και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τουτω 5129 D-DSN γινωσκομεν 1097 5719 V-PAI-1P οτι 3754 CONJ εγνωκαμεν 1097 5758 V-RAI-1P αυτον 846 P-ASM εαν 1437 COND τας 3588 T-APF εντολας 1785 N-APF αυτου 846 P-GSM τηρωμεν 5083 5725 V-PAS-1P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Hereby (en toutw). Lit., in this. Characteristic of John. See John viii. 35; xv. 8; xvi. 30; 1 John ii. 5; iii. 24; iv. 13; v. 2; iii. 16; iii. 19; iv. 2. The expression points to what follows, "if we keep His commandments," yet with a covert reference to that idea as generally implied in the previous words concerning fellowship with God and walking in the light.We know (ginwskomen). Or, perceive. By experience, from day to day; distinguished from oidamen we know, expressing absolute, immediate knowledge of a fact once for all. Compare 1 John iii. 2.
That we know (oti egnwkamen). Or, more literally, have come to know. John does not use the compound forms ejpiginwskein and ejpignwsiv (see on Matt. vii. 16. See Luke i. 4; Acts iv. 13; Rom. i. 28; Ephesians i. 17, etc.), nor the kindred word gnwsiv knowledge (Luke i. 77; Romans ii. 20, etc.).
We keep His commandments (tav entolav autou thrwmen). A phrase peculiar to John and occurring elsewhere only Matt. xix. 17; 1 Timothy vi. 14. In 1 Cor. vii. 19, we find thrhsiv ejntolwn the keeping of the commandments. On threw to keep, see on 1 Pet. i. 5.
