1Jo 2:9, 11 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 9. He that saith he is in the light . That he has true religion, or is a Christian. See . And hateth his brother . The word brother seems here to refer to those who professed the same religion. The word is indeed sometimes used in a larger sense, but the reference here appears to be to that which is properly brotherly love among Christians. Comp. Lucke, in loc . Is in darkness even unto now . That is, he cannot have true religion unless he has love to the brethren. The command to love one another was one of the most solemn and earnest which Christ ever enjoined, ( ;) he made it the peculiar badge of discipleship, or that by which his followers were to be everywhere known, ( ;) and it is, therefore, impossible to have any true religion without love to those who are sincerely and truly his followers. If a man has not that, he is in deep darkness, whatever else he may have, on the whole subject of religion. Comp. . (e) "darkness"

1 John 2:9

Verse 9. He that saith he is in the light. That he has true religion, or is a Christian. See 1Jn 1:7.

And hateth his brother. The word brother seems here to refer to those who professed the same religion. The word is indeed sometimes used in a larger sense, but the reference here appears to be to that which is properly brotherly love among Christians. Comp. Lucke, in loc.

Is in darkness even unto now. That is, he cannot have true religion unless he has love to the brethren. The command to love one another was one of the most solemn and earnest which Christ ever enjoined, (Jn 15:17;) he made it the peculiar badge of discipleship, or that by which his followers were to be everywhere known, (Jn 13:35;) and it is, therefore, impossible to have any true religion without love to those who are sincerely and truly his followers. If a man has not that, he is in deep darkness, whatever else he may have, on the whole subject of religion. Comp. 1Thes 4:9.

(e) "darkness" 2Pet 1:9

1 John 2:11

Verse 11. But he that hateth his brother. The word here used would, in this connexion, include both the mere absence of love, and positive hatred. It is designed to include the whole of that state of mind where there is not love for the brethren.

Is in darkness. 1Jn 2:9.

And walketh in darkness. He is like one who walks in the dark, and who sees no object distinctly. Jn 12:35. And knoweth not whither he goeth. Like one in the dark. He wanders about not knowing what direction he shall take, or where the course which he is on will lead. The general meaning is, that he is ignorant of the whole nature of religion; or, in other words, love to the brethren is a central virtue in religion, and when a man has not that, his mind is entirely clouded on the whole subject, and he shows that he knows nothing of its nature. There is no virtue that is designed to be made more prominent in Christianity; and there is none that will throw its influence farther over a man's life.

(a) "walketh in darkness" Prov 4:15, Jn 12:35