{Beloved} (agap(8874)oi). First instance of this favourite form
of address in these Epistles ( 3:2,21  4:1,7  3Jo 1,2,5,11 ). {No
new commandment} (ouk entol(886e) kain(886e)). Not novel or new in kind
(kain(886e) as distinct from 
eos, new in time, for which
distinction see  Lu 5:33-38 ). {But an old commandment} (all'
entol(886e) palaian). Ancient as opposed both to kainos and

eos. The Mosaic law taught love for one's neighbours and
Christ taught love even of enemies. {Which ye had} (h(886e)
eichete). Imperfect active, reaching back to the beginning of
their Christian lives (ap' arch(8873)). They had heard it expressly
from Jesus ( Joh 13:34 ), who, however, calls it "a new
commandment."