提要
就如序言所說的,約翰很關心異端對「小子們」的影響。這些「諾斯底主義」者是一群「屬靈的精英」。他們覺得福音太簡單,所以他們要更有「深度」的神秘知識。有的人認為只信創造論還不夠,還要信「屬靈進化論」。也就是,世界是由上帝那裡經一連串的「愛安」(aeons)發射而形成的。所以物質世界是與非物質世界截然劃分的。這樣一來,耶穌就不可能是道成肉身者,只是一個近乎上帝的人;祂的神性也是暫時的,只存於受洗到上十字架這段時間。教父愛任紐論及諾斯底主義時說:「這些褻瀆上帝的論調,將主一分為二,……竟說祂是由兩種不同的質素所組成。」
諾斯底主義的後果之一,就是在所傳和所做之間有道德的斷層。他們看所有的東西都是邪惡的(包括人的身體),因此邪惡的行為也是被允許的。但是你的靈卻可翱翔於天堂--人可以像惡魔般活著,卻可以像天使般敬拜。
這就是為什麼在這章聖經中,有那麼多關於「遵守主的話」、「愛弟兄」、「照主所行的去行」、「住在光明中」、「認耶穌為基督」,以及「遵行父的旨意」……這類的教訓。我們要住在祂裡面,一直到祂來(28節)。祂的真理不是短暫的,而是永遠長存的。
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Overview
As stated in the introduction, John was concerned about the effect of heretical teaching on his "dear children" (v.l). These heretics (known as "Gnostics") were spiritual "elitists" who saw the Gospel as being too simple, and they longed for the "depths" of the mysteries of God. Some of them saw the biblical account of creation as inadequate; they believed in a kind of spiritual evolution whereby the world arose through generation or emanation from God over and through a long series of "aeons". They saw the material world as radically separated from the immaterial world. And they saw Jesus, not as God made flesh, but as someone who only seemed to be God. A common view was that Christ's divine nature was only a temporary condition that came at His baptism and went before His crucifixion. Irenaeus, one of the Church "fathers" wrote of the Gnostics as "these blasphemous systems which divide the Lord... saying that he was formed of two different substances" (Against Heresies III, 16:5).
One of the consequences of Gnosticism was a moral gap between what you preached and how you lived. They saw all matter (including your body) as evil, so only evil behaviour was expected. But, you could soar to the heavenlies with your spirit — so live like the devil, but worship like an angel.
This is why you see so much in this chapter about obeying the word, loving your neighbour, walking as Jesus did, living in the light, confessing that Jesus is who He says He is, and doing the will of God. We are to "continue in Him" until He comes (v.28). His truth is not ephemeral but historical.
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Prayer
Thank "You, O Lord, that if we sin, we have "You as our Advocate, a Lawyer for our defense. Thank 'You that "Your righteousness is placed on our account. |