Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 John 2:7

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old com[illegible: 1 letter]andment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning .

This Commandment must be that which he insists on, v. 9, 10, 11. and which in different respects he calleth both old and new. Not new, he saies, in Opposition to their G[illegible: 1 letter]ostick Seducers, to intimate he was not about to e[illegible: 1 letter]ter[illegible: 1 letter]ain them with vain Novelties, as they did; all whose peculiar Doctrines were no other than Innovations upon true Christianity.

But old, viz. a part of original Christianity, as it came pure first from our Lord Christ himself.

The Commandment, or Word which they had, or had heard from the beginning. This Phrase from the beginning, being here put in Conjunction with some act of theirs, ye had, or have heard, as also 2 Eph. 5.6. shews it to intend a much later Term of Commencement than chap. 1.1. Tho also considering them as Iews, whom he here writes to, it might run up as high as the Law given by Moses; or, even as Men, to the Creation, and the first Impression of the Law of Nature (whereof this was a very noble part) upon the Heart of Man.

Marginal references: Chap. 3.11▪ 2 Joh. 5.