Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
hereby--Greek, "herein"; in our loving in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).
we know--The oldest manuscripts have "we shall know," namely, if we fulfil the command (1 John 3:18).
of the truth--that we are real disciples of, and belonging to, the truth, as it is in Jesus: begotten of God with the word of truth. Having herein the truth radically, we shall be sure not to love merely in word and tongue. (1 John 3:18).
assure--literally, "persuade," namely, so as to cease to condemn us; satisfy the questionings and doubts of our consciences as to whether we be accepted before God or not (compare Matthew 28:14; Acts 12:20, "having made Blastus their friend," literally, "persuaded"). The "heart," as the seat of the feelings, is our inward judge; the conscience, as the witness, acts either as our justifying advocate, or our condemning accuser, before God even now. John 8:9, has "conscience," but the passage is omitted in most old manuscripts. John nowhere else uses the term "conscience." Peter and Paul alone use it.
before him--as in the sight of Him, the omniscient Searcher of hearts. Assurance is designed to be the ordinary experience and privilege of the believer.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 John 3:20
1 John 3:21
1 John 4:17-18
1 John 5:14
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