Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. Whatsoever is born of God] pan to gegennhmenon? Whatsoever (the neuter for the masculine) is begotten of God: overcometh the world. "I understand by this," says Schoettgen, "the Jewish Church, or Judaism, which is often termed hzh µlw[ olam hazzeh, this world. The reasons which induce me to think so are, 1. Because this kosmov, world, denied that the Messiah was come; but the Gentiles did not oppose this principle.
2. Because he proves the truth of the Christian religion against the Jews, reasoning according to the Jewish manner; whence it is evident that he contends, not against the Gentiles, but against the Jews. The sense therefore is, he who possesses the true Christian faith can easily convict the Jewish religion of falsity." That is, He can show the vanity of their expectations, and the falsity of their glosses and prejudices. Suppose we understand by the world the evil principles and practices which are among men, and in the human heart; then the influence of God in the soul may be properly said to overcome this; and by faith in the Son of God a man is able to overcome all that is in the world, viz., the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - True love for the people of God, may be distinguished from natura kindness or party attachments, by its being united with the love of God, and obedience to his commands. The same Holy Spirit that taugh the love, will have taught obedience also; and that man cannot trul love the children of God, who, by habit, commits sin or neglects know duty. As God's commands are holy, just, and good rules of liberty an happiness, so those who are born of God and love him, do not count the grievous, but lament that they cannot serve him more perfectly Self-denial is required, but true Christians have a principle whic carries them above all hinderances. Though the conflict often is sharp and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except believers in Christ, ar enslaved in some respect or other, to the customs, opinions, or interests of the world. Faith is the cause of victory, the means, the instrument, the spiritual armour by which we overcome. In and by fait we cleave to Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world Faith sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those sensual lusts by which the world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has the indwelling Spirit of grace, which is greater than he who dwells in the world. The real Christian overcomes the world by faith; he sees, in an by the life and conduct of the Lord Jesus on earth, that this world is to be renounced and overcome. He cannot be satisfied with this world but looks beyond it, and is still tending, striving, and pressin toward heaven. We must all, after Christ's example, overcome the world or it will overcome us to our ruin.
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ παν 3956 A-NSN το 3588 T-NSN γεγεννημενον 1080 5772 V-RPP-NSN εκ 1537 PREP του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM νικα 3528 5719 V-PAI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM κοσμον 2889 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ αυτη 3778 D-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S η 3588 T-NSF νικη 3529 N-NSF η 3588 T-NSF νικησασα 3528 5660 V-AAP-NSF τον 3588 T-ASM κοσμον 2889 N-ASM η 3588 T-NSF πιστις 4102 N-NSF ημων 2257 P-1GP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Overcometh (nika). See on ii. 13.The victory (h nikh). Only here in the New Testament.
That overcometh (h nikhsasa). The aorist tense, overcame. On the cumulative form of expression, the victory, that which overcame, see on iv. 9. The aorist is to be held here to its strict sense. The victory over the world was, potentially, won when we believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. We overcome the world by being brought into union with Christ. On becoming as He is (iii. 17) we become partakers of His victory (John xvi. 33). "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world" (iv. 4).
Our faith (pistiv hmwn). Pistiv faith, only here in John's Epistles and not in the Gospel. Our faith is embraced in the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. On the question of the subjective and objective use of the faith, see on Acts vi. 7.
