1 John
John Michael Talbot, “Confession,” Hiding Place
1 Deuteronomy 4:9; Luke 2:30; John 1:1
2 John 1:14
5-7 Job 24:13-17
8 Jeremiah 2:35
1-2 Ben F. Meyer, The Early Christians, p. 180 f.
1-2 Franz Wright, “I Am Listening,” God’s Silence, p. 140
“I Am Listening”
1-4 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 1
5-10 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 4
5-10 Franz Wright, “My Peace I Leave,” Wheeling Motel, p. 70
8-10 David Dark, The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, p. 36, 100
The Sacredness of Questioning Everything
9 John Donne, “The Grace of Repentance,” Classics of Western Spirituality, p. 229
"The Grace of Repentance"
For though this forgiveness be a flower of mercy, yet the root grows in the justice of God. If we acknowledge our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin. It grows out of his faithfulness as he hath vouchsafed to bind himself by a promise, and out of his justice as he has received a full satisfaction for our sins.
9 C. Norman Kraus, The Community of the Spirit, p. 114 & 164
The Community of the Spirit
This justice is manifest in his gracious adherence to the covenant, even when his human children have broken it and in his “faithful[ness] to forgive our sins” (I John 1:9). His justice or righteousness is his steadfast will to salvation. (p. 114)
Deserving of forgiveness? Does that not contradict the very concept of God’s grace? Not necessarily, it only enlarges it to include God’s creative as well as redemptive activity under the category of grace. In the incarnation of “the Word” God revealed that creation itself is an act of agape. Therefore grace is not simply a redemptive response to things gone wrong. Agape is grace bestowing worth in the very act of creating a person. …
Restoring the relationship broken by sin is worth the painful reconciliation. Precisely that is the revelation of love in Jesus Christ. Agape introduces us to a world of relationships in which forgiveness is a matter of justice. John says, “[God] is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.” (1 John 1:9) (p 164)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -2 the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us -3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1:1 ο ην απ αρχης ο ακηκοαμεν ο εωρακαμεν τοις οφθαλμοις ημων ο εθεασαμεθα και αι χειρες ημων εψηλαφησαν περι του λογου της ζωης 1:2 και η ζωη εφανερωθη και εωρακαμεν και μαρτυρουμεν και απαγγελλομεν υμιν την ζωην την αιωνιον ητις ην προς τον πατερα και εφανερωθη ημιν 1:3 ο εωρακαμεν και ακηκοαμεν απαγγελλομεν υμιν ινα και υμεις κοινωνιαν εχητε μεθ ημων και η κοινωνια δε η ημετερα μετα του πατρος και μετα του υιου αυτου ιησου χριστου 1:4 και ταυτα γραφομεν υμιν ινα η χαρα αβη πεπληρωμενη
1:5 και εστιν αυτη η αβην ακηκοαμεν απ αυτου και αναγγελλομεν υμιν οτι ο θεος φως εστιν και σκοτια εν αυτω ουκ εστιν ουδεμια 1:6 εαν ειπωμεν οτι κοινωνιαν εχομεν μετ αυτου και εν τω σκοτει περιπατωμεν ψευδομεθα και ου ποιουμεν την αληθειαν 1:7 εαν δε εν τω φωτι περιπατωμεν ως αυτος εστιν εν τω φωτι κοινωνιαν εχομεν μετ αλληλων και το αιμα ιησου χριστου του υιου αυτου καθαριζει ημας απο πασης αμαρτιας 1:8 εαν ειπωμεν οτι αμαρτιαν ουκ εχομεν εαυτους πλανωμεν και η αληθεια ουκ εστιν εν ημιν 1:9 εαν ομολογωμεν τας αμαρτιας ημων πιστος εστιν και δικαιος ινα αφη ημιν τας αμαρτιας και καθαριση ημας απο πασης αδικιας 1:10 εαν ειπωμεν οτι ουχ ημαρτηκαμεν ψευστην ποιουμεν αυτον και ο λογος αυτου ουκ εστιν εν ημιν
2 Psalm 130:4
4-6 Matthew 7:21
7 John 13:34
27 Jeremiah 31:34; Matthew 23:8; John 16:23
3-11 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 10
12-14 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 14
15-17 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 17
18-23 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 24
24-29 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 32
1 My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his sake. 13 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 overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 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 abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.
