7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
Brethren (v.7) — Jewish believers
In the preceding section he had spoken of commandments. This is not changed to the singular, “Commandment,” and for this reason, that as the subject is now to be that of brotherly love the commandments are summed up in the one law of love: “love is the fulfilling of the law.”
This is the commandment which was fulfilled in the walk and teaching of Christ, and which, as the Apostle intimates, he himself had handed on to the converts from the very beginning of his testimony. The word kalnos, “new,” signifies what is fresh, in contrast to that which is familiar and well known. Another word, neos, “new,” differs from kainos, in that it marks a contrast to what is old.
Similarly there are two distinctive words for “old,” palaois, which is the word in the present passage, and which signifies old in time, whereas archalos, signifies old in character. … The commandment to which he refers here was something old in time. It was given under the Law of Sinai. The believers had it from the beginning, that is, from the beginning of the testimony given to them. — Vine, page 26.
from the beginning (v.7 — first use) — from the beginning of their Christian lives
from the beginning (v.7 — second use) — not in the best manuscripts. Without it, the emphasis is on “the word.”
heard (v.7) — confirms that “the beginning” in the first sentence means the beginning of the testimony given to the readers
Again (v.8) — John was restating what he’d already said in a different way.
The new commandment is actually old and predates Christ’s ministry (Leviticus 19:18. The newness of the commandment speaks of the freshness of the living Christ Who, as the true light, shines in resurrection power in His people. Through His Spirit, His children can live in genuine love as he loved them (John 13:34-35). — Grace, page 2219.
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The commandment (v.8) , which was in one sense old but not antiquated, was also new in the fresh sanction which it had received and because the Holy Spirit had been given to dwell in the hearts of the children of God, enabling them to fulfill it. — Vine, page 27.
which thing (v.8) — love
true (v.8) — is fulfilled, is made good
true in Him (v.8) — Not only had the commandment been given by Him but it had also been exhibited in His example. It is also true in the children of god because it is to be received and fulfilled by them. — Vine, page 27.
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