Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 John 3:8

8 He that committeth sin, is of the devil ; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

The Apostle's Notion of committing Sin, may be interpreted by his own Phrase, 3d▪ Epist. v. 11. [non-Latin text not transcribed], a Doer of Evil; and by that, used in both Testaments, a Worker of Iniquity: Which is not every one that doth any one single Act of Sin; as his [non-Latin text not transcribed], v. 7. a Doer of Righteousness, and [non-Latin text not transcribed], 3 Epist. A Doer of Good, is not every one that doth any one righteous or good Action; any more than we call him a Worker or Maker of any thing, (as signifying a manual Occupation) who only makes a single Attempt, but him who hath acquir'd the habitual Skill, and doth ordinarily employ himself accordingly. A Worker or Maker of Sin, (as we may fitly render this [non-Latin text not transcribed]) is an habitual or customary Sinner; one that sinneth with deliberation, not by surprize, from a prevailing Habit, that either continueth him in a Course of actual known Sin, or that with-holds him from repenting sincerely, and turning to God from the Sin which the hath committed; by which Repentance he should not only refrain from further gross Acts of Sin, (which an impenitent Person upon other Inducements may do) but mortify and prevail against all sinful Habits and Inclinations. In the same sence he useth the Expression of Sinning, v. 6. & v. 9.

And such a Sinner, he says, is of the Devil; as if he were born of him, were his Child, really conform'd to him, and having his sinning Nature. As our Saviour tells the Jews, having applied to them the same Phrase before of committing Si[illegible: 1 letter], Iohn 8.34. that they were of their Father the Devil, v. 44. As also this Apostle, 3 Iohn 11. says, The Doer of Good is of God, i. e. born of God, or his Child, as we find he uses the Expressions of being born of God, and be[illegible: 2 letters]g of God, promiscuously, and with indifference, v. 9, 10. & chap. 5.18, 19. the latter being elliptical in reference to the former. Whereas Sin was therefore originally the Devil's Work, he adds (as a further Engagement against it) that the Son of God was manifested, (as v. 5.) appeared in the Flesh, shewed himself in this World of ours, on purpose to destroy, or (as the Word signifies) that he might dissolve the Frame of all such Works.

Marginal references: Mat. 13.38. John 8.44.