18 Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.
26 I write this to you about those who would deceive you; 27 but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that every one who does right is born of him.
2:1 τεκνια μου ταυτα γραφω υμιν ινα μη αμαρτητε και εαν τις αμαρτη παρακλητον εχομεν προς τον πατερα ιησουν χριστον δικαιον 2:2 και αυτος ιλασμος εστιν περι των αμαρτιων ημων ου περι των ημετερων δε μονον αλλα και περι ολου του κοσμου 2:3 και εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι εγνωκαμεν αυτον εαν τας εντολας αυτου τηρωμεν 2:4 ο λεγων εγνωκα αυτον και τας εντολας αυτου μη τηρων ψευστης εστιν και εν τουτω η αληθεια ουκ εστιν 2:5 ος δ αν τηρη αυτου τον λογον αληθως εν τουτω η αγαπη του θεου τετελειωται εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι εν αυτω εσμεν 2:6 ο λεγων εν αυτω μενειν οφειλει καθως εκεινος περιεπατησεν και αυτος ουτως περιπατειν
2:7 αδελφοι ουκ εντολην καινην γραφω υμιν αλλ εντολην παλαιαν ην ειχετε απ αρχης η εντολη η παλαια εστιν ο λογος ον ηκουσατε απ αρχης 2:8 παλιν εντολην καινην γραφω υμιν ο εστιν αληθες εν αυτω και εν υμιν οτι η σκοτια παραγεται και το φως το αληθινον ηδη φαινει 2:9 ο λεγων εν τω φωτι ειναι και τον αδελφον αυτου μισων εν τη σκοτια εστιν εως αρτι 2:10 ο αγαπων τον αδελφον αυτου εν τω φωτι μενει και σκανδαλον εν αυτω ουκ εστιν 2:11 ο δε μισων τον αδελφον αυτου εν τη σκοτια εστιν και εν τη σκοτια περιπατει και ουκ οιδεν που υπαγει οτι η σκοτια ετυφλωσεν τους οφθαλμους αυτου 2:12 γραφω υμιν τεκνια οτι αφεωνται υμιν αι αμαρτιαι δια το ονομα αυτου 2:13 γραφω υμιν πατερες οτι εγνωκατε τον απ αρχης γραφω υμιν νεανισκοι οτι νενικηκατε τον πονηρον γραφω υμιν παιδια οτι εγνωκατε τον πατερα 2:14 εγραψα υμιν πατερες οτι εγνωκατε τον απ αρχης εγραψα υμιν νεανισκοι οτι ισχυροι εστε και ο λογος του θεου εν υμιν μενει και νενικηκατε τον πονηρον 2:15 μη αγαπατε τον κοσμον μηδε τα εν τω κοσμω εαν τις αγαπα τον κοσμον ουκ εστιν η αγαπη του πατρος εν αυτω 2:16 οτι παν το εν τω κοσμω η επιθυμια της σαρκος και η επιθυμια των οφθαλμων και η αλαζονεια του βιου ουκ εστιν εκ του πατρος αλλ εκ του κοσμου εστιν 2:17 και ο κοσμος παραγεται και η επιθυμια αυτου ο δε ποιων το θελημα του θεου μενει εις τον αιωνα
2:18 παιδια εσχατη ωρα εστιν και καθως ηκουσατε οτι ο αντιχριστος ερχεται και νυν αντιχριστοι πολλοι γεγονασιν οθεν γινωσκομεν οτι εσχατη ωρα εστιν 2:19 εξ ημων εξηλθον αλλ ουκ ησαν εξ ημων ει γαρ ησαν εξ ημων μεμενηκεισαν αν μεθ ημων αλλ ινα φανερωθωσιν οτι ουκ εισιν παντες εξ ημων 2:20 και υμεις χρισμα εχετε απο του αγιου και οιδατε παντα 2:21 ουκ εγραψα υμιν οτι ουκ οιδατε την αληθειαν αλλ οτι οιδατε αυτην και οτι παν ψευδος εκ της αληθειας ουκ εστιν 2:22 τις εστιν ο ψευστης ει μη ο αρνουμενος οτι ιησους ουκ εστιν ο χριστος ουτος εστιν ο αντιχριστος ο αρνουμενος τον πατερα και τον υιον 2:23 πας ο αρνουμενος τον υιον ουδε τον πατερα εχει 2:24 υμεις ουν ο ηκουσατε απ αρχης εν υμιν μενετω εαν εν υμιν μεινη ο απ αρχης ηκουσατε και υμεις εν τω υιω και εν τω πατρι μενειτε 2:25 και αυτη εστιν η επαγγελια ην αυτος επηγγειλατο ημιν την ζωην την αιωνιον
