Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
We know (oidamen). As in I John 3:2, I John 3:14; I John 5:15, I John 5:19-20. He has "ye know" in I John 2:20; I John 3:5, I John 3:15.
Sinneth not (oux amartanei). Lineal present active indicative, "does not keep on sinning," as he has already shown in I John 3:4-10.
He that was begotten of God (o gennhqeiv ek tou qeou). First aorist passive articular participle referring to Christ, if the reading of A B is correct (threi auton, not threi eauton). It is Christ who keeps the one begotten of God (gegennhmenov ek tou qeou as in I John 3:9 and so different from o gennhqeiv here). It is a difficult phrase, but this is probably the idea. Jesus (John 18:37) uses gegennhmai of himself and uses also threw of keeping the disciples (John 17:12, John 17:15; Revelation 3:10).
The evil one (o ponhrov). Masculine and personal as in I John 2:13, not neuter, and probably Satan as in Matthew 6:13, not just any evil man.
Touchest him not (oux aptetai autou). Present middle indicative of aptw, elsewhere in John only John 20:17. It means to lay hold of or to grasp rather than a mere superficial touch (qigganw, both in Colossians 2:21). Here the idea is to touch to harm. The devil cannot snatch such a man from Christ (John 6:38 f.).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 John 5:18:
John 17:15
2 Thessalonians 3:3
1 John 5:1
1 John 5:19
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