1Jo 3:2, 6 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 2. Now are we the sons of God ] He speaks of those who are begotten of God, and who work righteousness. See the preceding chapter. And it doth not yet appear what we shall be ] ουπωεφανερωθη. It is not yet manifest ; though we know that we are the children of God, we do not know that state of glorious excellence to which, as such, we shall be raised. When he shall appear ] εανφανερωθη. When he shall be manifested ; i.e., when he comes the second time, and shall be manifested in his glorified human nature to judge the world. We shall be like him ] For our vile bodies shall be made like unto his glorious body; we shall see him as he is , in all the glory and majesty both of the Divine and human nature. See ; and : Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory . John had seen his glory on the mount when he was transfigured; and this we find was ineffably grand; but even this must have been partially obscured, in order to enable the disciples to bear the sight, for they were not then like him . But when they shall be like him, they shall see him as he is -in all the splendour of his infinite majesty.

‏ 1 John 3:2

Verse 2. Now are we the sons of God] He speaks of those who are begotten of God, and who work righteousness. See the preceding chapter.

And it doth not yet appear what we shall be] ουπωεφανερωθη. It is not yet manifest; though we know that we are the children of God, we do not know that state of glorious excellence to which, as such, we shall be raised.

When he shall appear] εανφανερωθη. When he shall be manifested; i.e., when he comes the second time, and shall be manifested in his glorified human nature to judge the world.

We shall be like him] For our vile bodies shall be made like unto his glorious body; we shall see him as he is, in all the glory and majesty both of the Divine and human nature. See Php 3:21; and Joh 17:24: Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. John had seen his glory on the mount when he was transfigured; and this we find was ineffably grand; but even this must have been partially obscured, in order to enable the disciples to bear the sight, for they were not then like him. But when they shall be like him, they shall see him as he is-in all the splendour of his infinite majesty.

‏ 1 John 3:6

Verse 6. Whosoever abideth in him] By faith, love, and obedience.

Sinneth not] Because his heart is purified by faith, and he is a worker together with God, and consequently does not receive the grace of God in vain. See Clarke on 1Jo 3:3.

Hath not seen him] It is no unusual thing with this apostle, both in his gospel and in his epistles, to put occasionally the past for the present, and the present for the past tense. It is very likely that here he puts, after the manner of the Hebrew, the preterite for the present: He who sins against God doth not see him, neither doth he know him-the eye of his faith is darkened, so that he cannot see him as he formerly did; and he has no longer the experimental knowledge of God as his Father and portion.