2:26 ταυτα εγραψα υμιν περι των πλανωντων υμας 2:27 και υμεις το χρισμα ο ελαβετε απ αυτου εν υμιν μενει και ου χρειαν εχετε ινα τις διδασκη υμας αλλ ως το αυτο χρισμα διδασκει υμας περι παντων και αληθες εστιν και ουκ εστιν ψευδος και καθως εδιδαξεν υμας μενειτε εν αυτω 2:28 και νυν τεκνια μενετε εν αυτω ινα οταν φανερωθη εχωμεν παρρησιαν και μη αισχυνθωμεν απ αυτου εν τη παρουσια αυτου 2:29 εαν ειδητε οτι δικαιος εστιν γινωσκετε οτι πας ο ποιων την δικαιοσυνην εξ αυτου γεγεννηται
1-3 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 38
1 Meister Eckhart, “German Sermons,” Preacher and Teacher, p. 327-330
1 William Stafford, “A Story That Could Be True,” The Darkness Around Us Is Deep, p. 18
“A Story That Could Be True”
2 Richard Lischer, “The Sermon Interrupted,” Interpretation, (April 1996), p. 179
“The Interrupted Sermon”
The sermon participates in something larger than improvement … What we see in our parishes is improvements and setbacks; [Jesus] sees on our behalf what is the beginning of a whole new age. … The New Testament ends with a fervent prayer of longing for something that has not yet happened. There is this directed push toward the future: “Beloved … it does not yet appear what we shall be” (1 John 3:2).
[Me: A “push toward the future” might as well be described as a “recognition of the freedom and ‘becomingness’ of life”.]
4-9 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 43
9 John Wesley, “The Great Privilege Of Those That Are Born of God,” Fifty-Three Sermons, p. 212-224
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. 10 By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.
3:1 ιδετε ποταπην αγαπην δεδωκεν ημιν ο πατηρ ινα τεκνα θεου κληθωμεν δια τουτο ο κοσμος ου γινωσκει υμας οτι ουκ εγνω αυτον 3:2 αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν 3:3 και πας ο εχων την ελπιδα ταυτην επ αυτω αγνιζει εαυτον καθως εκεινος αγνος εστιν
3:4 πας ο ποιων την αμαρτιαν και την ανομιαν ποιει και η αμαρτια εστιν η ανομια 3:5 και οιδατε οτι εκεινος εφανερωθη ινα τας αμαρτιας ημων αρη και αμαρτια εν αυτω ουκ εστιν 3:6 πας ο εν αυτω μενων ουχ αμαρτανει πας ο αμαρτανων ουχ εωρακεν αυτον ουδε εγνωκεν αυτον 3:7 τεκνια μηδεις πλανατω υμας ο ποιων την δικαιοσυνην δικαιος εστιν καθως εκεινος δικαιος εστιν 3:8 ο ποιων την αμαρτιαν εκ του διαβολου εστιν οτι απ αρχης ο διαβολος αμαρτανει εις τουτο εφανερωθη ο υιος του θεου ινα λυση τα εργα του διαβολου 3:9 πας ο γεγεννημενος εκ του θεου αμαρτιαν ου ποιει οτι σπερμα αυτου εν αυτω μενει και ου δυναται αμαρτανειν οτι εκ του θεου γεγεννηται 3:10 εν τουτω φανερα εστιν τα τεκνα του θεου και τα τεκνα του διαβολου πας ο μη ποιων δικαιοσυνην ουκ εστιν εκ του θεου και ο μη αγαπων τον αδελφον αυτου
11 John 13:34
12 Genesis 4:8
13 John 1:10-11; 1 John 3:1
14 John 5:24
15 Matthew 5:21-26
17-18 James 2:15-16
20 Psalm 73:26
22 Matthew 7:7-8
23 John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17
10-18 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 48
16-18 Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 204
17 John Donne, “A Hymn to Christ,” Classics of Western Spirituality, p. 104
“A Hymn to Christ”
17 Albert Schweitzer, A Place for Revelation, p. 69
A Place for Revelation
An owner is anyone who, when he goes to bed in the evening, has something left over for the next day. …
Where do you get the intrinsic right to go home evenings with money in your pocket, when you encounter people on the street whose hunger shows in their eyes, and who do not know how they will spend the night?
