The Book of 1John challenges us to recall the fundamentals of the faith and to be grounded in the personal assurance of salvation.
Let’s look at Who/What/Where/When/Why and How before we delve into Scripture.
Who wrote 1John? The author of 1John does not identify themselves. Does it matter? Knowing from whom a correspondence is from can be very beneficial in understanding correctly what they say and more importantly what they mean.
Consider This:
- The fact that the author chooses not to identify themselves may indicate they were known to the readers
- The author of 2nd & 3rd John identifies themselves as “the elder”
- Claims an intimate knowledge & eyewitness to Jesus’ earthly ministry (1:1-5)
- Writes with apostolic authority and is advanced in age (last remaining apostle) (2:1, 18, 28)
- There are significant similarities in style, vocabulary, theological emphases, and structure with the 4th gospel
- The early church accepted the author to be John the Apostle, brother of James (Acts 12:2), son of Zebedee (Mt 10:2-4), the disciple “whom Jesus loved (Mt 17:1, 26:37)
What type of communication is 1John? 1John is what is known as a general epistle or more simply, a letter but does not fit into the typical Greco-Roman style lacking any form of greeting or other introduction, no health wish or thanksgiving, and no final greetings. Does it matter? Understanding the literary form can assist in appreciating the purpose and accurately interpreting its content.
Consider This:
- Written in black & white (dualistic) terms, point of fact
- Personal in tone, written from the heart of a pastor shepherding his flock
- Has a warm, conversational, and loving tone, like a father having a tender, intimate conversation with his children
- Both a teaching and polemical letter i.e. dealing with error
- Quoted without question as to its authenticity or authority before the end of the second century
Where was the epistle of 1John sent? The author of 1John does not specifically indicate who the letter is intended for. Does it matter? Knowing who the letter is addressed to can help us become familiar with context.
Consider This:
- Not written to any specific individual or group, possibly encyclical in nature i.e. designed for distribution
- If the Apostle John is the writer, then written from Ephesus likely to the churches of Asia Minor
- Written to Christians who were well known to the author (2:12-14, 21; 5:13)
When was the letter written? IJohn does not indicate when it was written and has no strong historical references to help establish a definitive date. Does it matter? Like knowing the recipients, date of authorship helps us better understand context.
Consider This:
- Addresses the heresy of the Gnostics so likely AD 85-96
Why was this letter written? The epistle seems to have been written for 4 basic reasons:
- To combat heresy that had begun to arise in the churches in Asia Minor and reassure the faithful
- To affirm the centrality & physical reality of Jesus, as an eyewitness (1:1-3)
- To emphasize the need for obedience as a sign of true love of Christ (2:3-4)
- To insist that faith is demonstrated in love (4:20-21)
Consider This:
- The word “know” is repeated approximately 36X in this short letter
How can this letter apply today? Despite the fact that God’s word is always useful (2Tim 3:16), the following are only some of the benefits of studying 1John:
- Present a non-Pauline view of early Christianity i.e. provide diversity
- To solidify our understanding of the basics of Christianity
- Recognize the grandeur and centrality of God
- Our joy would be made complete (1:4)
- We may not sin (2:1)
- We may be aware of deceivers (2:26)
- We could know we have eternal life (5:13)
Consider This:
- When sound faith, obedience, and love operate in concert together, they result in happiness, holiness and assurance, constituting the evidence of a true Christian.