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Before proceeding to trace the similarity of these books, it is, however, proper to observe that they exhibit three widely different, yet equally appropriate modes of style; which, for the sake of distinction, may be termed the narrative, the argumentative, and the mystical styles. The first is nearly confined to the gospel, and the third to the apocalypse; while the second pervades a large portion of the gospel, and almost the whole of the epistles. The narrative style of John is remarkable, even among the historical books of Scripture, for its perspicuity and vivacity. The several events are depicted in a manner singularly graphic and circumstantial, showing the author to have been an eye witness of the occurrences which he relates, yet without prolixity or redundancy. Like the personages of a drama, the parties concerned are, as far as possible, made to express their own thoughts and sentiments; the writer usually restricting himself to the province of noting the time, place, and other particulars necessary to the right understanding of the transactions described, and occasionally interposing a remark naturally suggested by the facts which he records. The argumentative style seems to have been borrowed from Christ himself, by whom, as well as by other religious teachers, it was often used, when the demonstration of important truths was pertinaciously resisted by ignorance, prejudice, or hostility. Assuming the character of mathematical exposition, it developes trains of close but simple reasoning, intermixed with axioms and definitions; and proceeds by slow but certain steps to distinct and unavoidable conclusions. The mystical style, which in some respects agrees with the narrative, of which it is, indeed, merely a variety, corresponds to that employed in other prophetical and visionary parts of Scripture, to an extent which implies that they were all dictated by the same Spirit. It evinces a mind, not only elevated by inspiration, but also improved by reflection and practice, and furnished in consequence with an affluence of words and ideas collected, as it were, from all quarters, to represent the vast and transcendant subjects of which it treats.

In comparing the several writings ascribed to the apostle John, these distinctions must be kept in view, more especially with regard to the apocalypse, the peculiar nature of which accounts for the peculiarity of its composition, and for its smaller analogy with the other books; although there is still sufficient resemblance among them to prove that they all proceeded from the same author. The fact will be established by collating from each a few passages, wherein a similarity of matter and style scarcely to be paralleled elsewhere seems to admit of no other conclusion. For this purpose it will be sufficient to compare the gospel alternately with the epistles and the apocalypse, on the principle that two objects which agree with a third, agree, also, with each other. The genuineness of the second and third epistles was at an early period disputed, and by some churches disallowed; but, independently of their identity of character, which will now in like manner be evinced, their very brevity and comparatively small importance are in favour of their canonical authority; since, had it not been well ascertained that

they were written by an apostle, their intrinsic value would scarcely have procured for them a place in the sacred volume.

COLLATION OF PASSAGES, SHOWING THE MUTUAL RESEMBLANCE OF THE THREE EPISTLES ATTRIBUTED TO THE APOSTLE JOHN.

FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN.

IV. 1. Many false prophets have gone forth into the world. 2. By this ye know the Spirit of God. Every spirit which acknowledgeth Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh is from God; 3. and every spirit which doth not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. And this is the [spirit] of Antichrist, which ye have heard is to come, and [which] is even now already in the world.*

II. 22. Who is the liar but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? Such a one is the Antichrist, who denieth [both] the Father and the Son.

23. Whosoever denieth the Son holdeth not the Father. [He that acknowledgeth the Son holdeth the Father also.] Also John v. 22,23; xII. 44, 45 ;

XIII. 20.

SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN.

1. The elder to the elect Cyria, and her children, whom I truly love.

4. I rejoiced greatly to find [some] of thy children walking in truth.

12. [Although I] have many things to write to you, I have not chosen [to communicate them] by paper and ink, for I hope to come to you, and to converse face to face, that our joy may be complete.

SECOND EPISTLE OF JOHN.

7. Many deceivers have gone forth into the world, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh.

Such a one is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

9. Whosoever transgresseth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, holdeth not God. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, such a one holdeth both the Father and the Son.

THIRD EPISTLE OF JOHN.

1. The elder to the beloved Caius, whom I truly love.

4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

13. I had many things to write, but do not choose to write to thee with pen and ink.

14. I hope, however, shortly to see thee, when we shall converse face to face.

COLLATION OF PASSAGES, SHOWING THE MUTUAL RESEMBLANCE OF THE GOSPEL AND EPISTLES ATTRIBUTED TO THE APOSTLE JOHN.

GOSPEL BY JOHN.

1. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was in the beginning with God.

4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

III. 11. I most truly tell thee that I say what I know, and testify what I have seen.

32. What he hath seen and heard

that he testifieth.

EPISTLES OF JOHN.

1 John 1. 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have contemplated, and our hands have handled concerning the living Word: 2. For the life was manifested, and we saw [it,] and testify, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested [to us:]

3. That which we have seen and heard we declare [to you.]

* Several variations from the authorized version, observable in this and other passages, are derived from Griesbach's edition of the Greek Testament, in 2 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1809.

GOSPEL BY JOHN.

XXI. 24. This is the disciple that testifieth concerning these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

(Also v. 32, and xix. 35.)

xv. 11. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy in you may continue, and [that] your joy may be complete.