18-21 Albert Schweitzer, A Place for Revelation, p. 69
18 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 337
20 Franz Wright, “The Only Animal,” The New Yorker (March 31,2003), p. 74 f. and in Walking to Martha’s Vineyard, p. 73 ff.
“The Only Animal”
The only animal that commits suicide
went for a walk in the park,
basked on a hard bench
in the first star,
travelled to the edge of space
in an armchair
while company quietly
talked, and abruptly
returned,
the room empty.
The only animal that cries,
that takes off its clothes
and reports to the mirror, the one
and only animal
that brushes its own teeth-
somewhere
the only animal that smokes a cigarette,
that lies down and flies backward in time,
that rises and walks to a book
and looks up a word
heard the telephone ringing
in the darkness downstairs and decided
to answer no more.
And I understand,
too well: how many times
have I made the decision to dwell
from now on
in the hour of my death
(the space I took up here
scarlessly closing like water)
and said I’m never coming back,
and yet
this morning
I stood once again
in this world, the garden
ark and vacant
tomb of what
I can’t imagine,
between twin eternities,
some sort of wings,
more or less equidistantly
exiled from both,
hovering in the dreaming called
being awake, where
You gave me
in secret one thing
to perceive, the
tall blue starry
strangeness of being
here at all.
You gave us each in secret one thing to perceive.
Furless now, upright, My banished
and experimental
child
You said, though your own heart condemn you
I do not condemn you.
22 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 58
23-24 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 62
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
3:11 οτι αυτη εστιν η αγγελια ην ηκουσατε απ αρχης ινα αγαπωμεν αλληλους 3:12 ου καθως καιν εκ του πονηρου ην και εσφαξεν τον αδελφον αυτου και χαριν τινος εσφαξεν αυτον οτι τα εργα αυτου πονηρα ην τα δε του αδελφου αυτου δικαια 3:13 μη θαυμαζετε αδελφοι μου ει μισει υμας ο κοσμος 3:14 ημεις οιδαμεν οτι μεταβεβηκαμεν εκ του θανατου εις την ζωην οτι αγαπωμεν τους αδελφους ο μη αγαπων τον αδελφον μενει εν τω θανατω 3:15 πας ο μισων τον αδελφον αυτου ανθρωποκτονος εστιν και οιδατε οτι πας ανθρωποκτονος ουκ εχει ζωην αιωνιον εν εαυτω μενουσαν
3:16 εν τουτω εγνωκαμεν την αγαπην οτι εκεινος υπερ ημων την ψυχην αυτου εθηκεν και ημεις οφειλομεν υπερ των αδελφων τας ψυχας τιθεναι 3:17 ος δ αν εχη τον βιον του κοσμου και θεωρη τον αδελφον αυτου χρειαν εχοντα και κλειση τα σπλαγχνα αυτου απ αυτου πως η αγαπη του θεου μενει εν αυτω 3:18 τεκνια μου μη αγαπωμεν λογω μηδε τη γλωσση αλλ εν εργω και αληθεια
3:19 και εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι εκ της αληθειας εσμεν και εμπροσθεν αυτου πεισομεν τας καρδιας ημων 3:20 οτι εαν καταγινωσκη ημων η καρδια οτι μειζων εστιν ο θεος της καρδιας ημων και γινωσκει παντα 3:21 αγαπητοι εαν η καρδια ημων μη καταγινωσκη ημων παρρησιαν εχομεν προς τον θεον 3:22 και ο εαν αιτωμεν λαμβανομεν παρ αυτου οτι τας εντολας αυτου τηρουμεν και τα αρεστα ενωπιον αυτου ποιουμεν 3:23 και αυτη εστιν η εντολη αυτου ινα πιστευσωμεν τω ονοματι του υιου αυτου ιησου χριστου και αγαπωμεν αλληλους καθως εδωκεν εντολην 3:24 και ο τηρων τας εντολας αυτου εν αυτω μενει και αυτος εν αυτω και εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι μενει εν ημιν εκ του πνευματος ου ημιν εδωκεν
