1 John 3:24 - Exposition

We are again in doubt as to whether αὐτοῦ and αὐτός refer to God the Father or to Christ. The former seems better on account of 1 John 3:22 ; but the latter may be right ( John 14:15 ; John 15:5 ). Compare the conclusion of the first main division ( 1 John 2:24-28 ). In this (or, hereby ) probably refers to what follows; the ἐν does not disprove this, in spite of the ἐκ which follows. St. John has combined two constructions: "In this we know… in that" ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν … ὅτι , as in verse 16; and "From this we know… from" ἐκ τούτου γινώσκομεν … ἐκ τοῦ ; comp. 1 John 4:6 . From the Spirit which he gave us. "He" is probably the Father ( John 14:16 , John 14:17 ), and the aorist ἔδωκεν refers to the special occasion of Pentecost. Hitherto St. John has mentioned only the Father and the Son; now the Spirit also (alluded to in 1 John 2:20 , 1 John 2:27 ) is introduced by name as a witness and test of the truth. The sentence forms the transition to the subject of the next section ( 1 John 4:1-6 ), which is a sort of digression, the subject of love being mentioned in verse 7. This verse is said to have been a favourite with Spinoza.