These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.
These are the men who make divisions, natural men, not having the Spirit.
These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.
These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Who separate themselves - From the true Church, which they leave from an affectation of superior wisdom.
Sensual - Ψυχικοι· Animal - living as brute beasts, guided simply by their own lusts and passions, their Bible being the manifold devices and covetousness of their own hearts; for they have not the Spirit - they are not spiritually minded; and have no Holy Ghost, no inspiration from God.
These be they who separate themselves - That is, from their brethren and from the work of benevolence and truth. Compare Romans 16:17; Judges 5:16, Judges 5:23.
Sensual - Under the influence of gross passions and appetites.
Having not the spirit - The Holy Spirit, or the spirit of true religion.
1:19 These are they who separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit - Having natural senses and understanding only, not the Spirit of God; otherwise they could not separate. For that it is a sin, and a very heinous one, to separate from the church, is out of all question. But then it should be observed, That by the church is meant a body of living Christians, who are an habitation of God through the Spirit: That by separating is understood, renouncing all religious intercourse with them; no longer joining with them in solemn prayer, or the other public offices of religion: and, That we have no more authority from scripture to call even this schism, than to call it murder.