledge of Christ against evil, the apostle now tells them that his hour is near. Christ has died and is risen and the second coming must be approaching. He warns them to be alert and watch out for the antichrist. (This designation occurs only in the writings of St. John. In Matthew and Mark they are called false messiahs, in St. Paul’s letters the antichrist is designated “lawless one.”) This group of antichrists mentioned by the biblical authors seems to indicate a group of persons who were teaching falsely about Jesus.
St. John identifies these antichrists as individuals who schismatically leave the faith community, holding false premises. He then tells those who are faithful to be steadfast because they are anointed in the truth. It clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son. Anyone who denies one denies both and anyone who teaches that neither exists is a “false teacher.”
St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son. In doing so they open the door to eternal life, and they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.
CCC: 1 Jn 2:18 670, 672, 675; 1 Jn 2:20 91, 695; 1 Jn 2:22 675; 1 Jn 2:23 454
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1 John 2:18-21
#204 Weekday Year I & II Context (7th Day in the Octave of Christmas)
Children, it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number.
But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:18-21
After telling his community that they were armed against evil by their knowledge of Christ, the author now tells them that the hour is near. Christ has died and is risen, and the second coming must be approaching. He warns them to be alert and watch out for the antichrist. (This designation occurs only in the writings of St. John. In Matthew and Mark they are called false messiahs, in St. Paul’s letters the same person(s) is designated “lawless one.”) This group of “antichrists” mentioned by the biblical authors seems to indicate a group of persons who were teaching falsely about Jesus.
St. John identifies these antichrists as individuals who schismatically leave the faith community, holding false premises. He then tells those who are faithful to be steadfast because they are anointed in the truth.
CCC: 1 Jn 2:18 670, 672, 675; 1 Jn 2:20 91, 695
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1 John 2:22-28
#205 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 2nd)
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.
If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.
I write you these things about those who would deceive you.
As for you,
the anointing that you received from him remains in you,
so that you do not need anyone to teach you.
But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false;
just as it taught you, remain in him.
And now, children, remain in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:22-28
The first paragraph of this reading from St. John’s first epistle is important in that it clearly establishes the sameness of essence in God the Father and God the Son. Anyone who denies one denies both, and anyone who teaches that either one or the other does not exist is a false teacher.
St. John continues encouraging his followers to remain faithful to what they were taught about the Father and the Son. In doing so they open the door to eternal life; in doing so they may stand with confidence before the Son when he returns on the last day.
In the selection regarding false teaching there is a definition of the antichrist as one who denies the Father and the Son. This would seem to indicate that the Johannine community was being assailed by teachers of false doctrines. St. John goes on to encourage them to remember that Jesus is the Son of God, the Anointed One, and that they in turn have been anointed in his name. There is the implication, although not an explicit definition, of the Holy Spirit as well: “his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false.”
CCC: 1 Jn 2:22 675; 1 Jn 2:23 454; 1 Jn 2:27 91, 695; 1 Jn 2:28 2778
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1 John 2:29–3:6
#206 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 3rd Christmas Weekday)
If you consider that God is righteous,
you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 2:29–3:6
This selection, from St. John’s first letter, starts by telling his followers that, since they have chosen to act in accordance with the Lord’s commandments, they have received his adoption. The evangelist first tells his audience that, if they are righteous, they are of God, because God is righteous. Then he goes on to say if they are pure, they are in him (Jesus) because he is purity. Finally he gives us the inverse, saying if they are in sin they cannot be in God, because in God there is no sin. All of this relative description relates to our adopted status in the Lord.
In chapter 3 the evangelist explains Christian adoption. “The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of his Son (John 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.”[7]
In the final paragraph reference to sin and lawlessness are probably references to acting in ways that follow the teachings of the “antichrist” or false teachers.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772; 1 Jn 3:3 2345; 1 Jn 3:5 457
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1 John 3:1-3
#667 Solemnities ABC Context (Solemnity of All Saints, Nov 1)
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:1-3
“The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of his Son (John 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.”[10] “The world” is the biblical term consistently used in reference to the non-Christian populations of that era. In modern terminology it would refer to secular society.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772
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1 John 3:1-2
#50B Solemnities B Context (4th Sunday of Easter B)
#792 Ritual Mass Context (V. For the Pastoral Care of the Sick and of the Dying, Anointing of the Sick, 15.)
#1014 Masses for the Dead Context (14.)
