‏ 1 John 2:2

Verse 2. And he is the propitiation] 'ιλασμος� The atoning sacrifice for our sins. This is the proper sense of the word as used in the Septuagint, where it often occurs; and is the translation of asham, an oblation for sin, \\#Am 8:14\\. chattath, a sacrifice for sin, Eze 44:27. kippur, an atonement, Nu 5:8. See Clarke on Ro 3:25, and particularly See Clarke on Lu 18:13. The word is used only here and in 1Jo 4:10.

And not for ours only] It is not for us apostles that he has died, nor exclusively for the Jewish people, but \~peri olou tou\~

κοσμου, for the whole world, Gentiles as well as Jews, all the descendants of Adam. The apostle does not say that he died for any select part of the inhabitants of the earth, or for \@some out\@

of every nation, tribe, or kindred; but for ALL MANKIND; and the attempt to limit this is a violent outrage against God and his word.

For the meaning of the word παρακλητος, which we here translate advocate, See Clarke on Joh 14:16.

From these verses we learn that a poor backslider need not despair of again finding mercy; this passage holds out sufficient encouragement for his hope. There is scarcely another such in the Bible, and why? That sinners might not presume on the mercy of God. And why this one? That no backslider might utterly despair. Here, then, is a guard against presumption on the one hand, and despondency on the other.

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