As to eternal life: in the full sense of it it is Christ Himself, and that revealed as Man in glory. (1 John 5:20.) But its essence is divine life in the Person of Christ. (1 John 5:2, 12.) in Him was life, and that life He has in manhood. (John 5:24.) But this has a double character; the Son quickens as Son (ver. 21) and then we are, when dead in sins, quickened together with Christ: in one as Son of God, a divine Person; in the other, a dead man whom God raises. Now life and incorruptibility were brought to light by the gospel. For eternal life was manifested in the Person of the Son, and when He was risen and glorified, shown out in its new full character in Man. If we be risen with Christ, " when Christ who is our life shall appear, we shall appear with him in glory." Now till He came this never was displayed, nor according to God's full purpose in man, till He was glorified: but I have no doubt the Old Testament saints were quickened and they will be perfected. Still it was as much in Christ humbled as in Christ glorified. 1 John 1 was before the world, and that is its essence, only now brought to light in connection with the incorruptibility of the body in resurrection (or changed) a spiritual body. 171