AN
EXPOSITION,
W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N
S,
OF THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF
J
O H N
THOUGH
the continued tradition of the church attests that this epistle came from John
the apostle, yet we may observe some other evidence that will confirm (or with
some perhaps even outweigh) the certainty of that tradition. It should seem
that the penman was one of the apostolical college by the sensible palpable
assurance he had of the truth of the Mediator's person in his human nature: That
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life, v. 1. Here
he takes notice of the evidence the Lord gave to Thomas of his resurrection,
by calling him to feel the prints of the nails and of the spear, which is
recorded by John. And he must have been one of the disciples present when the
Lord came on the same day in which he arose from the dead, and showed them his
hands and his side, John xx. 20. But, that we may be assured which apostle
this was, there is scarcely a critic or competent judge of diction, or style
of argument and spirit, but will adjudge this epistle to the writer of that
gospel that bears the name of the apostle John. They wonderfully agree in the
titles and characters of the Redeemer: The Word, the Life, the Light; his
name was the Word of God. Compare ch. i. 1 and v. 7 with John i. 1
and Rev. xix. 13. They agree in the commendation of God's love to us (ch.
iii. 1 and ch. iv. 9; John iii. 16), and in speaking of our
regeneration, or being born of God, ch. iii. 9; iv. 7; and v. 1; John
iii. 5, 6. Lastly (to add no more instances, which may be easily seen in
comparing this epistle with that gospel), they agree in the allusion to, or
application of, that passage in that gospel which relates (and which alone
relates) the issuing of water and blood out of the Redeemer's opened side: This
is he that came by water and blood, ch. v. 6. Thus the epistle
plainly appears to flow from the same pen as that gospel did. Now I know not
that the text, or the intrinsic history of any of the gospels, gives us such
assurance of its writer or penman as that ascribed to John plainly does. There
(viz. ch. xxi. 24) the sacred historian thus notifies himself: This
is the disciple that testifieth of these things and wrote these things; and we
know that his testimony is true. Now who is this disciple, but he
concerning whom Peter asked, What shall this man do? And concerning
whom the Lord answered, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that
to thee? (v. 22). And who (v. 20) is described by these
three characters:-- 1. That he is the disciple whom Jesus loved, the
Lord's peculiar friend. 2. That he also leaned on his breast at supper.
3. That he said unto him, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? As sure
then as it is that that disciple was John, so sure may the church be that that
gospel and this epistle came from the beloved John.
The epistle is styled general, as being not inscribed to any particular
church; it is, as a circular letter (or visitation charge), sent to divers
churches (some say of Parthia), in order to confirm them in their stedfast
adherence to the Lord Christ, and the sacred doctrines concerning his person
and office, against seducers; and to instigate them to adorn that doctrine by
love to God and man, and particularly to each other, as being descended from
God, united by the same head, and travelling towards the same eternal life.
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