lest he deceive you; for many shall come in my name, saying: I am the Christ, and shall deceive many." And Paul cries out: "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers of the faith in the Lord Jesus." A
FRAGMENTS ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF SAINT JOHN
TO THE FIRST EPISTLE OF DIVINE JOHN
C I, 5. "God is light, and in him there is no darkness."
*Cyril:* It is understood either as God existing substantially as light, insofar as He becomes true light to those who walk in Him through their virtues; or he speaks of "darkness" as wickedness, on account of the Jews.
II, 7. "Beloved, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning."
*Cyril:* He is discoursing to you about love; for this is what that "as he walked" signifies—in love. For the Lord Himself had said: "Greater love than this no man hath, that one should lay down his life for his friends." B Therefore, concerning the commandment of love, I do not write to you a new one; for He had long ago promised it through the prophets: "For not an ambassador, nor an angel, but the Lord Himself saved them, because He loved them and cared for them."
II, 13. "I write unto you, fathers; I write unto you, young men; I write unto you, children."
*Cyril:* Understand for me here the ages according to the inward man; for the evangelist was not writing to infants. And the young men are those who have come to spiritual strength; and the elders are those who have attained to prudence; and the children, those who have but recently believed in Christ. C
II, 15. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
*Cyril:* And what are the things in the world but vanity, in which many indulge to no useful end? By which they appear to labor persistently, but they distract their own life with superfluous and vain toil, and serve base desires. Not without reason, therefore, does the disciple of Christ deter us from them, saying: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world," and so forth.
III, 21. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence toward God."
*Cyril:* As long as you are in this life—for this life is not... D