1 John 2:7

Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

BSB

Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.

KJV

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

ASV

Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.

BBE

My loved ones, I do not give you a new law, but an old law which you had from the first; this old law is the word which came to your ears.

Original Greek

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Ἀγαπητοί Agapētoi Beloved G27 οὐκ ouk not G3756 ἐντολὴν entolēn a commandment G1785 καινὴν kainēn new G2537 γράφω graphō I am writing G1125 ὑμῖν humin to you G4771 ἀλλ all᾽ but G235 ἐντολὴν entolēn a commandment G1785 παλαιὰν palaian old G3820 ἣν hēn which G3739 εἴχετε eichete you have had G2192 ἀπ ap᾽ from G575 ἀρχῆς archēs [the] beginning G746 ἡ hē The G3588 ἐντολὴ entolē commandment G1785 ἡ hē (the) G3588 παλαιά palaia old G3820 ἐστιν estin is G1510 ὁ ho the G3588 λόγος logos word G3056 ὃν hon that G3739 ἠκούσατε ēkousate you have heard G191 ἀπ ap᾽ from G575 ἀρχῆς archēs beginning G746

The early church

"Dearly beloved, I write unto you no new commandment, but the old commandment which ye had from the beginning." What commandment calls he "old"? "Which ye had," saith he, "from the beginning. Old" then, in this regard, that ye have already heard it: otherwise he will contradict the Lord, where He saith, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another." But why an "old" commandment? Not as pertaining to the old man. But why? "Which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard." Old then, in this regard, that ye have already heard it. And the selfsame he showeth to be new, saying, "Again, a new commandment write I unto you." Not another, but the selfsame which he hath called old, the same is also new. Why? "Which thing is true in Him and in you." Why old, ye have already heard: that is, because ye knew it already. But why new? "Because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth." Lo, whence it is new: because the darkness pertains to the old man, but the light to the new man. What saith the Apostle Paul? "Put ye off the old man, and put ye on the new." And again what saith he? "Ye were sometime darkness, but now light in the Lord."
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Homilies on 1 John

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 3–11

What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 John 2 →

Cross-references

14

Topics

Word Of God

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.