Occasion and Purpose of The First Epistle of John
Dec 26, 2022 8:58:05 GMT -8
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Post by Theophilus on Dec 26, 2022 8:58:05 GMT -8
Author: The Apostle John
Date: About A.D. 90
Theme: Jesus Is the Son of God. Those Who Follow Him Must Live Righteously.
Key Words: Love, Know, Life, Light, Fellowship
Author and Recipients. Although this epistle is anonymous, its style and vocabulary clearly indicate that it was written by the author of the Gospel of John. Internal evidence also points to John as the author, and ancient testimony unanimously ascribes the epistle to him.
Lack of a special dedication and salutation indicates that the letter was circular, probably sent to the churches near Ephesus, where John spent his latter years.
Date. The weight of early and strong Christian tradition that John spent his latter years at Ephesus, together with the fact that the tone of the writings suggests that they are the product of a mature man who has enjoyed profound spiritual experience, points to a date near the end of the first century. In addition, the character of the heresy combated in the letter points to the same time, approximately A.D. 90.
Occasion and Purpose. John states that he wrote to give assurance of eternal life to those “who believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). The uncertainty of his readers about their spiritual status was caused by an unsettling conflict with the teachers of a false doctrine. John refers to the teachings as deceitful (1 John 2:26; 3:7) and to the teachers as “false prophets” (1 John 4:1), liars (1 John 2:22), and antichrists (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3). They had once been within the church, but had withdrawn (1 John 2:19) and had “gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1) to propagate their dangerous heresy.
The heresy was a forerunner of second-century Gnosticism, which taught that matter is essentially evil and spirit is essentially good. This dualistic viewpoint caused the false teachers to deny the Incarnation of Christ and, hence, the Resurrection. The true God, they taught, could never indwell a material body of flesh and blood. Therefore, the human body that Jesus supposedly possessed was not real, but merely apparent. John wrote vigorously against this error (see 1 John 2:22, 23; 4:3).
They also taught that since the evil human body was merely an envelope for the spirit within, and since nothing the body could do could affect the inner spirit, ethical distinctions ceased to be relevant. Hence, they had no sin. John answered this error with indignation (see 1 John 2:4, 6, 15–17; 3:3, 7, 9, 10; 5:18).
“Gnosticism” is a word derived from the Greek gnosis, meaning “knowledge.” Gnostics later taught salvation by mental enlightenment, which came only to elite spiritual initiates, not to the ordinary rank and file of Christians. Hence, they substituted intellectual pursuits for faith and exalted speculation above the basic tenets of the gospel. John again reacted strenuously (see 1 John 2:20, 27), declaring that there is no private revelation reserved for a few intellectuals, and that the whole body of believers possesses the apostolic teaching.
John’s purpose in writing, then, was to expose the heresy of the false teachers and to confirm the faith of the true believers.
Characteristics. There are strong similarities between the Gospel of John and 1 John. The tone of the epistle is friendly and fatherly, reflecting the authority that age and apostleship bring. The style is informal and personal, revealing the apostle’s intimate relationship with God and God’s people.
Content. First John stresses the themes of love, light, knowledge, and life in its warnings against heresy. These major elements are repeated throughout the letter, with love being the dominant note. Possessing love is clear evidence that one is a Christian, and lack of love indicates that one is in darkness (1 John 2:9–11; 3:10–23; 4:7–21).
John affirms that God is light, and fellowship with Him causes one to walk in the light in true fellowship with other believers. Fellowship with God and the brethren enables one to recognize, through the anointing of God, false doctrine and the spirit of the antichrist.
Fellowship with God necessitates walking in the light and obeying the commandments of God (1 John 1:6, 7; 2:3–5). The one “who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7), while “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John :10). The love of the Father and the love of the world are totally incompatible (1 John 2:15–17), and no one born of God is in the habit of practicing sin (1 John 3:9; 5:18). Christ is the antithesis of sin, and He has appeared that He might take away all of our sins (1 John 3:5).
Chapter 4 continues the theme of understanding the rival spirits—the false prophets who have gone out into the world (v. 1). In order to test the spirits we must find whom they acknowledge as savior and lord. Every spirit that does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh is not from God (v. 3).
The epistle ends with the testimony of Jesus the Son of God. Jesus is the One who came. The technical title of the Messiah is “He who comes” or “He who is to come” (Matt. 11:3; 1 John 5:6). John identifies Him as the One who came by water and by blood, the God who came and dwelt among us, the Word that was made flesh.