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:1-2
In this selection from St. John’s first epistle, we are reminded that we are all adopted children of God through our baptism. Because of this, we are part of his family, the family of the faithful. St. John goes on to remind us of the obligations of Jesus' adoption. First, we must believe in him, the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. Second, following the formula of the Great Commandment, we must love one another as we are loved by the Father, through the Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772
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1 John 3:1-2, 21-24
#17ABC Context (Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
And so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24
In this selection from St. John’s first epistle we are reminded that we are all, through our baptism, adopted children of God, and hence part of his family, the family of the faithful. St. John goes on to remind us of the obligations of that adoption: First is that we believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. Second, following the formula of the Great Commandment, is that we should love one another.
The ending of the chapter speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus. The Evangelist speaks of how in faith, Christians are assured, through mutual love, that they are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in them. In adhering to this most important of commandments, the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of our obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
CCC: 1 Jn 3 2822; 1 Jn 3:1 1692; 1 Jn 3:2 163, 1023, 1161, 1720, 2519, 2772; 1 Jn 3:21 2778; 1 Jn 3:22 2631
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1 John 3:7-10
#207 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 4, Christmas Weekday)
Children, let no one deceive you.
The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
Whoever sins belongs to the Devil,
because the Devil has sinned from the beginning.
Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil.
No one who is begotten by God commits sin,
because God’s seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God.
In this way,
the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain;
no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God,
nor anyone who does not love his brother.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:7-10
St. John continues the theme of living as children of God. In this selection, we find he has taken his comparison in a somewhat reflective direction. He looks at the behavior of those who belong to God and those who belong to the Devil as being distinguishable to God because of their love for one another. His exhortation is against the gnostic notion that all one needs to be considered “righteous” is to have an attitude of righteousness. He refutes this, saying that we must be imitators of Christ, and our actions enhance the righteousness which belongs to those who have faith in Christ Jesus.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:8 385, 392, 394
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1 John 3:11-21
#208 Weekday Years I & II Context (January 5, Christmas Weekday)
#947E Masses for Various Occasions Context (III. In Various Public Circumstances, 26A. In Thanksgiving to God for the Gift of Human Life. Fifth Option)
Beloved:
This is the message you have heard from the beginning:
we should love one another,
unlike Cain who belonged to the Evil One
and slaughtered his brother.
Why did he slaughter him?
Because his own works were evil,
and those of his brother righteous.
Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:11-21
St. John continues his narrative on righteousness and love in this passage. Note, he has not really focused on what he considers to be the central teaching of Christ: love one another. In this particular section he begins with the comparison from scripture of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16) to demonstrate that, from the beginning of human history, evil has hated good. He uses that analogy to explain why the world, which is intrinsically evil in his eyes, hates the Christian community, which is good because the members of that community love each other.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:15 1033; 1 Jn 3:17 2447; 1 Jn 3:19-24 2845; 1 Jn 3:19-20 208, 1781; 1 Jn 3:21 2631
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1 John 3:14-18
#539 Proper of Saints Context (St. John of God, Mar 8)
#594 Proper of Saints Context (St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Jul 4)
#599 > 601A Proper of Saints Context (St. Camillus De Lellis, Jul 14 (599) Transfered to Jul 18 (601A) in US)
#620A^ Proper of Saints Context (St. Maximilian Kolbe, Aug 14)
#678 Proper of Saints Context (St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Nov 17)
#740 Commons Context (Common of Holy Men and Women)
#953 Mass for Various Needs Context (IV. For Various Needs, 28. For the Promotion of Charity or To Foster Harmony of For Family and Friends, Third Option)
Beloved:
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that anyone who is a murderer
does not have eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:14-18
St. John continues his narrative on righteousness and love in this passage. Note, he has not really focused on what he considers to be the central teaching of Christ – love one another. In this particular section he begins with the comparison from scripture of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16). He brings that rationale as to why the world, in his eyes intrinsically evil, hates the Christian community, who are good because they love each other.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:15 1033; 1 Jn 3:17 2447
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 3:14-16
#1014 Mass for the Dead Context (15.)
Beloved:
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that anyone who is a murderer
does not have eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:14-16
St. John continues his narrative on righteousness and love in this passage. Note he has not really focused on what he considers to be the central teaching of Christ – love one another. In this particular section he begins with the comparison from scripture of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16). The author concludes with the profound statement that, because Christ laid down his life for us, we are obligated to do the same for those we love.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:15 1033
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 3:18-24
#53B Solemnities B Context (5th Sunday of Easter B)
#802 Ritual Mass Context (VI. For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage, 11.)