(Also III. 29; xvI. 24; and xvII. 13.)

XIV. 16. I will request the Father, and he will give you another advocate, to continue with you for ever.

1. 29, 36. Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

III. 16. For God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

17. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that through him the world might be saved.

(Also 1. 34.)

1. 26. I baptize with water; but in the midst of you standeth [one] whom ye know not 33. This is he that baptizeth with [the] Holy Spirit.

III. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that rejecteth the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

xx. 31. These things have been written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life by his

name.

(Also vi. 47.)

XVII. 3. This is eternal life; that they should know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

xv. 18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before you. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would have loved its own; but, because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hateth you.

(Also I. 10-13; vIII. 44; xvI. 33; and xvII. 14.)

XIV. 15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

EPISTLES OF JOHN.

3 John 12. [Honourable] testimony is rendered to Demetrius by all men, and by the truth itself; and we, also, bear testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.

1 John 1. 4. These things we write to you, that your joy may be complete.

(Also 2 John 12.)

II. 1. If any one sin, we have a righteous advocate with the Father, [even] Jesus Christ.

2. And he is an atonement for our sins, and not for ours only, but for [those,] also, of the whole world.

IV. 9. By this was manifested the love of God towards us; that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10. Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [as] an atonement for

our sins.

(Also 14.)

v. 6. This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not with water only, but with water and blood; and the Spirit beareth testimony, because the Spirit is the truth.

12. He that hath the Son hath life: He that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

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(Also 35; and vIII. 42.)

1. 5. The light appeared in the darkness, but the darkness did not admit it.

9. The true light, which enlighteneth every man, was coming into the world.

XII. 35. Yet a little while the light is among you. Walk, while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you. And he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he is going.

(Also 46; and III. 19; VIII. 12; IX. 5; xI. 9, 10.)

EPISTLES OF JOHN.

1 John v. 3. For, this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.

2 John 6. This is love, that we walk according to his commandments. (Also 1 John 11. 5.)

1 John III. 11. For, this is the message which ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

14. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.

16. Herein we perceive love, in that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

IV. 12. No one ever beheld God. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is completed in us.

II. 7. [My] beloved [brethren,] it is not a new commandment that I write to you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. 8. Again, a new commandment I write to you.

(Also Iv. 11, 21; and 2 John 5.) 1. 5. God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

II. 8. The darkness is passing away, and the true light now appears.

11. He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he is going, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

(Also 9, 10; and 1. 6, 7.)

COLLATION OF PASSAGES, SHOWING THE MUTUAL RESEMBLANCE OF THE GOSPEL AND APOCALYPSE ATTRIBUTED TO THE APOSTLE JOHN.

GOSPEL BY JOHN.

1. 14. The Word became incarnate, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we beheld his glory, a glory as of the only begotten of the Father.

29, 36. Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

APOCALYPSE OF JOHN.

XIX. 12. His eyes [were] like a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many diadems. He bore a name inscribed which none knoweth but himself, 13. and [was] clad in a robe dipt in blood, and his name is called, The Word of God.

v. 6. And I saw in the midst of the throne.. ... a lamb standing, as [if it had been] slain, &c.

(Also 9; and XII. 11.)

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(Also 1.9; and VIII. 12.)

IV. 13. Whoso drinketh of this water will thirst again, 14. but whoso drinketh of the water which I shall give him will never thirst again; but the water which I shall give him will become within him a well of water, springing up to eternal life.

VII. 37. On the last day, the great [day] of the festival, Jesus stood, and proclaimed, saying, If any one thirst, let him come to me, and let him that believeth on me drink. 38. As the Scripture hath said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

vi. 48. I am the bread of life. 49. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and died. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that any one may eat thereof, and not die.

(Also 31, 32, 58; and x. 2-4.)

APOCALYPSE OF JOHN.

1. 5. To him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,. . . . . 6. [be] glory, &c.

.....

7. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they, [also,] who pierced him.

xvI. 3. And the second angel emptied his bowl on the sea, and it became blood, like [that] of a corpse. (Also VII. 14.)

XXI. 9. And one of the seven angels came and talked with me, saying, Come, [and] I will show thee the bride, the wife of the lamb.

22. And I saw not any temple therein, for the Lord God who ruleth over all and the lamb are its temple.

3. Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, [as] their God.

1. 5. To him that loveth us, 6. and hath made us a royal priesthood to his God and Father, to him [be] glory, &c.

III. 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will enter in, and sup with him, and he [shall sup] with me.

(Also vII.15; xx1.23; and xx11.5.) VII. 16. They shall not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, neither shall the sun injure them, nor any heat; 17. for, the lamb that is in the midst of the throne will tend them, and lead them to living fountains of waters, and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

XXI. 6. To him that thirsteth I will freely give of the fountain of the water of life.

XXII. 17. The Spirit and the bride say, Come; and let him that heareth say Come; and let him that thirsteth come. Whosoever will, let him freely take the water of life.

II. 7. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

17. To him that overcometh I will give of the hidden manna.

(Also xiv. 4; and xxII. 1.)

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