1 John 4 by verse:
General Chapter References
Sermon: "A Mother's Love," May 12, 2019
William Stafford, “The Way It Was Then,” A Scripture of Leaves, p.40
"The Way It Was Then"
Aunt Mabel used to say,
“Hands are for giving.”
She gave away all she had
while she was living.
She drove an old Dodge
that wouldn’t shift into reverse,
and she had to swing it outward
when she went to church.
The most vulnerable person
in all our town—
her belief and her love
combined into one;
So everyone cheated her.
And when she died
I saw strange people sneak
to her graveside
and cry quietly—
afraid of the law
but come back to visit
Aunt Mabel once more.
When I go back there now
I still see her store.
“Hay, Grain, Feed, and Seed,”
an old dog by the door.
Such a long time ago—
what is there left
for us to remember
of Aunt Mabel’s gift?—
The flowers on her hat,
the old car she drove,
the smell of the hay,
her voice: “God is love.”
Meister Eckhart, “Latin Sermons,” Preacher and Teacher, p. 212-215
1-3 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 62
4-8 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 62
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
4:1 αγαπητοι μη παντι πνευματι πιστευετε αλλα δοκιμαζετε τα πνευματα ει εκ του θεου εστιν οτι πολλοι ψευδοπροφηται εξεληλυθασιν εις τον κοσμον 4:2 εν τουτω γινωσκεται το πνευμα του θεου παν πνευμα ο ομολογει ιησουν χριστον εν σαρκι εληλυθοτα εκ του θεου εστιν 4:3 και παν πνευμα ο μη ομολογει ιησουν χριστον εν σαρκι εληλυθοτα εκ του θεου ουκ εστιν και τουτο εστιν το του αντιχριστου ο ακηκοατε οτι ερχεται και νυν εν τω κοσμω εστιν ηδη 4:4 υμεις εκ του θεου εστε τεκνια και νενικηκατε αυτους οτι μειζων εστιν ο εν υμιν η ο εν τω κοσμω 4:5 αυτοι εκ του κοσμου εισιν δια τουτο εκ του κοσμου λαλουσιν και ο κοσμος αυτων ακουει 4:6 ημεις εκ του θεου εσμεν ο γινωσκων τον θεον ακουει ημων ος ουκ εστιν εκ του θεου ουκ ακουει ημων εκ τουτου γινωσκομεν το πνευμα της αληθειας και το πνευμα της πλανης
Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations, p. 102
Provocations
Worldly wisdom would have us believe that love is a relationship between one person and another. Christ’s life teaches that love is a relationship between three: person-God-person. However beautiful a love-relationship is between two or more people – however complete all their enjoyment and all their bliss in mutual devotion and affection are for them, and even if all people praise this relationship – if God and the relationship to God is left out, then this is not love but a mutual and enchanting illusion. For only in love for God can one love in truth. To help another human being to love God is to love another person. And to be helped by another human being to love God is to be loved.