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 3:18-24
The ending of Chapter 3 from St. John’s first epistle speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus, and how, in that faith, they are assured, through mutual love, that the faithful are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in them. In adhering to this most important of commandments, the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of Christian obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
Beloved:
This is the message you have heard from the beginning:
we should love one another,
unlike Cain who belonged to the Evil One
and slaughtered his brother.
Why did he slaughter him?
Because his own works were evil,
and those of his brother righteous.
Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:11-21
St. John continues his narrative on righteousness and love in this passage. Note, he has not really focused on what he considers to be the central teaching of Christ: love one another. In this particular section he begins with the comparison from scripture of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16) to demonstrate that, from the beginning of human history, evil has hated good. He uses that analogy to explain why the world, which is intrinsically evil in his eyes, hates the Christian community, which is good because the members of that community love each other.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:15 1033; 1 Jn 3:17 2447; 1 Jn 3:19-24 2845; 1 Jn 3:19-20 208, 1781; 1 Jn 3:21 2631
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1 John 3:14-18
#539 Proper of Saints Context (St. John of God, Mar 8)
#594 Proper of Saints Context (St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Jul 4)
#599 > 601A Proper of Saints Context (St. Camillus De Lellis, Jul 14 (599) Transfered to Jul 18 (601A) in US)
#620A^ Proper of Saints Context (St. Maximilian Kolbe, Aug 14)
#678 Proper of Saints Context (St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Nov 17)
#740 Commons Context (Common of Holy Men and Women)
#953 Mass for Various Needs Context (IV. For Various Needs, 28. For the Promotion of Charity or To Foster Harmony of For Family and Friends, Third Option)
Beloved:
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that anyone who is a murderer
does not have eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If someone who has worldly means
sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:14-18
St. John continues his narrative on righteousness and love in this passage. Note, he has not really focused on what he considers to be the central teaching of Christ – love one another. In this particular section he begins with the comparison from scripture of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16). He brings that rationale as to why the world, in his eyes intrinsically evil, hates the Christian community, who are good because they love each other.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:15 1033; 1 Jn 3:17 2447
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 3:14-16
#1014 Mass for the Dead Context (15.)
Beloved:
We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
and you know that anyone who is a murderer
does not have eternal life remaining in him.
The way we came to know love
was that he laid down his life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:14-16
St. John continues his narrative on righteousness and love in this passage. Note he has not really focused on what he considers to be the central teaching of Christ – love one another. In this particular section he begins with the comparison from scripture of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16). The author concludes with the profound statement that, because Christ laid down his life for us, we are obligated to do the same for those we love.
CCC: 1 Jn 3:15 1033
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 3:18-24
#53B Solemnities B Context (5th Sunday of Easter B)
#802 Ritual Mass Context (VI. For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage, 11.)
Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.
Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts before him
in whatever our hearts condemn,
for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God
and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:18-24
The ending of Chapter 3 from St. John’s first epistle speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus, and how, in that faith, they are assured, through mutual love, that the faithful are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in them. In adhering to this most important of commandments, the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of Christian obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
“The development of John’s thought in this section, and its relation to his earlier teaching, can now be understood plainly. An interpretative key is provided by the concepts of ‘abiding” or “remaining’ (using the verb “to abide”) and obedience, which link together John’s successive ideas. In 2:6 he speaks of “abiding” in God through Jesus as conditioned by an imitation of Christ’s example. Similarly ‘remaining in the light,’ it is claimed, depends on obedience to the love command (2:7–11); just as ‘living in the Son and in the Father’ is guaranteed by allowing the divine Spirit and Word to ‘remain’ in us, and to produce the fruits of right belief and right (loving) conduct (2:20–29).” [16]
CCC: 1 Jn 3:19-24 2845; 1 Jn 3:19-20 208, 1781; 1 Jn 3:21 2778; 1 Jn 3:22 2631
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1 John 3:22–4:6
#212 Weekday Year I & II Context (Monday Following Epiphany)
Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:22–4:6
The ending of Chapter 3 from St. John’s first epistle speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus, and how, in that faith, they are assured, through mutual love, that we are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in us. When we adhere to this most important of his commandments, the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of our obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
The beginning of Chapter 4 (“Beloved, do not trust every spirit”) returns to the central theme of St. John’s letter, “false teachers.” “Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.”[14]
CCC: 1 Jn 3:19-24 2845; 1 Jn 3:22 2631; 1 Jn 4 2822; 1 Jn 4:2-3 465; 1 Jn 4:2 423, 463; 1 Jn 4:3 672
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1 John 4:7-16
#170A Solemnities A Context (Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus A)
#607 Proper of Saints Context (St. Martha, Jul 29)
#633 Proper of Saints Context (St. Augustine, Aug 28)
#740 Commons Context (Common of Holy Men and Women)
#812 Ritual Mass Context (VIII. For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession, 14)
#998 Votive Mass Context (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 6.)
