The Book of 1^st John

Author and Title

Manuscript evidence is unanimous that someone named "John" wrote this little treatise, which is consistently labeled the "first" of his extant letters in titles found in ancient copies. But who is this "John"? For a number of reasons, John the son of Zebedee, author of the Fourth Gospel, is the most likely candidate.

First, the style and vocabulary of John's Gospel and 1 John are so similar that a common author is extremely likely. This is particularly evident in the opening verses of the respective writings, but the language of the Gospel echoes across the whole epistle.

For example, only verbal forms of "believe" occur (about a hundred times) in John's Gospel; the noun "faith" never appears. First John follows suit, with nine occurrences of a verbal form of "believe" and just one use of the word "faith" (5:4).

Second, major themes and emphases of the writings overlap. These include Christ's simultaneous full humanity and divinity, the close relationship between believing (faith, doctrine) and obeying God's commandments (ethics), and the primacy of love as marking authentic knowledge of the true God through trust in his Son.

While John is not mentioned by name in the Fourth Gospel, he is likely to have been "the beloved disciple" who reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13:23; arguments that he was Lazarus, an "elder" John, or a fictional creation are unconvincing). He stood at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified; Jesus entrusted his mother Mary to John's care (John 19:26-27).

Along with Peter he witnessed the empty tomb on the first Easter morning (John 20:2-10). He also saw, spoke with, and ate breakfast at a lakeside fire kindled by the resurrected Jesus (John 21:7, 20). He was therefore highly qualified to write of what he and others had heard, seen, gazed upon, and touched (1 John 1:1).

As Jesus' "beloved disciple," he was also well suited to plumb the depths of the meaning of Jesus' coming (1:2; 4:9), life (2:6; 4:14), death (1:7), resurrection (5:11; "eternal life … in his Son" implies his death was not final), intercessory ministry at the Father's right hand (2:1), and eventual return (2:28)-all matters playing a role in the witness, instruction, and admonition of this rich and highly concentrated letter.

Date

Early post-apostolic figures like Polycarp and Papias (c. A.D.100) presuppose or cite 1 John in their writings. This suggests a date of composition no later than the 90s A.D.

This dovetails with the testimony of church fathers that, shortly before A.D. 67, John joined other Christians in departing from Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the city by Rome.

John reportedly resumed his apostolic ministry in the vicinity of the great but highly idolatrous city of Ephesus (in modern western Turkey). He likely wrote 1 John as an elder statesman of the faith in the last third of the first century, perhaps to churches in the surrounding region.

This might have included towns like those mentioned alongside Ephesus in the opening chapters of Revelation: Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Rev. 2:8-3:22).

Outline

I. God Is Light and Christ Is the Way (1:1-2:6)

A. Prologue (1:1-4)

B. God's nature and human sin (1:5-10)

C. Jesus Christ in everyday life (2:1-6)

II. The Abiding Commandment in a Transient World (2:7-17)

A. The primacy of love (2:7-11)

B. The confidence of God's people (2:12-14)

C. The lure of this fleeting age (2:15-17)

III. Overcoming Antichrist by Confession of the Son (2:18-3:10)

A. Warning and assurance (2:18-27)

B. Christians as children of God (2:28-3:3)

C. Children of God and the forsaking of sin (3:4-10)

IV. Overcoming Evil by Listening to the Apostle (3:11-4:6)

A. Overcoming Cain's malice (3:11-24)

B. Overcoming the Antichrist's deception (4:1-6)

V. The Assurance of God through the Love of God (4:7-21)

A. The perfecting of God's love (4:7-12)

B. The assurance of God's Spirit (4:13-21)

VI. Faith in the Son as the Way to Life (5:1-12)

A. Faith keeps the commandments of God (5:1-5)

B. Faith receives the testimony of God (5:6-12)

VII. Final Call to Faith and Understanding (5:13-21)

A. The confidence that faith furnishes (5:13)

B. The prayer that faith enables (5:14-17)

C. The understanding that faith grants (5:18-21)

1^st John Chapter 1

1. The Word of Life

a. "¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life- ² the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-

i. I want you to first notice the emphasis that John puts on His personal interaction with Christ; heard, seen, touched. This is an emphatic point that is pertinent to John obviously because it is the first thing that he mentions.

ii. What is also very interesting about this opening portion of text is the similarities that John also notes in his Gospel text found in the Gospel of Saint John chapter 1:1-5, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

iii. Both the Gospel and the Letter place a focus on Christ having existed from the beginning. Why is this so important? Because the Apostle John is combatting Gnosticism which is a form of mysticism.

iv. Jesus was a creation of God; Jesus is the manifestation of God in the Flesh hence the reason why Jesus said that He and the Father were ONE. (The Gospel of Saint John 10:30)

b. "³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."

i. In verse 3, we have a continuation of this emphasis of first person engagement and connection; John is seeking to ensure that his audience understands that this is not second hand information but a first-hand encounter with Christ.

ii. And furthermore, John desires that others hear what they've heard and others receive the Gospel! As well as the definitive nature of the God that John taught about is noted as "The Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ".

iii. The Early Church Fathers nor the Apostles taught a unitarian view of God but a multi-nature or manifold nature of God found in the Father and His Son as such is noted in verse 3.

iv. In verse 4 john records, "⁴ And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." This verse denotes a sort of selflessness tethered to the Gospel Message because they found joy in others finding Christ; they did not keep their message to themselves nor did they operate with a mentality of "our four and no more". They were not a Cult claiming Christ, but the Church demonstrating Christ!

v. Church family, it is called the Good News for a reason and it should be our joy to fulfill the great commission and see the Gospel impact those around us!

