John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Behold what manner of love , &c.] See, take notice, consider, look by faith, with wonder and astonishment, and observe how great a favour, what an instance of matchless love, what a wonderful blessing of grace, the Father hath bestowed upon us : the Father of Christ, and the Father of us in Christ, who hath adopted us into his family, and regenerated us by his grace, and hath freely given us the new name: that we should be called the sons of God . The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version, add, and we are, or be; and the Ethiopic version, and have been; for it is not a mere name that is bestowed, but the thing itself in reality; and in the Hebrew language, to be called, and to be, are terms synonymous; (see Isaiah 9:6 Hosea 1:10); in what sense the saints are the sons of God; (see Gill on Galatians 4:6); this blessing comes not by nature, nor by merit, but by grace, the grace of adoption; which is of persons unto an inheritance they have no legal right unto; the spring of it is the everlasting and unchangeable love of God, for there was no need on the adopter's side, he having an only begotten and beloved Son, and no worth and loveliness in the adopted, they being by nature children of wrath; it is a privilege that exceeds all others, and is attended with many; so that it is no wonder the apostle breaks out in this pathetic manner, and calls upon the saints to view it with admiration and thankfulness: therefore the world knoweth us not ; that is, the greater part of the world, the world that lies in wickedness, the men of the world, who have their portion in this life, whom the god of this world has blinded, and who only mind the things of the world, and are as when they came into it, and have their conversation according to the course of it; these do not know the saints are the sons of God; the new name of sons is what no man knoweth but he that receiveth it; they do not own the saints as theirs, as belonging to them, but reckon them as the faith of the world, and the offscouring of all things; nor do they love them, and that because they are not their own, but hate them and persecute them: the reason is, because it knew him not ; neither the Father, whose sons they are, and who has bestowed the grace upon them; wherefore they know not, and disown and persecute his children; (see John 17:25 15:21 16:3); nor the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, the firstborn among many brethren; who, though he made the world, and was in it, was not known by it, but was hated, abused, and persecuted; and therefore it need not seem strange that the saints, who are the sons of God by adoption, should be treated in like manner.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1, 2 - Little does the world know of the happiness of the real followers of Christ. Little does the world think that these poor, humble, despise ones, are favourites of God, and will dwell in heaven. Let the followers of Christ be content with hard fare here, since they are in land of strangers, where their Lord was so badly treated before them The sons of God must walk by faith, and live by hope. They may wel wait in faith, hope, and earnest desire, for the revelation of the Lor Jesus. The sons of God will be known, and be made manifest by likenes to their Head. They shall be transformed into the same image, by their view of him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ιδετε 1492 5628 V-2AAM-2P ποταπην 4217 A-ASF αγαπην 26 N-ASF δεδωκεν 1325 5758 V-RAI-3S ημιν 2254 P-1DP ο 3588 T-NSM πατηρ 3962 N-NSM ινα 2443 CONJ τεκνα 5043 N-APN θεου 2316 N-GSM κληθωμεν 2564 5686 V-APS-1P δια 1223 PREP τουτο 5124 D-ASN ο 3588 T-NSM κοσμος 2889 N-NSM ου 3756 PRT-N γινωσκει 1097 5719 V-PAI-3S ημας 2248 P-1AP οτι 3754 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εγνω 1097 5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτον 846 P-ASM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Behold (idete). Lit., behold ye. The plural is peculiar. The usual form is the singular ide or ijdou. See John i. 29; xi. 3, etc.; iv. 35; xix. 26, 27. Elsewhere the plural is used of something actually visible (Gal. vi. 11). What manner of (potaphn). The word is of infrequent occurrence in the New Testament, but is found in all the Synoptists and in 2 Pet. iii. 11. Only here in John's writings. Originally it means from what country or race; then, of what sort or quality. It is used of the quality of both persons and things.Hath bestowed (dedwken). Emphasizing the endowment of the receiver. Compare carizomai, from cariv grace, favor, which emphasizes the goodwill of the giver. See Gal. iii. 18; Philip. ii. 9; i. 29. That (ina). See on John xxv. 13.
We should be called (klhqwmen). Or, named. As Matt. ii. 23; xxi. 13; Luke i. 13, 31, etc. The verb is never used by John of the divine call. In John x. 3, for kalei calleth, read fwnei.
The sons (tekna). Rev., better, children. See on John i. 12.
And such we are (kai esmen). Lit., and we are. Added by Rev., according to the best texts. A parenthetical, reflective comment, characteristic of John. See on 1 i. 2.