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-16
Love, as we share in it, testifies to the nature of God and to his presence in our lives. A person who loves shows that they are a child of God and they know God, for God's very being is love. A person without love is without God. The revelation of the nature of God's love is found in the free gift of his Son to us, so that we may share life with God and be delivered from our sins. The love we have for one another must be of the same sort: authentic, merciful. This unique Christian love is our proof that we know God and can "see" the invisible God.[6]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:8 214, 221, 733, 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428; 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457; 1 Jn 4:16 221, 733, 1604
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:7-12
#802 Ritual Mass Context (VI. For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage, 12.)
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-12
This selection from St. John’s first letter is a summary of the Apostle’s major contribution to our understanding of God as revealed through his only Son. The exhortation to love one another is repeated frequently throughout the author’s Gospel and his letters. The idea that “God is love” is central to our understanding of God and Christ. In this short passage we see not only a glimpse of God’s intent in sending Jesus to the world as a proof of his love for us through “…expiation of our sins” but our own imperative as Christians to love one another in imitation of him.
"The divine attributes, God's perfections, which he has to the highest degree, are the cause of our virtues: for example, because God is holy, we have been given a capacity to be holy. Similarly, because God is love, we can love. True love, true charity, comes from God."[11]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:8 214, 221, 733, 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428; 1 Jn 4:11-12 735
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:7-10
#56B Sunday B Context (6th Sunday of of Easter B)
#213 Weekday Year I & II Context (Tuesday following Epiphany)
CCC: 1 Jn 3:19-24 2845; 1 Jn 3:19-20 208, 1781; 1 Jn 3:21 2778; 1 Jn 3:22 2631
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1 John 3:22–4:6
#212 Weekday Year I & II Context (Monday Following Epiphany)
Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist
who, as you heard, is to come,
but in fact is already in the world.
You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them,
for the one who is in you
is greater than the one who is in the world.
They belong to the world;
accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world,
and the world listens to them.
We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us,
while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us.
This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 3:22–4:6
The ending of Chapter 3 from St. John’s first epistle speaks of Christians living a life of faith in Jesus, and how, in that faith, they are assured, through mutual love, that we are in the Lord and the Lord also resides in us. When we adhere to this most important of his commandments, the Lord becomes indwelling. As a consequence of our obedience, the love of Christ and love of each other naturally follows.
The beginning of Chapter 4 (“Beloved, do not trust every spirit”) returns to the central theme of St. John’s letter, “false teachers.” “Deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3): those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.”[14]
CCC: 1 Jn 3:19-24 2845; 1 Jn 3:22 2631; 1 Jn 4 2822; 1 Jn 4:2-3 465; 1 Jn 4:2 423, 463; 1 Jn 4:3 672
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1 John 4:7-16
#170A Solemnities A Context (Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus A)
#607 Proper of Saints Context (St. Martha, Jul 29)
#633 Proper of Saints Context (St. Augustine, Aug 28)
#740 Commons Context (Common of Holy Men and Women)
#812 Ritual Mass Context (VIII. For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession, 14)
#998 Votive Mass Context (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 6.)
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-16
Love, as we share in it, testifies to the nature of God and to his presence in our lives. A person who loves shows that they are a child of God and they know God, for God's very being is love. A person without love is without God. The revelation of the nature of God's love is found in the free gift of his Son to us, so that we may share life with God and be delivered from our sins. The love we have for one another must be of the same sort: authentic, merciful. This unique Christian love is our proof that we know God and can "see" the invisible God.[6]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:8 214, 221, 733, 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428; 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457; 1 Jn 4:16 221, 733, 1604
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:7-12
#802 Ritual Mass Context (VI. For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage, 12.)
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-12
This selection from St. John’s first letter is a summary of the Apostle’s major contribution to our understanding of God as revealed through his only Son. The exhortation to love one another is repeated frequently throughout the author’s Gospel and his letters. The idea that “God is love” is central to our understanding of God and Christ. In this short passage we see not only a glimpse of God’s intent in sending Jesus to the world as a proof of his love for us through “…expiation of our sins” but our own imperative as Christians to love one another in imitation of him.
