Joh 1:10, 12:31, 1Jo 5:19 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 10. He was in the world . This refers, probably, not to his pre-existence, but to the fact that he became incarnate; that he dwelt among men. And the world was made by him . This is a repetition of what is said in . Not only men , but all material things, were made by him. These facts are mentioned here to make what is said immediately after more striking, to wit, that men did not receive him. The proofs which he furnished that they ought to receive him were, 1st. Those given while he was in the world --the miracles that he wrought and his instructions; and, 2nd. The fact that the world was made by him , It was remarkable that the world did not know or approve its own maker. The world knew him not . The word knew is sometimes used in the sense of approving or loving , . In this sense it may be used here. The world did not love or approve him, but rejected him and put him to death. Or it may mean that they did not understand or know that he was the Messiah; for had the Jews known and believed that he was the Messiah, they would not have put him to death, : "Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Yet they might have known it, and therefore they were not the less to blame. (m) "and the world knew him not"

John 1:10

Verse 10. He was in the world. This refers, probably, not to his pre-existence, but to the fact that he became incarnate; that he dwelt among men.

And the world was made by him. This is a repetition of what is said in Jn 1:3. Not only men, but all material things, were made by him. These facts are mentioned here to make what is said immediately after more striking, to wit, that men did not receive him. The proofs which he furnished that they ought to receive him were,

1st. Those given while he was in the world--the miracles that he wrought and his instructions; and,

2nd. The fact that the world was made by him, It was remarkable that the world did not know or approve its own maker.

The world knew him not. The word knew is sometimes used in the sense of approving or loving, Ps 1:6, Mt 7:23. In this sense it may be used here. The world did not love or approve him, but rejected him and put him to death. Or it may mean that they did not understand or know that he was the Messiah; for had the Jews known and believed that he was the Messiah, they would not have put him to death, 1Cor 2:8: "Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Yet they might have known it, and therefore they were not the less to blame.

(m) "and the world knew him not" Jn 1:3

John 12:31

Verse 31. Now is the judgment of this world. Greek, "crisis." This expression, doubtless, has reference to his approaching death, and whatever he means by judgment here relates to something that was to be accomplished by that death. It cannot mean that then was to be the time in which the world was to be finally judged, for he says that he did not come then to judge the world (Jn 12:47, 8:15), and he has clearly declared that there shall be a future day when he will judge all mankind. The meaning of it may be thus expressed:

"Now is approaching the decisive scene, the eventful

period--the crisis--when it shall be determined who

shall rule this world. There has been a long

conflict between the powers of light and darkness--

between God and the devil. Satan has so effectually

ruled that he may be said to be the prince of this

world; but my approaching death will destroy his

kingdom, will break down his power, and will be the

means of setting up the kingdom of God over man."

The death of Christ was to be the most grand and effectual of all means that could be used to establish the authority of the law and the government of God, Rom 8:3,4. This it did by showing the regard which God had for his law; by showing his hatred of sin, and presenting the strongest motives to induce man to leave the service of Satan; by securing the influences of the Holy Spirit, and by his putting forth his own direct power in the cause of virtue and of God. The death of Jesus was the determining cause, the grand crisis, the concentration of all that God had ever done, or ever will do, to break down the kingdom of Satan, and set up his power over man. Thus was fulfilled the prediction (Gen 3:15),

"I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and

between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy

head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Now shall the prince of this world. Satan, or the devil, Jn 14:30, 16:11. He is also called the god of this world, 2Cor 4:4, Eph 6:12: "The rulers of the darkness of this world "--that is, the rulers of this dark world--a well-known Hebraism. He is also called "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," Eph 2:2. All these names are given him from the influence or power which he has over the men of this world, because the great mass of men have been under his control and subject to his will.

Be cast out. His kingdom shall be destroyed; his empire shall come to an end. It does not mean that his reign over all men would entirely cease then, but that then would be the crisis, the grand conflict in which he would be vanquished, and from that time his kingdom begin to decline, until it would finally cease, and then be free altogether from his dominion. See Lk 10:18, Col 1:18-20, Acts 26:18; 1Cor 15:25,26; Rev 20:14.

(f) "the prince of this world" Lk 10:18, Jn 16:11, Acts 26:18, Eph 2:2

1 John 5:19

Verse 19. And we know that we are of God. We who are Christians. The apostle supposed that true Christians might have so clear evidence on that subject as to leave no doubt on their own minds that they were the children of God. Comp. 1Jn 3:14, 2Ti 1:12.

And the whole world. The term world here evidently means not the material world, but the people that dwell on the earth, including all idolaters, and all sinners of every grade and kind.

Lieth in wickedness. "In the wicked one," or under the power of the wicked one--εντωπονηρω. It is true that the word πονηρω may be used here in the neuter gender, as our translators have rendered it, meaning "in that which is evil," or in "wickedness;" but it may be in the masculine gender, meaning "the wicked one;" and then the sense would be that the whole world is under his control or dominion. That this is the meaning of the apostle seems to be clear, because

(1.) the corresponding phrase, (1Jn 5:20,) εντωαληθινω, "in him that is true," is evidently to be construed in the masculine, referring to God the Saviour, and meaning "him that is true," and not that we are "in truth."

(2.) It makes better sense to say that the world lies under the control of the wicked one, than to say that it lies "in wickedness."

(3.) This accords better with the other representations in the Bible, and the usage of the word elsewhere. Comp. 1Jn 2:13, "Ye have overcome the wicked one;" 1Jn 5:14," ye have overcome the wicked one;" 1Jn 3:12, "who was of that wicked one." 2Cor 4:4, on the expression "the god of this world;" Jn 12:31, where he is called "the prince of world; and Eph 2:2, where he is called "the prince of the power of the air." In all these passages it is supposed that Satan has control over the world, especially the heathen world. Comp. Eph 6:12, 1Cor 10:20. In regard to the fact that the heathen world was pervaded by wickedness, Rom 1:21, seq.

(4.) It may be added, that this interpretation is adopted by the most eminent critics and commentators. It is that of Calvin, Beza, Benson, Blacknight, Bloomfield, Piscator, Lucke, etc. The word lieth here (κειται) means, properly, to lie; to be laid; to recline; to be situated, etc. It seems here to refer to the passive and torpid state of a wicked world under the dominion of the prince of evil, as acquiescing in his reign; making no resistance; not even struggling to be free. It lies thus as a beast that is subdued, a body that is dead, or anything that is wholly passive, quiet, and inert. There is no energy; no effort to throw off the reign; no resistance; no struggling. The dominion is complete, and body and soul, individuals and nations, are entirely subject to his will. This striking expression will not unaptly, now describe the condition of the heathen world, or of sinners in general. There would seem to be no government under which men are so little restive, and against which they have so little disposition to rebel, as that of Satan. Comp. 2Ti 2:26.