Or, “even as.” Throughout the closing verses of this chapter John is consciously modeling his thoughts on his Lord’s instruction (see on John 13:34-35). It is necessary that we love one another in the very way in which Christ told us to love (Matt. 22:39). When the apostles expanded the instructions of the Saviour they gave further details of how we should love one another: with a pure heart fervently, in a spirit of kindness, in honor preferring one another, tenderheartedly, forgiving one another as we have been forgiven (Rom. 12:10; Eph. 4:32; 1 Peter 1:22).

 With John, as with his Master, God’s requirements are summed up in the law of love (see on v. 11). Love is the active complement to belief on the name of Jesus. With faith must go works (James 2:17).

 For comment on the divine Sonship of Jesus see on Luke 1:35; for the title “Jesus Christ” see on Matt. 1:1; Phil. 2:5. Paul uses the same composite title in Rom. 1:3; 1 Cor. 1:9. Here John is condensing the essence of Christian doctrine into very brief compass (cf. on 1 John 1:3; 5:20), that his readers might grasp the most necessary elements of Christian belief. To believe on the person described in the wonderful name is to acknowledge Jesus’ divinity, His humanity, His victory over sin and death, and to recognize the possibility of our gaining the same victory by the same means that He Himself employed and has made available to us.

 For comment on this phrase see on John 1:7, 12; Acts 3:16; 10:43. This is the first use in this epistle of the verb “to believe,” but the Greek verb occurs 9 times hereafter, and plays a large part in John’s subsequent message. It is used 90 times in his Gospel.

 John now defines, in part, “his commandments” (v. 22), and uses the singular because his definition deals with the one all-embracing law of belief and love (see on Matt. 22:36-40).