12 John 1:18
7-8 Horace Bushnell, Sermons, p. 205
Sermons
To understand a philosopher requires, they tell us, a philosopher; to understand patriotism, requires a patriot; to understand purity, one that is pure; so, to understand God, requires a godlike spirit. Having this, God will as certainly be revealed in the soul, as light through a transparent window. He that loveth knoweth God, for god is love.
7-8 Christian Wiman, He Held Radical Light, p. 100
He Held Radical Light
When theologians say that God is love, they are not stating an equation. … But neither is the statement simply a metaphor. God is present wherever genuine love is present, or perhaps, more accurately, God who is omnipresent but often experienced as absence, is made available through the expression of love. The life of God and the life of humans are—for this one time and in this one way—the same thing.
7-8 Flora Slosson Wuellner, Prayer and Our Bodies, p. 105 f.
7-12 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 338
8 David Rensberger, “God is Love,” Weavings (January/February 1998), p. 16-22
“God is Love”
9-12 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 72
Love One Another My Friend
The Father “gave up” Christ, and so did Judas. Does it seem as if they did the same thing? … How great is the good that has come to the human race from the giving up of Christ! Was this what Judas was thinking of when he betrayed him? In the mind of God was the salvation by which we were redeemed, but Judas thought of the price he got for his Lord. … The deed is one and the same, but if we measure it by the different intentions we find one thing to love and one to condemn, one to glorify and one to abhor. …
… Once and for all, I give you a short precept: Love, and do what you will. If you keep silent, keep silent out of love. If you raise your voice, raise it out of love. If you correct, correct out of love. If you leave alone, leave alone out of love. Have love’s root within you; nothing but good can spring from this root. (p. 72 f.)
The following will give you a true idea, if you want to see God: “God is love.” What is love’s face like? What is its shape, its size? What kind of hands and feet does it have? No one can say. And yet it has feet, for they lead us to church; it has hands, for they reach out to the poor; it has eyes, for they consider the needy. (p. 74)
Don’t love anyone’s error but love the person. It’s the person that God made, while we make our own errors. Love what God made, don’t love what we ourselves have done. (p. 75)
7 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
4:7 αγαπητοι αγαπωμεν αλληλους οτι η αγαπη εκ του θεου εστιν και πας ο αγαπων εκ του θεου γεγεννηται και γινωσκει τον θεον 4:8 ο μη αγαπων ουκ εγνω τον θεον οτι ο θεος αγαπη εστιν 4:9 εν τουτω εφανερωθη η αγαπη του θεου εν ημιν οτι τον υιον αυτου τον μονογενη απεσταλκεν ο θεος εις τον κοσμον ινα ζησωμεν δι αυτου 4:10 εν τουτω εστιν η αγαπη ουχ οτι ημεις ηγαπησαμεν τον θεον αλλ οτι αυτος ηγαπησεν ημας και απεστειλεν τον υιον αυτου ιλασμον περι των αμαρτιων ημων 4:11 αγαπητοι ει ουτως ο θεος ηγαπησεν ημας και ημεις οφειλομεν αλληλους αγαπαν 4:12 θεον ουδεις πωποτε τεθεαται εαν αγαπωμεν αλληλους ο θεος εν ημιν μενει και η αγαπη αυτου τετελειωμενη εστιν εν ημιν
12-16 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 84
16 David H. C. Read, “Linked with the Trinity of Love,” I Am Persuaded, p. 19
16 Elie Wiesel, Somewhere a Master, p. 40
Somewhere a Master
17-18 Erich Fromm, quoted by Maria Popova in Brain Pickings, April 5, 2017, “Erich Fromm’s 6 Rules of Listening”
"Erich Fromm's 6 Rules of Listening"
17 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 87
18 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 91
18 Martin Luther King, Jr., “Antidotes for Fear,” Strength to Love, p. 115-126
18 C. Norman Kraus, The Community of the Spirit, p. 155
The Community of the Spirit
18 Robert C. Morris, “Holy Fear and the Wildness of God,” Weavings (March/April 1999), p. 24
“Holy Fear and the Wildness of God”
18 Henri Nouwen, “Receive All the Love That Comes to You,” The Inner Voice of Love, p. 55
“Receive All the Love That Comes to You”
Live a faithful, disciplined life, a life that gives you a sense of inner strength, a life in which you can receive more and more of the love that comes to you. Wherever there is real love for you, take it and be strengthened by it. …
… one day love will have conquered enough of you that even the most fearful part will allow love to cast out all fear.
