“Introduction to 1 John,” New Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students (2016)
In this epistle the Apostle John addressed the dangerous spread of apostate influences in the Church. He warned the Saints to have no fellowship with darkness and to stay in the safety of gospel light. Studying 1John can help you become more discerning of false teachings about Jesus Christ, and following John’s counsel can help you maintain close fellowship with the Lord as you abide in the truth. In addition, studying this book can help you come to understand the great love Heavenly Father has for each of His children, which He manifested by offering His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for all mankind.
“In none of these three epistles does the writer mention himself by name; but tradition assigns them to John,” one of the original Twelve Apostles (Bible Dictionary, “John, Epistles of”). The author of the Epistles of John was an eyewitness of the resurrected Savior, which was certainly true of John the Apostle (see 1John 1:1–4; 4:14).
When and Where Was It Written?
It is unknown exactly when and where 1John was written. It was likely written sometime in the latter part of the first century A.D.
Although John spent much of the early part of his life in Palestine, the area was hostile to Christians and Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in A.D.70. Tradition states that John left Palestine to live in Ephesus during his later years. If this was the case, John could have written the letter from Ephesus between A.D.70 and100.
To Whom Was It Written and Why?
The audience for 1John is not explicitly stated, but it appears from his writings that John wrote to believers (see 1John 1:3–4; 2:12–14), perhaps those in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), where some historical sources say John may have lived and ministered in the late first century A.D.
At this time false teachers had created a schism, or division, among the Saints in the region (see 1John 2:18–19, 22,26; 4:1), and apostasy was spreading in the Church. A particular philosophy that was gaining popularity was Docetism. Docetism was part of a larger movement known as Gnosticism. A core teaching in many forms of Gnosticism was that the spirit was completely good and that matter, including the physical body, was completely evil.
Followers of Gnosticism believed that salvation was not achieved by being freed from sin but rather by freeing the spirit from matter, meaning the physical body. They also believed that salvation was achieved through special knowledge (gnosis) rather than through faith in Jesus Christ.
Docetism comes from the Greek word dokeō, meaning “to seem” or “to appear.” Followers of Docetism overemphasized Jesus’s spiritual nature to the point that they rejected the idea that He came to earth in actual bodily form. They believed that God was invisible, immortal, all-knowing, and immaterial, and they considered the physical world and the physical body to be corrupt and evil. Therefore, they believed that since Jesus was the divine Son of God, He could not have experienced the limitations of being human. In their view, Jesus Christ was not literally born in the flesh and He did not inhabit a tangible body, bleed, suffer, die, or rise with a physical resurrected body—He only seemed to do these things.
Although the Apostle John refuted these false teachings in 1John, they persisted and crept into the Church membership. These and other false doctrines are part of what led to the Great Apostasy.
What Are Some Distinctive Features of This Book?
As one of Jesus Christ’s original Apostles, John was a special witness of the resurrected Savior. John began this letter by declaring that he had personally seen, heard, and touched Jesus Christ. Expanding on this personal witness, he invited his readers to “have fellowship … with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1John 1:3). Love is a central theme of John’s First Epistle. John emphasized that those who say they love God but do not in turn love those around them are liars (see 1John 4:20–21).
1John 1–3. John teaches that through obedience we can come to know God, have fellowship with Him, and become like Him. In the last days, antichrists will arise. The Savior’s love for us is manifest through His atoning sacrifice.
1John 4–5. John encourages the Saints to determine whether a teacher is of God. God is love, and because of His great love for us, He sent His Son to suffer in our behalf. Those who love God will keep His commandments. Those who believe in Jesus Christ and are born of God will overcome the world.
FAQs
Outline for 1 John
- God Is Light and Christ Is the Way (1:1–2:6)
- The Unchanging Commandment in a Changing World (2:7–17)
- Overcoming the Antichrist by Confessing the Son (2:18–3:10)
- Overcoming Evil by Listening to the Apostle (3:11–4:6)
- The Assurance of God through the Love of God (4:7–21)
Overview: The focus of 1 John is “fellowship,” which stands against false teachings and stands firm in the faith. This fellowship is both with one another (John and his audience) and with God through both the Father and through Christ (1 John 1:1–3).
What are the main points of John chapter 1? ›
The first chapter of John begins with a clear, expressive description of Jesus as God. It then segues to the ministry of John the Baptist, and the local religious leaders who questioned him. By the end of the chapter, Jesus has collected the first five disciples: John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.
What is the primary purpose of 1 John? ›
1 John was written to encourage faithful struggling believers that they were holding on to the truth and to help them persevere while others had been taken in by false teaching.
What are the two main messages John is giving to his readers in 1 John? ›
Later, John added “so that you may not sin” (2:1) and “so that you may know that you have eternal life” (5:13). John wanted his readers to experience true fellowship with God and with God's people.
What are the three tests of 1 John? ›
The most common view, following Robert Law (1909), is that 1 John presents three “tests of life”: Confession that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22-23; 4:2-3; 5:5, etc) Obedience to Christ's commands (1 John 2:3-6; 3:4-10, etc) Love for other believers (1 John 2:9-11; 3:10-20; 4:7-11, etc)
What is the key verse in 1 John? ›
1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 3:6: “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
What are two major purposes for John's writing of 1 John? ›
It seems as though John's main goal in writing this epistle was twofold: to assure true believers that they have eternal life (e.g. 5:13), and to search out those who have a false assurance that they may realize they are not true believers in Christ (e.g. 3:10). In that sense, it's a very searching letter.
What is the moral lesson in John Chapter 1? ›
Those who know Christ "walk in the light." Those who do not, "walk in darkness." God "is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). The believer's goal is to "walk" in the light, as God is in the light, in order to have fellowship with Him (1 John 1:6).
What is a prayer for John chapter 1? ›
Almighty God, grant us the grace this day to walk in the light of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we all have forgiveness and life. Forgive us and cleanse us from sin and the works of darkness and grant that we may live wholly in your light. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Love is a central theme of John's First Epistle. John emphasized that those who say they love God but do not in turn love those around them are liars (see 1 John 4:20–21).
How is 1 John relevant today? ›
1 John's simple, confident response is as relevant today as it was when the letter was first written: You know who you are, you know whose you are, and you know what you have been told from the beginning. God's own Spirit shows us what is true. There's no need to panic or argue. Focus on living your faith instead.
What are some interesting facts about 1 John? ›
Was the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23 • Was one of the first two disciples called by Jesus. Was one of the “pillars” of the church at Jerusalem. Galatians 2:9 • Near the end of his life, John lived in Ephesus. Near the end of the 1st century, John was exiled to the island of Patmos.
How to interpret John 1? ›
John 1:1–18 is a poetic introduction of Jesus Christ. Jesus is referred to using the Greek word logos, meaning "the Word." This passage clearly describes Jesus as God, and co-creator with God the Father. These verses summarize Jesus' ministry and mission on Earth.
What is the introduction of John 1 1? ›
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This one verse establishes the Word as being both divine and eternal in nature. Everything you read after this must be filtered through this reality that the Word was God.
Is it first John or 1 John? ›
the First Epistle of John (known as “I John”, not “John 1”, as the latter refers to the first chapter of the Gospel of John) the Second Epistle of John (known as “II John”, not “John 2”) the Third Epistle of John (known as “III John”, not “John 3″)
How do you introduce a scripture reading? ›
It often helps the congregation to tell them where the reading has come from before you begin. So for example, if a Bible reference is 1 Corinthians 13, you may introduce it by saying: “The chosen Bible reading is taken from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13”.
