1 John 3:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The word “this” must be understood in the sense of a cause, namely: because His commandment is to believe. Since we have a commandment to believe in the name of Jesus Christ, His Son, and to love one another, and since we have done this, from this we know that the grace of His Spirit, Whom He gave us, has been established in us. It should be known that the expression “to believe in the name” of our Lord is used in many places of Scripture. What, then, does “name” mean? Certainly nothing other than His will, glory, and honor. For example, in the words “great is Your name in all the earth” (Ps 8:2), it means glory and honor. In the words “repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38), it means His will. What, then, is the will of the Lord Jesus?

What, then, remains for a man to do amid the weakness of his flesh and the warfare continually raised against him by the world, the flesh, and the devil? He must pray, mingling prayer with faith in the Lord Jesus, love for neighbors, and the keeping of all the commandments given by God. Of old Scripture proclaimed that “the righteous shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4). And now we hear that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom 8:28). We not only hear this, but every day we experience that the Lord is good and merciful to all who call upon His name and do His will (Ps 85:5).

“This is His commandment,” that is, the Father’s, “that we should believe in the name of His Son Christ.” Where and when was this commandment given? It was given at the Jordan and repeated during the Transfiguration in the voice of God the Father. It was confirmed and set forth in the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself, Who said nothing from Himself, but preached only what the Father gave Him (Jn 6:29; Jn 14:24 and others). It was revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and handed down from them to believers (Jn 20:31). It formed the chief subject of their preaching (Mt 28:19-20). To this commandment the Apostle also joins another, the commandment of love for neighbors. This too was handed down by Jesus Christ to the Apostles. It is only the unfolding and repetition of the commandment of God the Father Himself, already given in the Old Testament (Mt 19:19; Ex 20:13-16; Lev 19:18).

“And this is His commandment,” and so forth. Again the Apostle turns his gaze to this commandment of love for God and neighbors, of which he speaks so often in this epistle. Here he applies it especially to faith and love, not only in God the Father, but also in His Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. This is the summary of the whole Law and Gospel, and the Apostle characterizes it as one commandment, though above and below he speaks of commandments. It is one commandment, which he divides into two halves. The first concerns faith in Christ, and the second love for one another. Faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of love for neighbors. Faith in Christ is impossible without love for the neighbor, and love for the neighbor is the fruit, or action, of faith in Jesus Christ.

In the closing verses of the chapter, the Apostle offers several considerations to explain the naturalness of that boldness of the sons of God of which he spoke above (1 Jn 3:22-24). When and why does this boldness become natural? “Because we keep His commandments” (1 Jn 3:22). And in what is the essence, or sum, of these commandments expressed? “And this is His commandment, that we should believe,” not with the mind only, but with heart and soul, “in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment” (1 Jn 3:23). Meanwhile, it is precisely by this, by faith and love, that the children of God are chiefly distinguished. How, then, should they not have boldness before God, when they have such union with Him? For “he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him” (1 Jn 3:24).

Having spoken of the possibility of firm hope in God’s mercy according to the measure of keeping God’s commandments, the Apostle points first to the commandment of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. Then he points to the second commandment, love for one another, after the pattern of the love that Jesus Christ showed by His own example. All this had already been proclaimed more than once by John the Theologian. Therefore, in the repetition of these thoughts one may see a reminder of those essential duties which Christians must unfailingly observe, despite every deception and temptation. In the final words of this chapter, the Apostle John recalls the closest communion of believers with Christ and, through Him, with the Holy Spirit and the Father.

One might have expected the Apostle to say, “these are the commandments,” corresponding to what was said in the preceding verse, not about one commandment, but about several. Yet if the Apostle speaks of one commandment, this is equivalent to saying: “This is what has been commanded.” What exactly is it? That “we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ,” that is, believe in Him Who is called the Son of God, Jesus Christ. We are commanded to believe that the One called by this name is truly the Son of God the Father. According to His divine nature, He is consubstantial with Him and equal in essence. Without ceasing to be God, He became man with the name Jesus and appeared as Christ, our Redeemer, Enlightener, and King.