Personal Application. Prominent in 1 John is the positive note of Christian certainty. Thirty-nine times the verb “know” occurs. Christian truth is beyond the realm of speculation, because it is irrevocably moored to the historical event of Jesus Christ and the apostolic witness to that event. In addition, Christians possess the anointing and witness of the Holy Spirit to assure them of the truth about God, Christ, and their own spiritual standing.
Three tests prove the genuineness of Christianity: the test of belief (1 John 4:2), the test of obedience (1 John 2:3), and the test of love (1 John 4:20). The same affirmations are stated negatively. The one who professes to be a Christian, but who cannot pass the test of belief (1 John 2:22), the test of obedience (1 John 1:6), and the test of love (4:20), is a liar. John brings all three tests together in 1 John 5:1–5, where he indicates that a profession of Christianity is false unless it is characterized by correct belief, godly obedience, and brotherly love. The same tests are valid today.
Christ Revealed. John emphasizes both the deity and the humanity of Jesus, declaring that in Him God fully entered into human life. A test of Christianity is correct belief about the Incarnation (1 John 4:2, 15; 5:1).
Jesus is our Advocate with the Father (2:1). Sin is incongruous in the life of a Christian; but if he does sin, Jesus pleads his case.
Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2; 4:10). See note on Romans 3:25.
Jesus is also Savior, sent by God to rescue us from sin (1 John 1:7; 3:5; 4:14). Only through Him can we have eternal life (1 John 5:11, 12).
John presents the Second Coming of Jesus as an incentive to remain firm in the faith (1 John 2:28), and he gives assurance that our complete transformation into Christ’s likeness will occur at His return.
The Holy Spirit at Work. John describes a threefold ministry of the Holy Spirit in this epistle. First, God’s gift of the Spirit to us assures us of our relationship to Christ, both that He abides in us (1 John 3:24) and that we abide in Him (1 John 4:13). Second, the Holy Spirit testifies to the reality of the Incarnation of Christ (1 John 4:2; 5:6–8). Third, the Spirit leads true believers into a full realization of the truth concerning Jesus, that they may successfully oppose the heretics who deny that truth (1 John 2:20; 4:4).
From Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible
Date: About A.D. 90
Theme: Jesus Is the Son of God. Those Who Follow Him Must Live Righteously.
Key Words: Love, Know, Life, Light, Fellowship
Author and Recipients. Although this epistle is anonymous, its style and vocabulary clearly indicate that it was written by the author of the Gospel of John. Internal evidence also points to John as the author, and ancient testimony unanimously ascribes the epistle to him.
Lack of a special dedication and salutation indicates that the letter was circular, probably sent to the churches near Ephesus, where John spent his latter years.
Date. The weight of early and strong Christian tradition that John spent his latter years at Ephesus, together with the fact that the tone of the writings suggests that they are the product of a mature man who has enjoyed profound spiritual experience, points to a date near the end of the first century. In addition, the character of the heresy combated in the letter points to the same time, approximately A.D. 90.
Occasion and Purpose. John states that he wrote to give assurance of eternal life to those “who believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). The uncertainty of his readers about their spiritual status was caused by an unsettling conflict with the teachers of a false doctrine. John refers to the teachings as deceitful (1 John 2:26; 3:7) and to the teachers as “false prophets” (1 John 4:1), liars (1 John 2:22), and antichrists (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3). They had once been within the church, but had withdrawn (1 John 2:19) and had “gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1) to propagate their dangerous heresy.
The heresy was a forerunner of second-century Gnosticism, which taught that matter is essentially evil and spirit is essentially good. This dualistic viewpoint caused the false teachers to deny the Incarnation of Christ and, hence, the Resurrection. The true God, they taught, could never indwell a material body of flesh and blood. Therefore, the human body that Jesus supposedly possessed was not real, but merely apparent. John wrote vigorously against this error (see 1 John 2:22, 23; 4:3).
They also taught that since the evil human body was merely an envelope for the spirit within, and since nothing the body could do could affect the inner spirit, ethical distinctions ceased to be relevant. Hence, they had no sin. John answered this error with indignation (see 1 John 2:4, 6, 15–17; 3:3, 7, 9, 10; 5:18).
