Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 John 3:1

1 BEhold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

So late mention having been made of that great Thing in the Close of the foregoing Chapter, being born of God; the holy Apostle is here in a Transport, in the contemplation of the glorious consequent Privilege, to be called his Sons; and of that admirable Love, from whence the whole hath proceeded, [non-Latin text not transcribed], or how great!

Called there (as often referring to God as the Author) signifies to be made, or to be. Mat. 5.9,—45. Iohn 1.12. Rom. 4.17. He confers not the Name without the Thing; the new, even a divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. in Regeneration; the real Advantages and Dignity of the Relation by Adoption; and all of meer (and the greatest) Kindness and Good-will. Tit. 3.5, 6, 7. Hence he intimates, it ought not to be counted grievous, that the World knoweth us not, i. e. doth not own or acknowledg us for its own, is not kind to us, yea, hates and persecutes us.

Knowing, often (after the Hebrew Phrase) signifying Affection, 1 Cor. 8.3. 2 Tim. 2.19. and accordingly, not knowing, Disaffection, and the consequent Effects. Mat. 7.23. Nor should it be thought strange, because it knew not him. The Father, and the whole Family, are to it an invisum Genus, hated alike.

Marginal references: Joh. 16.3. & 17.25.