"The divine attributes, God's perfections, which he has to the highest degree, are the cause of our virtues: for example, because God is holy, we have been given a capacity to be holy. Similarly, because God is love, we can love. True love, true charity, comes from God."[11]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:8 214, 221, 733, 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428; 1 Jn 4:11-12 735
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:7-10
#56B Sunday B Context (6th Sunday of of Easter B)
#213 Weekday Year I & II Context (Tuesday following Epiphany)
#510B Proper of Saints Context (St. John Neuman, 5 Jan)
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-10
This wonderful selection from St. John’s first letter is a summary of the apostle’s major contribution to our understanding of God as revealed through his Only Begotten Son. The exhortation to love one another is repeated frequently throughout the author’s Gospel and his letters. The idea that “God is love” is central to our understanding of God and Christ. In this short passage we see not only a glimpse of God’s intent in sending Jesus to the world as a proof of his love for us through “expiation of our sins,” but also our own imperative as Christians to love one another in imitation of him.
Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:7-10
This wonderful selection from St. John’s first letter is a summary of the apostle’s major contribution to our understanding of God as revealed through his Only Begotten Son. The exhortation to love one another is repeated frequently throughout the author’s Gospel and his letters. The idea that “God is love” is central to our understanding of God and Christ. In this short passage we see not only a glimpse of God’s intent in sending Jesus to the world as a proof of his love for us through “expiation of our sins,” but also our own imperative as Christians to love one another in imitation of him.
"John begins his appeal for love, as a demand which is laid upon every believer who seeks to live as a true child of God, by reminding his readers of the dominical command to “love one another” (see John
13:34–35; 15:12, 17). Characteristically, this ethical injunction is closely linked to a supporting theological statement about the origin of love itself and of the one who loves. Theology and ethics belong together throughout 1 John." [17]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:8 214, 221, 733, 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428
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1 John 4:9-15
#868 Mass for Various Needs Context (I. For the Holy Church, 10. For the Unity of Christians, 8.)
Beloved:
The love of God was revealed to us in this way:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:9-15
The Evangelist provides an explanation of the defining character of God, that God is love. This love is revealed by the singular act of offering His Only-Begotten Son as a sacrifice that our sins might be forgiven. In demonstrating this attribute, and ratifying it in the human person of his Son, God provides an example and commandment to those who profess faith in him, that they too must love on another. Just as God is synonymous with love, so must we reflect that same characteristic as being central to our lives. Love becomes the unifying and defining characteristic of the Christian. In this way, we show the world that God lives in us and we are unified in him. To acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, is to acknowledge God is love.
CCC: 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428; 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:11-18
#214 Weekday Year I & II Context (Wednesday following Epiphany)
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 4:11-18
St. John’s first letter is continued following the profession of God’s love. “The testimony of the Spirit and that of faith join the testimony of love to confirm our knowledge of God. Our love is grounded in the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and the example of God's love for us. Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment.”[3]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457
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1 John 4:11-16
#60B Solemnities B Context (7th Sunday of Easter B)
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:11-16
As we look forward to the gift of the Holy Spirit, St. John’s letter follows his profession of God’s love with this instruction regarding how we must join with God’s love. “The testimony of the Spirit and that of faith join the testimony of love to confirm our knowledge of God. Our love is grounded in the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and the example of God's love for us. Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment.”[9]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457; 1 Jn 4:16 221, 733, 1604
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1 John 4:19–5:4
#215 Weekday I & II Context (Thursday following Epiphany)
Beloved, we love God because
he first loved us.
If anyone says, “I love God,”
but hates his brother, he is a liar;
for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen.
This is the commandment we have from him:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 4:19–5:4
This passage from St. John’s first letter drives home the original purpose for the letter. “The fullness of Christian life as fellowship with the Father must be based on true belief and result in charitable living; knowledge of God and love for one another are inseparable, and error in one area inevitably affects the other.” [4]
The link forged by the Great Commandment of loving God and loving neighbor is strengthened by St. John who places Christ as an integral part. If a person loves God, then, perforce, they must also love one another. If they do not love one another they do not love God.
