Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 2:3

"And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." — 1 John 2:3 (ASV)

There appears to be a break in subject matter with what precedes as the author now turns to the topic of knowing God. For him to know God is, however, a natural corollary to the idea of walking in the light and of having fellowship with God. It is simply another way of speaking of the reality of God. In this instance the language probably is a response to the opponents for whom knowledge (gnosis; GK 1194) was a key term. To these “Gnostic” opponents, knowledge of God came through “mystical insights” or by a “direct vision of God.” At the same time, they were uninterested in moral conduct and unconcerned about human behavior. For the Hebrew or Christian mind, however, knowledge of God cannot be separated from the experience of righteousness. Consequently there is no greater claim one can make in knowing God than to obey him. “We can be sure we know him,” the author says, “if we obey his commands.” For John, therefore, the test of knowledge of God is moral conduct (cf. also Tit 1:16). There is no knowledge of God that does not also keep his commandments.