1 John 1:4-6

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.

⁵ And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.

⁶ This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

What does not accept the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures of Truth is not Christian love. — Williams, page 1018.

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What John is writing is not a new commandment (v.5) in the sense that it is different from the apostolic message. This was an important point to make since the message of the false teachers was new and different rather than being part of the original message. — KJV Commentary, page 1765.

I rejoiced (v.4) — Could be translated “I rejoice” since Greek letters were written in the past tense even when referring to things in the present. John rejoiced when he heard about the lady’s children, and he continued to rejoice as he wrote the letter.

some (v.4) — This probably doesn’t mean that others weren’t walking in truth, but just that John had learned about some of them.

walking (v.4) — their conduct of life, living their lives according to the revealed will of God

commandment (v.4) — the things God commanded should be done. In v.5, John referred to things we wrote, so it is reasonable to state that He was referring to the things God commanded as written in God’s Word as given through His apostles. So, what he has to say in the remainder of the letter about abiding in the doctrines of Christ means those doctrines found in the Word of God. Anyone who does not hold to those doctrines is evil. The Scriptures are where the things God commanded can be found and nowhere else, since the apostles are no longer around.

from the beginning (v.5) — specifically, those things given from the beginning of Christ’s ministry to the apostles, but also everything written before that in the Old Testament.

And this is love (v.6) — That is to say, consists in this. The “this is” links the definition to the request (v.5). The plural expresses the attitude of love in general; it consists in the fulfillment of all God’s will. In v.5, the new commandment is that we love on another; in v.6 love is the fulfilment of the commandment. Thus in v.5 obedience finds its expression in love; in v.6 love finds its expression in obedience. The former is contrary to mere pious sentiment; the latter is contrary to mere servility. — Vine, page 115.

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Love is inextricably joined, in 1 John 3:23-24 with obedience to Christ’s commands, which are not grievous (1 John 5:3). The importance of love in the Christian life and of seeking to love others in the way that Christ loved and gave Himself for us cannot be overemphasized (John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:7-10). — Grace, page 2227.

from the beginning (v.6) — from the time when the readers first heard the doctrine of Christ and believed it.