“Gnosticism” is a word derived from the Greek gnosis, meaning “knowledge.” Gnostics later taught salvation by mental enlightenment, which came only to elite spiritual initiates, not to the ordinary rank and file of Christians. Hence, they substituted intellectual pursuits for faith and exalted speculation above the basic tenets of the gospel. John again reacted strenuously (see 1 John 2:20, 27), declaring that there is no private revelation reserved for a few intellectuals, and that the whole body of believers possesses the apostolic teaching.
John’s purpose in writing, then, was to expose the heresy of the false teachers and to confirm the faith of the true believers.
Characteristics. There are strong similarities between the Gospel of John and 1 John. The tone of the epistle is friendly and fatherly, reflecting the authority that age and apostleship bring. The style is informal and personal, revealing the apostle’s intimate relationship with God and God’s people.
Content. First John stresses the themes of love, light, knowledge, and life in its warnings against heresy. These major elements are repeated throughout the letter, with love being the dominant note. Possessing love is clear evidence that one is a Christian, and lack of love indicates that one is in darkness (1 John 2:9–11; 3:10–23; 4:7–21).
John affirms that God is light, and fellowship with Him causes one to walk in the light in true fellowship with other believers. Fellowship with God and the brethren enables one to recognize, through the anointing of God, false doctrine and the spirit of the antichrist.
Fellowship with God necessitates walking in the light and obeying the commandments of God (1 John 1:6, 7; 2:3–5). The one “who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7), while “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John :10). The love of the Father and the love of the world are totally incompatible (1 John 2:15–17), and no one born of God is in the habit of practicing sin (1 John 3:9; 5:18). Christ is the antithesis of sin, and He has appeared that He might take away all of our sins (1 John 3:5).
Chapter 4 continues the theme of understanding the rival spirits—the false prophets who have gone out into the world (v. 1). In order to test the spirits we must find whom they acknowledge as savior and lord. Every spirit that does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh is not from God (v. 3).
The epistle ends with the testimony of Jesus the Son of God. Jesus is the One who came. The technical title of the Messiah is “He who comes” or “He who is to come” (Matt. 11:3; 1 John 5:6). John identifies Him as the One who came by water and by blood, the God who came and dwelt among us, the Word that was made flesh.
Personal Application. Prominent in 1 John is the positive note of Christian certainty. Thirty-nine times the verb “know” occurs. Christian truth is beyond the realm of speculation, because it is irrevocably moored to the historical event of Jesus Christ and the apostolic witness to that event. In addition, Christians possess the anointing and witness of the Holy Spirit to assure them of the truth about God, Christ, and their own spiritual standing.
Three tests prove the genuineness of Christianity: the test of belief (1 John 4:2), the test of obedience (1 John 2:3), and the test of love (1 John 4:20). The same affirmations are stated negatively. The one who professes to be a Christian, but who cannot pass the test of belief (1 John 2:22), the test of obedience (1 John 1:6), and the test of love (4:20), is a liar. John brings all three tests together in 1 John 5:1–5, where he indicates that a profession of Christianity is false unless it is characterized by correct belief, godly obedience, and brotherly love. The same tests are valid today.
Christ Revealed. John emphasizes both the deity and the humanity of Jesus, declaring that in Him God fully entered into human life. A test of Christianity is correct belief about the Incarnation (1 John 4:2, 15; 5:1).
Jesus is our Advocate with the Father (2:1). Sin is incongruous in the life of a Christian; but if he does sin, Jesus pleads his case.
Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2; 4:10). See note on Romans 3:25.
Jesus is also Savior, sent by God to rescue us from sin (1 John 1:7; 3:5; 4:14). Only through Him can we have eternal life (1 John 5:11, 12).
John presents the Second Coming of Jesus as an incentive to remain firm in the faith (1 John 2:28), and he gives assurance that our complete transformation into Christ’s likeness will occur at His return.
The Holy Spirit at Work. John describes a threefold ministry of the Holy Spirit in this epistle. First, God’s gift of the Spirit to us assures us of our relationship to Christ, both that He abides in us (1 John 3:24) and that we abide in Him (1 John 4:13). Second, the Holy Spirit testifies to the reality of the Incarnation of Christ (1 John 4:2; 5:6–8). Third, the Spirit leads true believers into a full realization of the truth concerning Jesus, that they may successfully oppose the heretics who deny that truth (1 John 2:20; 4:4).
From Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible
