Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.16 In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?18 My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.
"Every one who hates his brother is a murderer." For in him through unbelief Christ dies. Rightly, therefore, he continues, "And you know that no murderer and unbeliever has eternal life abiding in him." For the living Christ abides in the believing soul.
And if we owe our lives to the brethren, and have made such a mutual compact with the Saviour, why should we any more hoard and shut up worldly goods, which are beggarly, foreign to us and transitory? Shall we shut up from each other what after a little shall be the property of the fire? Divinely and weightily John says, "He that loveth not his brother is a murderer," the seed of Cain, a nursling of the devil. He has not God's compassion. He has no hope of better things. He is sterile; he is barren; he is not a branch of the ever-living supercelestial vine. He is cut off; he waits the perpetual fire.
"For He Himself laid down His life for us;" that is, for those who believe; that is, for the apostles. If then He laid down His life for the apostles, he means His apostles themselves: us if he said, We, I say, the apostles, for whom He laid down His life, "ought to lay down our lives for the brethren;" for the salvation of their neighbours was the glory of the apostles.
"Little children, let us not love in word, or in tongue," says John, teaching them to be perfect, "but in deed and in truth; hereby shall we know that we are of the truth." And if "God be love," piety also is love: "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." And again, to him who desires to become a Gnostic, it is written, "But be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in purity." For perfection in faith differs, I think, from ordinary faith.
But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many.17 And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready.18 And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee, hold me excused.19 And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee, hold me excused.20 And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.21 And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, and the lame.22 And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23 And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.†24 But I say unto you, that none of those men that were invited, shall taste of my supper.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)