Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
1 John 3:9.)
We know--Thrice repeated emphatically, to enforce the three truths which the words preface, as matters of the brethren's joint experimental knowledge. This 1 John 5:18 warns against abusing 1 John 5:16-17, as warranting carnal security.
whosoever--Greek, "every one who." Not only advanced believers, but every one who is born again, "sinneth not."
he that is begotten--Greek aorist, "has been (once for all in past time) begotten of God"; in the beginning of the verse it is perfect. "Is begotten," or "born," as a continuing state.
keepeth himself--The Vulgate translates, "The having been begotten of God keepeth HIM" (so one of the oldest manuscripts reads): so ALFORD. Literally, "He having been begotten of God (nominative pendent), it (the divine generation implied in the nominative) keepeth him." So 1 John 3:9, "His seed remaineth in him." Still, in English Version reading, God's working by His Spirit inwardly, and man's working under the power of that Spirit as a responsible agent, is what often occurs elsewhere. That God must keep us, if we are to keep ourselves from evil, is certain. Compare John 17:15 especially with this verse.
that wicked one toucheth him not--so as to hurt him. In so far as he realizes his regeneration-life, the prince of this world hath nothing in him to fasten his deadly temptations on, as in Christ's own case. His divine regeneration has severed once for all his connection with the prince of this world.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
1 Corinthians 5:10
Ephesians 6:16
1 Peter 5:9
1 John 2:1
1 John 2:19
1 John 3:9
1 John 5:18
1 John 5:19
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