19-21 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 96
19 Phillips Brooks, “The Priority of God,” The Light of the World, p. 40-56
19 Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations, p. 304 f.
Provocations
You loved us first, oh God. Alas, we speak of it as if you loved us first one time only, historically speaking, when in very truth, without ceasing, you love us first all the time. When I awaken in the morning and my soul turns at once toward you, you are first. You have already turned toward me. If I rise at dawn and in the very first second of my awakening my soul turns to you in prayer, you have beat me to it. You have already turned in love toward me. Thus, we speak ingratitude if, unthankful and unaware, we speak of you as having loved us first only one time.
20-21 Shunryu Suzuki, To Shine One Corner of the World, p. 51
To Shine One Corner of the World
20-21 Didache 4
Didache
Do not be one who stretches out his hand to receive, but closes them when it comes time to give. Even if you have earned something by the work of your own hands, passit on as ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate or grumble when giving, but share everything in common. Do not claim anything as your own. You seek fellowship in the immortal; how much more should you seek it in perishable things?
20 Walter Brueggemann, Journey to the Common Good, p. 111
Journey to the Common Good
20 Martin Buber, I and Thou, p. 156
I and Thou
20 Carlo Carretto, Love is for Living, p. 50-54
20 Malcolm Muggeridge, Confessions of a 20th Century Pilgrim, p. 128
20 Alice Walker, A Poem Traveled Down My Arm, p. 7
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us. 20 If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.
4:13 εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι εν αυτω μενομεν και αυτος εν ημιν οτι εκ του πνευματος αυτου δεδωκεν ημιν 4:14 και ημεις τεθεαμεθα και μαρτυρουμεν οτι ο πατηρ απεσταλκεν τον υιον σωτηρα του κοσμου 4:15 ος αν ομολογηση οτι ιησους εστιν ο υιος του θεου ο θεος εν αυτω μενει και αυτος εν τω θεω 4:16 και ημεις εγνωκαμεν και πεπιστευκαμεν την αγαπην ην εχει ο θεος εν ημιν ο θεος αγαπη εστιν και ο μενων εν τη αγαπη εν τω θεω μενει και ο θεος εν αυτω [μενει] 4:17 εν τουτω τετελειωται η αγαπη μεθ ημων ινα παρρησιαν εχωμεν εν τη ημερα της κρισεως οτι καθως εκεινος εστιν και ημεις εσμεν εν τω κοσμω τουτω 4:18 φοβος ουκ εστιν εν τη αγαπη αλλ η τελεια αγαπη εξω βαλλει τον φοβον οτι ο φοβος κολασιν εχει ο δε φοβουμενος ου τετελειωται εν τη αγαπη 4:19 ημεις αγαπωμεν αυτον οτι αυτος πρωτος ηγαπησεν ημας 4:20 εαν τις ειπη οτι αγαπω τον θεον και τον αδελφον αυτου μιση ψευστης εστιν ο γαρ μη αγαπων τον αδελφον αυτου ον εωρακεν τον θεον ον ουχ εωρακεν πως δυναται αγαπαν 4:21 και ταυτην την εντολην εχομεν απ αυτου ινα ο αγαπων τον θεον αγαπα και τον αδελφον αυτου
3 John 14:15
11 John 3:36
16 John 20:23
1-2 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 100
1-5 Helmut Thielicke, Faith: The Great Adventure, p. 26-34
2-3 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 103
8-20 Augustine, Love One Another My Friend, p. 106
11 David H. C. Read, “Our Link with the Eternal,” I Am Persuaded, p. 176-182
21 Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 339
1 Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. 7 And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life.