2. Walking in the Light

a. "⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

i. John shares with us that the message they are preaching is not from themselves but from the Lord and thus they proclaim it to the Church! May I also suggest that John's reference to God is Light perhaps could put the truth of what they are preaching and is not birthed out of deception.

ii. John goes on to record that if we say that we have fellowship with the Lord and yet live in sin, we are a liar and do not practice truth. Again, as followers of Jesus, our life must be found in line with the Scripture or we are in error. If we claim to be of the Light of Christ then let us walk in His Disciplines as Disciples of Christ!

iii. Verse 7 records, "⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

iv. I reference this verse because of the dichotomy found between verses 6 and 7. Verse 6 makes it clear that sin will keep us in darkness but then verse 7 exposes us to the fact that righteous living will not only connect us with Christ but also with one another. "We have fellowship with one another"

v. Friends, Christ not only reunites us with the Father but also reconnects us with one another of like precious faith!

b. "⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

i. In closing of chapter 1, John is driving us to one truth. We need Christ. None of us are perfect. If we say we are perfect then we have deceived ourselves. We all need to repent and confess.

ii. And if the Word of God is in us then we will be humble because we know us better than anyone else knows us.

iii. Verse 9 is such an encouragement to me, "⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

iv. Friends, we have an advocate with the Father and His Name is Jesus!

1^st John Chapter 2

1. Christ Our Advocate

a. "¹ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. ³ And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."

i. John is counseling his hearers to take caution in what he is sharing with this to protect them but if anyone does fall into sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus the Righteous!

ii. John then goes on to make note that Christ is our propitiation for our sins. The word "propitiation" means, "The act of propitiating or appeasing a god, spirit or person"

iii. Thus Christ's actions upon the Cross has positioned Jesus as our advocate and His death upon the Cross is our propitiation. Jesus is not only our advocate but He's also our sacrifice.

iv. Furthermore, he goes on to record that our life of faith and commitment to Christ is judged by our commitment to HIs Word and Teachings! John notes in verse 4-5, "⁴ Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:"

v. And it is these few verses that create scales upon which we can judge ourselves. If we are in Him then we will keep His Word.

2. The New Commandment

a. "⁷ Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. ⁸ At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. ⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

i. In verse 7, our writer is making it clear that what he is sharing with us is not a new teaching but actually something that has historic connection. It reminds me of the Apostle Paul in Galatians chapter 5 when he makes reference to "I've told you before and I tell you again".

ii. John then seems to shift gears a bit and speaks to the culture of the church family in regards to community health and a healthy relational dynamic in the church.

iii. "⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness…"

iv. Friends, we have to guard our Faith in Christ as much as we are willing to guard out hearts against unforgiveness or bitterness or hatred towards others. If we love our brother, we are in the light but if we are in hate then we are in darkness.

b. "¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. ¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. ¹⁴ I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."

i. Pay close attention the notations of progression; children, young men, fathers. (Teach)

3. Do Not Love the World

a. "¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

i. The challenge of verse 15 is idolatry versus pure relationship with God! John points us to three potential points of weakness in our lives that we must guard over: the desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.

ii. Fleshly sin, covetous eyes of things that draw us away from God and the pride that comes with success in life without giving Christ the glory for our successes. Like Lucifer, if we are not careful we will fall into the trap of thinking that we are the source of the light and not the reflection of it.

iii. Verse 17 warns us that this world will pass away along with all that is in it but God has called us to eternal things and not temporal things!

4. Warning Concerning Antichrists

a. "¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. ²⁰ But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge."

i. The grammatical structure of verse 18 is very important to pay attention to for two reasons: firstly, it doesn't record "the antichrist" but rather "that antichrist". This is an agenda and not a person; we are introduced to "The Antichrist" as a concept or person in the Book of Revelation.

ii. Verse 19 makes reference to people who went out from the church or its leadership but were not of them; thus there was a falling away even in the first century church.

iii. We must understand that even though Paul warned Timothy of a great falling away, there has always been a time when the Lord cleans house and removes those who are not of Him. I know this sounds harsh but its biblical.

b. "²¹ I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father."

i. The interesting focus of John in the midst of his letter is how he shifts from those who left them or, as he noted, went out from them but then shifts slightly to address truth versus deception or lies. Perhaps what John is implying is that those who went out from them had denied the fundamental teachings of the Faith and went after another gospel or another way.

ii. John makes reference to his audience knowing the truth and then makes notation to anyone who denies the father and the son is of the antichrist spirit.

iii. Antichrist - Strong's Greek 500 = Anti and Christos noted as to mean "an opponent of Messiah" Christos and Messiah reference to the Anointing thus an antichrist spirit is anti the anointing of the Christ and of His Church.

c. "²⁵ And this is the promise that he made to us-eternal life. ²⁶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. ²⁷ But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie-just as it has taught you, abide in him."

i. Now we see why John is noting those who have left as well as drawing a hard line between truth and lies; there are those who are trying to deceive the Church.

ii. Verse 26 tells us that John is writing these things to the church to address those who are trying to deceive them. And the one thing that is protecting them is the anointing.

iii. Friends, nothing replaces the Anointing of the Holy Ghost! Not only will the Holy Ghost lead us into truth, He will also check us in our spirit man when things are not kosher.

5. Children of God

a. "²⁸ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. ²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him."

i. Verses 27 and 28 instruct us to abide in him and the point of abiding is to be present with! John is instructing us to be present in Christ and not absent; our state of abiding will determine whether we have confidence at Christ's coming or we shrink back from Him in shame!

ii. Again, if we practice righteousness and strive in keeping His commandments then we can be sure that we are born of God! Not perfect in all manners of life and conduct, but as disciples, developing in our faith and trust Christ to help us in our weakness! Thus I close with the words of John, abide in Him! Jesus is our Safe Place.