CCC: 1 Jn 4:19 604, 1828; 1 Jn 4:20 2840; 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790
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1 John 5:1-6
#44B Solemnities B Context (2nd Sunday of Easter B [Divine Mercy Sunday])
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-6
St. John begins his discourse with the logic that defines what it means to be Christian. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands, is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil, even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[8]
The evangelist concludes by referring to blood, which is a symbol of the Cross of the crucified Christ. Also contained in the passion of Christ was God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). His logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of his Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790; 1 Jn 5:6-8 1225
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1 John 5:1-9
#21B Solemnities B Context (Baptism of the Lord B)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
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Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-9
The beginning of this chapter from St. John’s first letter provides us with an understanding of Christ and God being of the same essence. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God (1 John 5:1-2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands (1 John 5:3), is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 John 5:4-5), even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[5]
This selection presents numerous images of baptism, the initial Christian bath. His reference to “water” is a reference to the Lord’s baptism. The “Spirit” is a reference to the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord as he came out of his baptismal bath. Finally he refers to blood which is a symbol of the Cross. In that event also was God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). His logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of His Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790; 1 Jn 5:6-8 1225; 1 Jn 5:8 694
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1 John 5:1-5
#542 Proper of Saints Context (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mar 18)
#560 Proper of Saints Context (St. Athanasius, May 2)
#583 Proper of Saints Context (St Aloysius Gonzaga, Jun 20)
#596A Proper of Saints Context (St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Jul 10)
#611 Proper of Saints Context (St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Aug 1)
#716 Commons Context (Common of Common of Martyrs)
#740 Commons Context (Common of Holy Men and Women)
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-5
The beginning of this chapter from St. John’s first letter provides us with an understanding of Christ and God being of the same essence. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God (1 John 5:1-2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands (1 John 5:3), is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 John 5:4-5), even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[5]
CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790
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1 John 5:4-8
#979 Votive Mass Context ( The Most Holy Eucharist, 6.)
#992 Votive Mass Context (The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 4.)
Beloved:
Whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:4-8
St. John reminds the faithful that all who accept God's adoption in Baptism, share also in his victory over the world; a victory won by his death - victory over death itself. Therefore, our faith in Christ makes us co-victors over the world in which death still reigns over the unbelieving. "Sharing in the victory Jesus won (especially over death, which we all go through) requires a living faith, which Hebrews links with hope for what we cannot see, namely, the victory over death. Unbelievers don't have that faith, and so lack that hope."[12]
The passage next takes up the essence of the savior; true God and true Man. Water, the symbol of the new life of baptism is coupled with blood, flowing from the Lord's side as he hung upon the victorious Cross, poured into the chalice of life, the Precious Blood, that gives us life in him. Therefore, in heaven there are three who testify to the truth - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. On earth the three who testify are the Spirit, Water, and Blood. One God in heaven, true God and true man on earth.
"The three witnesses become one in Baptism, for if you eliminate one of them, the sacrament ceases to be. Without the Cross of Christ, water is simply a natural element. Without water, there is no mystery of regeneration. And unless one is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there is neither remission of sins nor reception of spiritual grace (St. Ambrose, On the Mysteries 4, 30)."[13]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 5:5-13
#209 Weekday I & II Context (January 6 Before Epiphany)
#216 Weekday I & II Context (Friday following Epiphany)
Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:5-13
St. John’s first letter provides a unique understanding of Jesus' baptism and baptismal theology in general. His reference to “water” is a reference to the Lord’s baptism. The “Spirit” is a reference to the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord as he came out of his baptismal bath. Finally he refers to Blood which is a symbol of the Cross. In that baptismal event was also God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). St. John’s logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of his Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:6-8 1225; 1 Jn 5:8 694
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 5:14-21
#210 Weekday Year I & II Context (January 7 before Epiphany)
#217 Weekday Year I & II Context (Saturday following Epiphany)
Beloved:
We have this confidence in him
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours.
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him.
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.
And we are in the one who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against idols.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:14-21
The concluding passage of St. John’s first letter begins by expressing the faith Christians have in prayers being heard. It moves immediately into the response of the community to those who have sinned, but not deadly sins. Given the main purpose of this letter, this probably refers to apostasy as a result of false teachers. In summarizing the themes St. John has dealt with in the letter, a contrast is drawn between the members of the community of faith (those “begotten by God”) and the secular world belonging to the evil one. Those who are faithful to Jesus find eternal life in him. It ends rather awkwardly with one last exhortation to be on guard against idols, almost an afterthought.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:14 2778, 2827; 1 Jn 5:16-17 1854; 1 Jn 5:18-19 2852; 1 Jn 5:19 409; 1 Jn 5:20 217
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] The Navarre Bible: “Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 388
[2] See NAB footnote on 1 John 1:1-5
[3] see NAB footnote on 1 John 4:11ff
[4] From “Introduction to the Epistles of John” New American Bible (NAB)
[5] See NAB footnote on 1 John 5:1ff
[6] See NAB footnote on 1 John 4: 7-12
[7] See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 3:1ff
[8] See NAB footnote on 1 John 5:1-5
[9] see NAB footnote on 1 Jn 4:11ff
[10] See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 3:1-3
[11]The Navarre Bible: “Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 409
[12] Deacon Dennis Walters insight on this passage.
