John 3:17-34

17 For God sent not his Son into the world, that he judge the world, but that the world be saved by him.

18 He that believeth in him, is not deemed; but he that believeth not, is now deemed [He that believeth into him is not deemed, or condemned; forsooth he that believeth not, is now condemned], for he believeth not in the name of the one begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the doom, for light came into the world, and men loved more darknesses than light; for their works were evil.

20 For each man that doeth evil, hateth the light; and he cometh not to the light [and cometh not to the light], that his works be not reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his works be showed, that they be done in God.

22 After these things Jesus came, and his disciples, into the land of Judaea, and there he dwelled with them, and baptized [and baptized, or christened].

23 And John was baptizing in Aenon, beside Salim, for many waters were there; and they came, and were baptized.

24 And John was not yet sent into prison.

25 Therefore a question was made of John's disciples with the Jews, of the purification [of the purification, or cleansing].

26 And they came to John, and said to him, Master [Rabbi, or Master], he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witnessing, lo! he baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27 John answered, and said, A man may not take any thing, but it be given to him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear witnessing to me, that I said, I am not Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath a wife, is the husband [+He that hath a spousess/a spouse, or a wife, is the spouse, or the husband]; but the friend of the spouse that standeth, and heareth him, joyeth with joy, for the voice of the spouse. Therefore in this thing my joy is fulfilled.

30 It behooveth him to wax, but me to be made less. [It behooveth him to wax, forsooth me to be diminished, or made less.]

31 He that came from above, is above all; he that is of the earth, speaketh of the earth; he that cometh from heaven, is above all.

32 And he witnesseth that thing that he hath seen, and heard [And this thing that he saw and heard, he witnesseth], and no man taketh his witnessing.

33 But he that taketh his witnessing, hath confirmed that God is soothfast. [Forsooth he that hath taken his witnessing, hath marked that God is soothfast.]

34 But he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God; for not to measure God giveth the Spirit.

John 3:17-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 3

In this chapter the apostle exhorts to a holy life and conversation in general, and to the exercise of brotherly love in particular. The former of these is urged from the consideration of the great blessing of adoption, which springs from the free love and favour of God, is unknown to the men of the world, and indeed, in the present state of things, does not appear to the saints themselves in all its fulness and advantages, as it will do in the future state, when the children of God will be like to Christ, and see him as he is; the hope of which should engage them to purity of life and conversation, 1Jo 3:1-3, and this is further enforced from the nature of sin, which is a transgression of the law, 1Jo 3:4, from the end of Christ's manifestation in the flesh, which was to take away sin, and who was without it, 1Jo 3:5, from communion with Christ, expressed by abiding in him, seeing and knowing him, which such must be strangers to that live a sinful course of life, 1Jo 3:6, from this, that only such that do righteousness are righteous persons, and these are righteous as Christ is, 1Jo 3:7, and from a man's being of the devil, that is, of a vicious conversation, who was a sinner from the beginning, and whose works Christ was manifested in the flesh to destroy, 1Jo 3:8, and from the nature of the new man, or that which is born of God, which is not to sin, nor can it, 1Jo 3:9, and from the distinction there is between the children of God and the children of the devil, those not being of God who do not righteousness, nor love their brethren, 1Jo 3:10, from hence the apostle passes to brotherly love, and excites and engages to that, from its being a message which had been heard from the beginning, 1Jo 3:11, which is illustrated by its contrary in the instance of Cain, who by the instigation of Satan slew his brother, because his works were righteous, and his own were evil, 1Jo 3:12, wherefore, it is no wonder that good men should be hated by the world, who, as Cain, are of the same wicked one, 1Jo 3:13, brotherly love is further urged unto, from its being an evidence of passing from death to life, or of regeneration; whereas he that hates his brother openly continues in a state of death, is a murderer, and so has not eternal life abiding in him, 1Jo 3:14,15, and from the great instance of Christ's love, in laying down his life for his people, the saints are incited to lay down their lives for one another; to such a pitch does the apostle carry brotherly love, 1Jo 3:16, wherefore, he that is rich, and is uncompassionate to his brother in distress, cannot be thought to have the love of God dwelling in him, 1Jo 3:17, hence he presses the exhortation to brotherly love, that it be not in profession only, but true, real, and cordial, 1Jo 3:18, and that by observing the advantages of it, as that hereby men know they are of the truth, and can assure their hearts before God; and which is illustrated by the contrary, the condemnation of the heart, 1Jo 3:19,20, the advantages of non-condemnation of the heart are confidence before God, and receiving whatsoever we ask of him; the reason of which is, because his commandments are kept, and things done which are pleasing to him, 1Jo 3:21,22, the commandments are explained of faith in Christ, and love to one another, 1Jo 3:23, and the happiness of them that do them is, that Christ dwells in them, and they in him, the evidence of which is, the Spirit that is given unto them, 1Jo 3:24.