"_The doctrine which is Christ's._"] What is that? John vii. 16, 17. The doctrine which Christ emphatically called "_My doctrine_," "_the doctrine_." No doubt the word (διδαχη) sometimes means the _act_, sometimes the _mode, of teaching_ (Mark xii. 38; 1 Cor. xiv. 6); but "it underwent a transformation which converted it into a term synonymous with dogmatic teaching," with the body of faithful doctrine which was the ultimate type and norm to which all statements must be conformed. (Acts vi. 42; Tit. i. 9; Rom. vi. 17, xvi. 17; see also Matt. xvi. 12; Acts v. 28, xvii. 19; Heb. xiii. 9.) It is much to be regretted that in the R.V. the word "doctrine" has disappeared from all these passages, Romans xvi. 17 alone excepted. St. John's language in this verse seems quite decisive. FOOTNOTES: [348] John i. 18. [349] There is no doubt a large amount of authority for this view that St. John addresses a Church personified. It has the support of sacred critics so different as Bishop Wordsworth and Bishop Lightfoot. (_Ep. to Colossians and Philemon_, 305), and Professor Westcott seems (with some hesitation) to lean to it. But there is also a great body of support, ancient and modern, for the literal view. (Clem. Alex., _Adunbr. ad ii. Joan., Op._, iii. 1011.) So Athanasius, or the author of "Synopsis S.S." in Athanasius, _Opp._, iv. 410. See also the heading of the A. V. ("He exhorteth a certain honourable matron, with her children.") For reasons for accepting Kyria rather than Electa as the name, see _Speaker's Commentary_, iv. 335. [350] Ver. 12. [351] ευρηκα, ver. 4. [352] "James, Cephas, and JOHN, who seemed to be _pillars_." Gal. ii. 9. [353] Luke ii. 36. [354] 1 Tim. v. 3, 5, 10. [355] 1 Tim, v. 6-11, 12, 13. [356] 2 John 2. [357] Ver. 1. [358] δια την αληθειαν την μενουσαν εν ἡμιν, και μεθ' ἡμων εσται εις τον αιωνα. 2 John ver. 2. [359] Irenæus, _Hær._, iii. 4. [360] Ver. 7. [361] Ver. 9. [362] Ver. 5. [363] "_Commandments_ and _commandment_--Love strives to realise in detail every separate expression of the will of God." (Prof. Westcott, _Epistles of St. John_, 217). [364] Ver. 6. [365] It is, probably, the existence of these verses (vv. 10, 11) which acts as a stimulus to many liberal Christian commentators in favour of the ultra-mystical view, that the lady addressed in this Epistle is a Church personified. It should be carefully noted that St. John speaks of a _formal_ summons, so to speak, from an emissary of antichrist as such. (ει τις ερχεται προς ὑμας, ver. 10). St. John, also, must have detected a danger in the very gentleness of Kyria's character, or in the disposition of some of her children. So much, indeed, might seem implied in the sudden, solemn, and rather startling warning, which entreated constant continuous care (βλεπετε ἑαυτους), so that they should not in some momentary impulse, under the charm of some deceiver, lose what they had wrought, and with it reward in fulness (ἱνα μη απολεσητε, ver. 10).