[13] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. p.474
[14] see NAB footnote on 1 John 4:1-6
[15] The Navarre Bible: “Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 411.
CCC: 1 Jn 4:8 214, 221, 733, 1604; 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428
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1 John 4:9-15
#868 Mass for Various Needs Context (I. For the Holy Church, 10. For the Unity of Christians, 8.)
Beloved:
The love of God was revealed to us in this way:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:9-15
The Evangelist provides an explanation of the defining character of God, that God is love. This love is revealed by the singular act of offering His Only-Begotten Son as a sacrifice that our sins might be forgiven. In demonstrating this attribute, and ratifying it in the human person of his Son, God provides an example and commandment to those who profess faith in him, that they too must love on another. Just as God is synonymous with love, so must we reflect that same characteristic as being central to our lives. Love becomes the unifying and defining characteristic of the Christian. In this way, we show the world that God lives in us and we are unified in him. To acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, is to acknowledge God is love.
CCC: 1 Jn 4:9 458, 516; 1 Jn 4:10 457, 604, 614, 620, 1428; 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:11-18
#214 Weekday Year I & II Context (Wednesday following Epiphany)
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:11-18
St. John’s first letter is continued following the profession of God’s love. “The testimony of the Spirit and that of faith join the testimony of love to confirm our knowledge of God. Our love is grounded in the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and the example of God's love for us. Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment.”[3]
“The apostle underlines here the theological basis of
brotherly love: the love which God has shown us by the incarnation and
redemptive death of his Son, places us in his debt: we have to respond in kind;
so we 'ought' to love our neighbor with the kind of gratitude and disinterest
that God showed by taking the initiative in loving us.” [15]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:11-16
#60B Solemnities B Context (7th Sunday of Easter B)
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:11-16
As we look forward to the gift of the Holy Spirit, St. John’s letter follows his profession of God’s love with this instruction regarding how we must join with God’s love. “The testimony of the Spirit and that of faith join the testimony of love to confirm our knowledge of God. Our love is grounded in the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and the example of God's love for us. Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment.”[9]
CCC: 1 Jn 4:11-12 735; 1 Jn 4:14 457; 1 Jn 4:16 221, 733, 1604
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 4:19–5:4
#215 Weekday I & II Context (Thursday following Epiphany)
Beloved, we love God because
he first loved us.
If anyone says, “I love God,”
but hates his brother, he is a liar;
for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen.
This is the commandment we have from him:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 4:19–5:4
This passage from St. John’s first letter drives home the original purpose for the letter. “The fullness of Christian life as fellowship with the Father must be based on true belief and result in charitable living; knowledge of God and love for one another are inseparable, and error in one area inevitably affects the other.” [4]
The link forged by the Great Commandment of loving God and loving neighbor is strengthened by St. John who places Christ as an integral part. If a person loves God, then, perforce, they must also love one another. If they do not love one another they do not love God.
CCC: 1 Jn 4:19 604, 1828; 1 Jn 4:20 2840; 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790
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1 John 5:1-6
#44B Solemnities B Context (2nd Sunday of Easter B [Divine Mercy Sunday])
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-6
St. John begins his discourse with the logic that defines what it means to be Christian. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands, is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil, even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[8]
The evangelist concludes by referring to blood, which is a symbol of the Cross of the crucified Christ. Also contained in the passion of Christ was God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). His logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of his Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790; 1 Jn 5:6-8 1225
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1 John 5:1-9
#21B Solemnities B Context (Baptism of the Lord B)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-9
The beginning of this chapter from St. John’s first letter provides us with an understanding of Christ and God being of the same essence. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God (1 John 5:1-2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands (1 John 5:3), is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 John 5:4-5), even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[5]
This selection presents numerous images of baptism, the initial Christian bath. His reference to “water” is a reference to the Lord’s baptism. The “Spirit” is a reference to the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord as he came out of his baptismal bath. Finally he refers to blood which is a symbol of the Cross. In that event also was God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). His logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of His Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790; 1 Jn 5:6-8 1225; 1 Jn 5:8 694
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1 John 5:1-5
#542 Proper of Saints Context (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mar 18)
#560 Proper of Saints Context (St. Athanasius, May 2)
#583 Proper of Saints Context (St Aloysius Gonzaga, Jun 20)
#596A Proper of Saints Context (St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Jul 10)
#611 Proper of Saints Context (St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Aug 1)
#716 Commons Context (Common of Common of Martyrs)
#740 Commons Context (Common of Holy Men and Women)
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-5
The beginning of this chapter from St. John’s first letter provides us with an understanding of Christ and God being of the same essence. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God (1 John 5:1-2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands (1 John 5:3), is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 John 5:4-5), even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[5]
CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790
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1 John 5:4-8
#979 Votive Mass Context ( The Most Holy Eucharist, 6.)
