(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
All Commentaries on 1 John 1:2 Go To 1 John 1
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
By this we know that we love the children (Ï„Îκνα) of God, when (όθαν, i.e, because) we love God, &c. We know, i.e, we conclude, we show and demonstrate. S. John uses this expression, we know, in a similar sense 1 John 3:16 and 1 John 3:19, and 1 John 4:2 1 John 4:6. We know, i.e, we are convinced that we love Christians as the children of God. We know this, i.e. we prove it by this argument, that we love God. The following is S. John"s syllogism and demonstration. All the sons of God are believers and Christians. Whosoever therefore loves God loves also the children of God. Therefore he who loves God loves faithful Christians as being the brethren and members of Christ, born of the same God the Father. For as from the love of our neighbour we infer and conclude the love of God, so in turn and reciprocally from the love of God we infer and conclude the love of our neighbour. Again, whosoever keeps the commands of God keeps also the love of his neighbour: for this is one of the commandments. But he who keeps the command of love, this man loves his neighbour. Therefore whosoever keeps the commands of God is a lover of his neighbour.
Moreover, in this place S. John does not speak of all our neighbours, but only of such as are born of God, that Isaiah , believing Christians, because he seeks to kindle amongst them mutual love, in order that by their faith and Christian life they may defend, animate, help, and be profitable to one another against the heathen.
