What Does 1 John 5:2 Mean?

**6. Wherein--**in which prospect of final salvation. **greatly rejoice--**"exult with joy": "are exuberantly glad." Salvation is realized by faith (1Pe 1:9) as a thing so actually present as to cause exulting joy in spite of existing afflictions. **for a season--**Greek, "for a little time." **if need be--**"if it be God's will that it should be so" [Alford], for not all believers are afflicted. One need not invite or lay a cross on himself, but only "take up" the cross which God imposes ("his cross"); 2Ti 3:12 is not to be pressed too far. Not every believer, nor every sinner, is tried with afflictions [Theophylact]. Some falsely think that notwithstanding our forgiveness in Christ, a kind of atonement, or expiation by suffering, is needed. **ye are in heaviness--**Greek, "ye were grieved." The "grieved" is regarded as past, the "exulting joy" present. Because the realized joy of the coming salvation makes the present grief seem as a thing of the past. At the first shock of affliction ye were grieved, but now by anticipation ye rejoice, regarding the present grief as past. **through--**Greek, "IN": the element in which the grief has place. **manifold--**many and of various kinds (1Pe 4:12, 13). **temptations--**"trials" testing your faith.