Verse 4.— For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. The Syriac has: "Because whoever is born of God," in the place of "For whatsoever is born of God." The allusion is to persons, so no mistake need be made. Persons born of God overcome the world in the sense that they do not obey the dictates of the world— work iniquity. We are here represented as in a conflict— the children of God against the world. A victory is achieved by the former; they have over­come and discomfited the world, and that victory is attrib­uted to their faith. Faith was the cause of victory. It was faith that enabled the children of God to become victors in that great struggle.