Last week I posted some notes on the “if . . . then” clauses in 1 John. John uses a similar formula with a construction translated in English as “whoever”: whoever does or does not do X, then Y is true or commanded of him. Here is a breakdown along these lines (using the ESV).
Whoever: Righteousness
| 2:5 | Whoever | keeps [Christ’s] word | in him truly the love of God is perfected |
| 2:6 | Whoever | says he abides in [Christ] | ought to walk in the same way in which he walked |
| 2:10 | Whoever | loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. | abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling |
| 2:17 | Whoever | does the will of God | abides forever |
| 2:23 | Whoever | confesses the Son | has the Father also |
| 3:7 | Whoever | practices righteousness | is righteous, as he is righteous |
| 3:24 | Whoever | keep[God’s] commandments | abides in God, and God in him |
| 4:6 | Whoever | knows God | listens to us |
| 4:7 | Whoever | loves | has been born of God and knows God |
| 4:15 | Whoever | confesses that Jesus is the Son of God | God abides in him, and he in God. |
| 4:16 | Whoever | abides in love | abides in God, and God abides in him |
| 4:18 | Whoever | fears | has not been perfected in love |
| 4:21 | Whoever | loves God | must also love his brother |
| 5:12 | Whoever | has the Son | has life |
Whoever: Unrighteousness
| 2:4 | Whoever | says “I know [Christ]” but does not keep his commandments | is a liar, and the truth is not in him |
| 2:11 | Whoever | hates his brother | is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going |
| 3:8 | Whoever | makes a practice of sinning | is of the devil |
| 3:10 | Whoever | does not practice righteousness | is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother |
| 3:14 | Whoever | does not love | abides in death |
| 4:6 | Whoever | is not from God | does not listen to us |
| 5:10 | Whoever | does not believe God | has made [God] a liar |
| 5:12 | Whoever | does not has the Son | does not has life |
