1Jo 2:28, 3:5 | JFB | STEP | 28. little children-- Greek, "little sons," as in ; believers of every stage and age. abide in him-- Christ. John repeats his monition with a loving appellation, as a father addressing dear children. when-- literally, "if"; the uncertainty is not as to the fact, but the time. appear-- Greek, "be manifested." we-- both writer and readers. ashamed before him-- literally, "from Him"; shrink back from Him ashamed. Contrast "boldness in the day of judgment," ; compare ; . In the Apocalypse (written, therefore, Bengel thinks, subsequently), Christ's coming is represented as put off to a greater distance.

‏ 1 John 2:28

28. little children--Greek, "little sons," as in 1Jo 2:12; believers of every stage and age.

abide in him--Christ. John repeats his monition with a loving appellation, as a father addressing dear children.

when--literally, "if"; the uncertainty is not as to the fact, but the time.

appear--Greek, "be manifested."

we--both writer and readers.

ashamed before him--literally, "from Him"; shrink back from Him ashamed. Contrast "boldness in the day of judgment," 1Jo 4:17; compare 1Jo 3:21; 5:14. In the Apocalypse (written, therefore, Bengel thinks, subsequently), Christ's coming is represented as put off to a greater distance.

‏ 1 John 3:5

5. Additional proof of the incompatibility of sin and sonship; the very object of Christ's manifestation in the flesh was to take away (by one act, and entirely, aorist) all sins, as the scapegoat did typically.

and--another proof of the same.

in him is no sin--not "was," but "is," as in 1Jo 3:7, "He is righteous," and 1Jo 3:3, "He is pure." Therefore we are to be so.