John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And now I beseech thee, lady , etc.] Or Kyria, which word the Syriac and Arabic versions retain, as if it was a proper name: the apostle having finished the inscription, salutation, and congratulation in the preceding verses, passes to an exhortation and entreaty to observe the commandment of love to one another, which is not a new commandment, but what was from the beginning: not as though I wrote a new commandment , etc. (see Gill on 1 John 2:7) and (see Gill on 1 John 2:8).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-6 - It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be belove for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to se children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, an raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse right, when according to the word of God. This commandment of mutual Christian love, may be said to be a new one, in respect of its being declared by the Lord Christ; yet as to the matter, it is old. And this is love to our own souls, that we obey the Divine commands. The foresight of the decay of this love, a well as of other apostacies, or fallings away, might engage the apostl to urge this duty, and this command, frequently and earnestly.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ νυν 3568 ADV ερωτω 2065 5719 V-PAI-1S σε 4571 P-2AS κυρια 2959 N-VSF ουχ 3756 PRT-N ως 5613 ADV εντολην 1785 N-ASF {VAR1: γραφω 1125 5719 V-PAI-1S } {VAR2: γραφων 1125 5723 V-PAP-NSM } σοι 4671 P-2DS καινην 2537 A-ASF αλλα 235 CONJ ην 3739 R-ASF ειχομεν 2192 5707 V-IAI-1P απ 575 PREP αρχης 746 N-GSF ινα 2443 CONJ αγαπωμεν 25 5725 V-PAS-1P αλληλους 240 C-APM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. New (kainhn). See on Matt. xxvi. 29.We had (eicamen). The apostle identifies himself with his readers.