13 I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
16 If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
18 We know that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
5:1 πας ο πιστευων οτι ιησους εστιν ο χριστος εκ του θεου γεγεννηται και πας ο αγαπων τον γεννησαντα αγαπα και τον γεγεννημενον εξ αυτου 5:2 εν τουτω γινωσκομεν οτι αγαπωμεν τα τεκνα του θεου οταν τον θεον αγαπωμεν και τας εντολας αυτου τηρωμεν 5:3 αυτη γαρ εστιν η αγαπη του θεου ινα τας εντολας αυτου τηρωμεν και αι εντολαι αυτου βαρειαι ουκ εισιν 5:4 οτι παν το γεγεννημενον εκ του θεου νικα τον κοσμον και αυτη εστιν η νικη η νικησασα τον κοσμον η πιστις υμων 5:5 τις εστιν ο νικων τον κοσμον ει μη ο πιστευων οτι ιησους εστιν ο υιος του θεου
5:6 ουτος εστιν ο ελθων δι υδατος και αιματος ιησους χριστος ουκ εν τω υδατι μονον αλλ εν τω υδατι και τω αιματι και το πνευμα εστιν το μαρτυρουν οτι το πνευμα εστιν η αληθεια 5:7 οτι τρεις εισιν οι μαρτυρουντες 5:8 το πνευμα και το υδωρ και το αιμα και οι τρεις εις το εν εισιν 5:9 ει την μαρτυριαν των ανθρωπων λαμβανομεν η μαρτυρια του θεου μειζων εστιν οτι αυτη εστιν η μαρτυρια του θεου ην μεμαρτυρηκεν περι του υιου αυτου 5:10 ο πιστευων εις τον υιον του θεου εχει την μαρτυριαν εν αυτω ο μη πιστευων τω θεω ψευστην πεποιηκεν αυτον οτι ου πεπιστευκεν εις την μαρτυριαν ην μεμαρτυρηκεν ο θεος περι του υιου αυτου 5:11 και αυτη εστιν η μαρτυρια οτι ζωην αιωνιον εδωκεν ημιν ο θεος και αυτη η ζωη εν τω υιω αυτου εστιν 5:12 ο εχων τον υιον εχει την ζωην ο μη εχων τον υιον του θεου την ζωην ουκ εχει
5:13 ταυτα εγραψα υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν εις το ονομα του υιου του θεου ινα ειδητε οτι ζωην αιωνιον εχετε και ινα πιστευητε εις το ονομα του υιου του θεου 5:14 και αυτη εστιν η παρρησια ην εχομεν προς αυτον οτι εαν τι αιτωμεθα κατα το θελημα αυτου ακουει ημων 5:15 και εαν οιδαμεν οτι ακουει ημων ο εαν αιτωμεθα οιδαμεν οτι εχομεν τα αιτηματα α ητηκαμεν παρ αυτου
5:16 εαν τις ιδη τον αδελφον αυτου αμαρτανοντα αμαρτιαν μη προς θανατον αιτησει και δωσει αυτω ζωην τοις αμαρτανουσιν μη προς θανατον εστιν αμαρτια προς θανατον ου περι εκεινης λεγω ινα ερωτηση 5:17 πασα αδικια αμαρτια εστιν και εστιν αμαρτια ου προς θανατον
5:18 οιδαμεν οτι πας ο γεγεννημενος εκ του θεου ουχ αμαρτανει αλλ ο γεννηθεις εκ του θεου τηρει εαυτον και ο πονηρος ουχ απτεται αυτου
5:19 οιδαμεν οτι εκ του θεου εσμεν και ο κοσμος ολος εν τω πονηρω κειται
5:20 οιδαμεν δε οτι ο υιος του θεου ηκει και δεδωκεν ημιν διανοιαν ινα γινωσκωμεν τον αληθινον και εσμεν εν τω αληθινω εν τω υιω αυτου ιησου χριστω ουτος εστιν ο αληθινος θεος και [η] ζωη [η] αιωνιος 5:21 τεκνια φυλαξατε εαυτα απο των ειδωλων αμην