#992 Votive Mass Context (The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 4.)
Beloved:
Whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:4-8
St. John reminds the faithful that all who accept God's adoption in Baptism, share also in his victory over the world; a victory won by his death - victory over death itself. Therefore, our faith in Christ makes us co-victors over the world in which death still reigns over the unbelieving. "Sharing in the victory Jesus won (especially over death, which we all go through) requires a living faith, which Hebrews links with hope for what we cannot see, namely, the victory over death. Unbelievers don't have that faith, and so lack that hope."[12]
The passage next takes up the essence of the savior; true God and true Man. Water, the symbol of the new life of baptism is coupled with blood, flowing from the Lord's side as he hung upon the victorious Cross, poured into the chalice of life, the Precious Blood, that gives us life in him. Therefore, in heaven there are three who testify to the truth - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. On earth the three who testify are the Spirit, Water, and Blood. One God in heaven, true God and true man on earth.
"The three witnesses become one in Baptism, for if you eliminate one of them, the sacrament ceases to be. Without the Cross of Christ, water is simply a natural element. Without water, there is no mystery of regeneration. And unless one is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there is neither remission of sins nor reception of spiritual grace (St. Ambrose, On the Mysteries 4, 30)."[13]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 5:5-13
#209 Weekday I & II Context (January 6 Before Epiphany)
#216 Weekday I & II Context (Friday following Epiphany)
Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:5-13
St. John’s first letter provides a unique understanding of Jesus' baptism and baptismal theology in general. His reference to “water” is a reference to the Lord’s baptism. The “Spirit” is a reference to the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord as he came out of his baptismal bath. Finally he refers to Blood which is a symbol of the Cross. In that baptismal event was also God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). St. John’s logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of his Son.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:6-8 1225; 1 Jn 5:8 694
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1 John 5:14-21
#210 Weekday Year I & II Context (January 7 before Epiphany)
#217 Weekday Year I & II Context (Saturday following Epiphany)
Beloved:
We have this confidence in him
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours.
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him.
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.
And we are in the one who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against idols.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:14-21
The concluding passage of St. John’s first letter begins by expressing the faith Christians have in prayers being heard. It moves immediately into the response of the community to those who have sinned, but not deadly sins. Given the main purpose of this letter, this probably refers to apostasy as a result of false teachers. In summarizing the themes St. John has dealt with in the letter, a contrast is drawn between the members of the community of faith (those “begotten by God”) and the secular world belonging to the evil one. Those who are faithful to Jesus find eternal life in him. It ends rather awkwardly with one last exhortation to be on guard against idols, almost an afterthought.
CCC: 1 Jn 5:14 2778, 2827; 1 Jn 5:16-17 1854; 1 Jn 5:18-19 2852; 1 Jn 5:19 409; 1 Jn 5:20 217
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[1] The Navarre Bible: “Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 388
[2] See NAB footnote on 1 John 1:1-5
[3] see NAB footnote on 1 John 4:11ff
[4] From “Introduction to the Epistles of John” New American Bible (NAB)
[5] See NAB footnote on 1 John 5:1ff
[6] See NAB footnote on 1 John 4: 7-12
[7] See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 3:1ff
[8] See NAB footnote on 1 John 5:1-5
[9] see NAB footnote on 1 Jn 4:11ff
[10] See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 3:1-3
[11]The Navarre Bible: “Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 409
[12] Deacon Dennis Walters insight on this passage.
[13] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. p.474
[14] see NAB footnote on 1 John 4:1-6
[15] The Navarre Bible: “Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 411.
[16] Stephen S. Smalley, 1, 2, 3 John, vol. 51, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1984), 213.
[17] Stephen S. Smalley, 1, 2, 3 John, vol. 51, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1984), 236.
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