SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:8
Otra vez os escribo un mandamiento nuevo, que es la verdad en l y en vosotros; porque las tinieblas son pasadas, y la verdadera luz ya alumbra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 John 2:8
Verse 8. Which thing is true in him and in you] It is true that Christ loved the world so well as to lay down his life for it; and it was true in them, in all his faithful followers at that time, who were ready to lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus. There is a saying in Synopsis Sohar, p. 94, n. 51, that may cast some light on this passage: That way in which the just have walked, although it be OLD, yet may be said to be NEW in the love of the righteous. The love that the righteous bear to God and to each other is a renewal of the commandment. The darkness is past] The total thick darkness of the heathen world, and the comparative darkness of the Mosaic dispensation, are now passing away; and the pure and superior light of Christianity is now diffusing its beams everywhere. He does not say that the darkness was all gone by, but paragetai, it is passing away; he does not say that the fullness of the light had appeared, but hdh fainei, it is now shining and will shine more and more to the perfect day; for the darkness passes away in proportion as the light shines and increases.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. Again, a new commandment I write unto you , &c.] Which is the same with the former, considered in different respects. The command of brotherly love is a new one; that is, it is an excellent one, as a new name is an excellent name, and a new song is an excellent one; it is renewed by Christ under the Gospel dispensation; it is newly explained by him, and purged from the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees; (see Matthew 5:43,44); and enforced by him with a new argument, and by a new example of his own, even his own love to his people; and which is observed by them in a new manner, they being made new creatures; and this law being anew written in their hearts, under the renewing work of the Spirit of God, as a branch of the new covenant of grace; (see John 13:34). The Jews expect hvdj hrwt , a new law to be given them by the bands of the Messiah; and a new one he has given, even the new commandment of love, and which is the fulfilling of the law. Which things is true in him, and in you . The Alexandrian copy reads, in us; the sense is either, it is true in itself, as the phrase will bear to be rendered, and it is verified in you, or in us, to be a new commandment; or it is true in Christ, it is yea and amen in him; it has its full completion in him, who is the fulfilling end of the law, as well as it has been faithfully delivered, truly explained, and warmly and affectionately recommended and urged by him; and he is the great pattern and exemplar of it: and the love which this new commandment requires is really and truly in the saints, implanted in them in regeneration, is a fruit of the Spirit, and which faith works by, and will always continue in them; and should be in its actings like Christ's, true, sincere, cordial, affectionate, constant, and universal: and some think the word esti , or estw , is, or let it be, is wanting in the last clause, and may be read, which thing is true in him, and is, or let it be in you: that is, as love to the brethren is true and sincere in Christ, so it is, or should be in you; it should be without dissimulation, and so it was, as the reason following shows: because the darkness is past , or is passing; meaning either the darkness of the ceremonial law, which lay in dark types and shadows, and in cloudy sacrifices, and mystical representations of things, and was a shadow of good things to come; and its shadows were now fleeing away apace, in fact as well as in right; and so the Alexandrian copy reads, because the shadow is passing away; the night of Jewish darkness was far spent, and the Gospel day was not only broke, but it was, or near noonday, which brought the light of faith, and the heat of love with it: or else the darkness of sin and ignorance, of a state of nature, and of the kingdom of Satan, in which the people of God are before conversion; which then passes away gradually, by little and little, for it is not removed at once, or wholly gone; for though the saints are at once removed out of a state of darkness, and from the kingdom of darkness, and the power of it, yet they are not wholly free from the darkness of sin and ignorance, they still see but through a glass darkly: and the words are better rendered, the darkness passes, or is passing away, and not is past, or has passed away; for as yet it is not entirely gone; and the true light now shineth ; either the Gospel, which is a light, and a true and substantial one, in distinction from the dim light of nature, or the shadowy law of Moses; and which now, under the present dispensation, shines out in a most glorious manner, as the sun in its full strength; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, the light of truth; the word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation: or Jesus Christ, who is so called, ( John 1:9); in distinction from typical lights, as the Urim on the high priest's breastplate, the candlestick in the tabernacle and temple, and the pillar of fire by night, which guided the Israelites through the wilderness; and in opposition to all false lights, to the Scribes and Pharisees, to false Christs and false prophets, which are so many ignes fatui; but Christ is the sun of righteousness that is risen in our horizon, and the true light which shines out in a most illustrious manner: or the light of grace is here intended, that light which the Spirit of God illuminates with in conversion; in which a man sees sin in its true colours, and has a spiritual and saving sight of Christ, of pardon, peace, life, righteousness, and salvation by him; which is no other than the light of faith, by which an enlightened person sees the Son, looks to him, and has an evidence of the unseen glories of another world. Now this is a true light, things are seen by the believer in a right light, both his own sins, and the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ; this is a shining one, which cannot but be observed by himself, and shines more and more to the perfect day; and it now shines as it did not before, in a state of nature, and continues to shine, and ever will: this light will never be put out, and is the cause of brotherly love, being truly in the saints, and of the continuance of it; before this light shines, men live in malice, but when it comes and shines, as they walk in light, they walk in love.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-11 - What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is mos 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 his attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as ma be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though neve absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, ha holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the eart 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 ne command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situatio was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And thos 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 drea every thing hurtful to his purity and peace. Where spiritual darknes dwells, in mind, the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, an will mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand seriou self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us what we are, and whither we are going.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN φωτι 5457 N-DSN ειναι 1511 5750 V-PXN και 2532 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM αδελφον 80 N-ASM αυτου 846 P-GSM μισων 3404 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF σκοτια 4653 N-DSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εως 2193 CONJ αρτι 737 ADV
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. New commandment. The commandment of love is both old and new. Old, because John's readers have had it from the beginning of their Christian experience. New, because, in the unfolding of Christian experience, it has developed new power, meaning, and obligation, and closer correspondence "with the facts of Christ's life, with the crowning mystery of His passion, and with the facts of the Christian life."Which thing is true (o estin alhqev). The expression which thing, or that which, refers either to the commandment of love, or to the fact stated, viz., that the old commandment is new. The fact that the old commandment is new is true in Him and in us. On the whole I prefer this. In Him and in us. For us, read you. The fact that the old commandment is new, is true in Him (Christ), since He gave it as a new commandment, and illustrated it by His word and example. It is true in you, since you did not receive it until Christ gave it, and since the person and life of Christ are appealing to you in new lights and with fresh power as your Christian life develops. In Him, points back to as He walked.
Because. Explaining the apparent paradox.
The darkness (h skotia). See on John i. 5. God is light; and whatever is not in fellowship with God is therefore darkness. In all cases where the word is not used of physical darkness, it means moral insensibility to the divine light; moral blindness or obtuseness. Compare John viii. 12; xii. 35, 46; l John ii. 9, 11.
Is past (paragetai). Wrong. The passing is not represented as accomplished, but as in progress. Rev., rightly rendering the present tense, is passing away.
The true light (to fwv to alhqinon). Lit., the light, the true (light). See on that eternal life (i. 2). True, not as distinguished from false, but as answering to the true ideal. See on John i. 9. The true light is the revelation of God in Christ. See on 1 John i. 5.
Shineth (fainei). See on John i. 5. Compare Apoc. i. 16; viii. 12; xxi. 23; 2 Pet. i. 19. See also Rom. xiii. 11 sqq.; Tit. ii. 11; iii. 4.
