John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments , etc.] By observing them as a rule of conversation, in so doing love is shown to God; and such may expect the fresh discoveries of the love of God to, them; (see Gill on 1 John 5:3); this is the commandment, that as ye have heard from the beginning , ye should walk in it ; that is, this is the will of God, that his people should walk in the truth of the Gospel, and abide by it, as they heard and received it at their first conversion, from the mouths of the apostles, or other faithful ministers of the word; a reason for which, is given in ( 2 John 1:7).
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 αυτη 3778 D-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S η 3588 T-NSF αγαπη 26 N-NSF ινα 2443 CONJ περιπατωμεν 4043 5725 V-PAS-1P κατα 2596 PREP τας 3588 T-APF εντολας 1785 N-APF αυτου 846 P-GSM αυτη 3778 D-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S η 3588 T-NSF εντολη 1785 N-NSF καθως 2531 ADV ηκουσατε 191 5656 V-AAI-2P απ 575 PREP αρχης 746 N-GSF ινα 2443 CONJ εν 1722 PREP αυτη 846 P-DSF περιπατητε 4043 5725 V-PAS-2P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Love (h agaph). The love just mentioned in the verb we love. That (ina). See on John xv. 13.After His commandments (kata tav entolav autou). For walk, with kata after, according to, see Mark vii. 5; Rom. viii. 4; xiv. 15; 1 Corinthians iii. 3; 2 Cor. x. 2. Very often with ejn in. See John viii. 12; xi. 9, 10; 2 Corinthians iv. 2; 1 John i. 7, 11. Both constructions are found 2 Corinthians x. 2, 3.
From the beginning (ap archv). See on John i. 1.
In it (en auth). In love: not the commandment.
