As I continue my journey through 1 John, I looked at this verse:
1 John 2:10 (NIV, 1984 version)
10 Anyone who loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
When I think of verse mapping, I think of a concept map. While the verse mapping journal I have somewhat does this for the verse and key words, I’d like to take that concept map one step further and add in the cross-references that I find. I try to find at least one cross-reference for each key word, although I don’t always get all of them. For this verse map, I decided to create my own expanded concept map. Here’s what it looks like:
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 2:10. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
1 John 2:10 (NIV 1984)
10 Anyone who loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.
Translations (key differences bolded)
NIV 2011: 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
NKJV: 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
NLT: 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.
ESV: 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
NET: 10 The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
ASV: 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: Continuing to discuss how we can live like Jesus
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word.
Loves
Greek:
Definition: to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
Brother
Greek:
Definition: brother, born of the same parents; having the same national ancestor; a fellow believer
Lives (Abides)
Greek:
Definition: to remain, abide, not to depart, to continue to be
Light
Greek:
Definition: anything emitting light - lamp, star, fire, torch; God is light because he is pure and brilliant; of truth and its knowledge; along with its spiritual purity
Nothing (No)
Greek:
Definition: absolute negative
Stumble (Cause for Stumbling)
Greek:
Definition: trap or snare, any impediment placed in the way that causes stumbling, anything that draws you into sin
Cross References
John 13:34-35: 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
People will know we are disciples if we love one another.
John 8:12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus is the light. If we follow him, we will not walk in darkness.
Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
God’s word is light for us.
John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Remain in Christ = fruit; without him, we can do nothing.
2 Peter 1:10: Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
If we make our calling and election sure, we will not fall. (*See additional thoughts at the end of the post.)
Hosea 14:9: Who is wise? Let them realize these things.
Who is discerning? Let them understand.
The ways of the Lord are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.
If we walk in the ways of the Lord, we will not stumble if we are righteous.
John 11:9-10: 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
If we walk in the light, we will not stumble.
View of God
God is the light source that illuminates what is good and right. His word, the Bible, is part of that light. Jesus is also light. His light gives truth and purity. His light guides us on the right path.
View of Man/Self
As humans, we are prone to stumbling. How can we avoid this? By walking in the light - God’s light. If we remain in God’s light, we will become more like him. We will have his love for those around us.
Reflection and Application
As a Christian, one goal I have is to not stumble - to not fall into sin. How can I accomplish this? By living in the light - by reading and knowing and applying the Bible to my life. By remaining in Christ and following him. What is evidence I can see in my life that I am living in the light? You can see it by how I treat others. Do I treat them with love? If so, then I am walking in the light.
Prayer
Lord, there are so many things out there that are ready to make me stumble. I pray that you would illuminate my path with your light so that I can see those stumbling blocks coming and avoid them. Give me the strength to not sit and dwell on any thought or action that comes from the darkness. Instead, help me to dwell on love - your love for me, my love for you, and my love for my fellow believers.
Cross-reference: 2 Peter 1:10, expanded to vs. 3-11:
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Verse 10 says “if you do these things.” What are “these things”?
The passage is talking about what we need to live a godly life - these things are given to us by God’s divine power. What are we given?
Knowledge of God
God’s promises
Participation in God’s divine nature
Escape from corruption and evil desires
Faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, love
Remembering we have been cleansed from past sins
Effective and productive in our knowledge of Christ
If we do these things, we will not stumble. The result? We will be welcomed into the eternal kingdom.