1 John 3:1
What manner of love ( ποταπην αγαπην ). Qualitative interrogative as in 2Pe 3:11; Mt 8:27. Only here in John's writings. Originally of what country or race.Hath bestowed ( δεδωκεν ). Perfect active indicative of διδωμ, state of completion, "the endowment of the receiver" (Vincent).
That we should be called ( ινα κληθωμεν ). Sub-final use of ινα with the first aorist passive subjunctive of καλεω, to call or name, as in Mt 2:23.
Children ( τεκνα ). As in Joh 1:12 and with an allusion to γεγεννητα in 2:29 in an effort "to restore the waning enthusiasm of his readers, and to recall them to their first love" (Brooke).
And such we are ( κα εσμεν ). "And we are." A parenthetical reflection characteristic of John ( κα νυν εστιν in Joh 5:25 and κα ουκ εισιν in Re 2:2; 3:9) omitted by Textus Receptus, though, in the old MSS.
Because it knew him not ( οτ ουκ εγνω αυτον ). Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω, precisely the argument in Joh 15:18f.
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