Background on the book of 1 john

He proclaimed the good news about jesus to the recipients of this letter, saying so that you too may have fellowship with us. Many contemporary biblical scholars believe that the writer of the letters was not the author of the gospel. In other words, what we can say about the identity of the recipients of 1 john and the other two johannine letters as well is inextricably linked to. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first. The book of first john is an epistle authored by the same john that wrote the gospel of john. However, all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a general epistle.

Although 1 john does not exhibit some of the general. The earliest confirmed use of 1 john was in the roman province of asia in modern turkey, where ephesus was located. The gospel of john is one of the most intriguing books of the bible. This epistle was probably written just a few years before the book of revelation.

To warn against the false teaching that christ had not actually come in the flesh and to encourage a lifestyle appropriate for followers of the incarnate christ. This ascetic form of gnosticism is the background of part of the letter to the colossians see col 2. This view is the background of much of 1 john see 1. As a result both men went before the sanhedrin acts 4. Since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly. These factors suggest that john wrote the book between ad 85 and ad 95. But since eusebius wished to attribute the book of revelation to a different john than the author of the gospel, his. Paradoxically, this dualism also led to licentiousness. John is found with peter going to the temple when peter healed the crippled man acts 3. The book of 1 john seems to be a summary that assumes the readers knowledge of the gospel as written by john and offers certainty for their faith in christ.

Evidence from early christian writers places the apostle john in ephesus during most of his later years c. Euangelion kata ioannen is the fourth of the canonical gospels. John 1 john 2 john 3 john revelation only paul authored more new testament books than john. As he did in his gospel, john stated with clarity the purpose of his first letter. The john of revelation does associate himself with the prophets 22. It is written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. A number of reasons were involved in writing 1 john. The spirit, presciently through john, puts the church beforehand on its guard against the coming heresy.

The fruit of fellowship with christ i write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of god so that you may know that you have eternal life. Nov 19, 2015 why did the apostle john write the book of 1st john. The book went through two to three stages, or editions, before reaching its current form, at the latest, around ad 80100. These small group studies of 1 john contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications.

Most scholars believe the three johannine epistles have the same author, but there is no consensus if this. The first epistle indicates that the readers were confronted with the error of gnosticism, which became a more serious problem in the second century. This say a lot about the man john, and the fact that jesus left his mother mary in john s care, having spoken the words from the cross, is very significant. The third chapter is an exegetical study of john 1. John 1 indepth versebyverse bible study and commentary of john chapter 1 in plain english. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. At the center of the doctrinal controversy are people who do. Us, according to eusebius ecclesiastical history, 5. The epistles of john show jesus as the way, the truth and the life. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. Howard marshall, dictionary of jesus and the gospel. About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. Introduction to the gospel of john study resources.

Whoever would know jesus christ should know the true meaning of in johns 1 joel b. Another indicator of johns character is found in the book of 1 john, he continually talks about love, loving one another, and that god is love, etc. The earliest identification of him comes from the church fathers. The first person plural pronouns which characterize the prologue 1 john 1. Intro to 1 peter biblica the international bible society. The parallelisms in 1 john are striking for their simplicity. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. Sermons from first john 6 fellowship with god 1 john 1. God manifested in jesus christ, that man may have fellowship with the father through the son. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name.

John 1 in the beginning was the word, and the word was with. Bible study introduction to the book of 1 john learn religions. The book of 1 st john is a general epistle apostolic letter. After the resurrection of jesus, john continued to play an instrumental role in the early church. I john 15 before we can appreciate its i john message fully, or feel the force of its searching analysis in our lives, we. Introduction to 1 john the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. John also wrote the fourth gospel and the book of revelation. The book of 2 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as johns other letters, 1 and 3 john, between a. In the beginning, god created the heavens and the earth. John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of gnosticism see background and setting. Another indicator of john s character is found in the book of 1 john, he continually talks about love, loving one another, and that god is love, etc.

John did not include the nativity story in his gospel. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. This summary of the book of 1 john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 john. Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle john, makes use of 1. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. Within this gospel is the most profound expressions of the deity of jesus christ and the most concrete statements on the humanity of jesus of nazareth. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle, john son of zebedee, who also was understood to be the author of the gospel of john and revelation. In this epistle the apostle john addressed the dangerous spread of apostate influences in the. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as john the apostle. The book of 1 john contains some of the bibles most beautiful descriptions of god and his unfailing love. It is the most poetic and philosophical writing in the new testament. From the beginning, 1 peter was recognized as authoritative and as the work of the apostle peter. To declare the word of life, the eternal life that was with the father and has been manifested in jesus christ 1 jn 1. Polycarp, the disciple of john epistle to the philippians, 7, quotes 1 john 4.

Andy is a professor of bible and theology at the college of biblical studies in houston. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god. In the first four verses of first john, we saw that johns aim in this epistle is. Scholars writing gospel of john commentary often grapple with the question. Since john was the underlying authority for the book in all its forms, we shall refer to the gospel as john s gospel. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. Johns gospel wanted to introduce nonchristians to the true god, to know, believe in, and accept him 20. The gospel of john presents a unique perspective on jesus. The beloved disciple the traditional view that john the apostle was the author of the fourth gospel has often been tied to the identification of the beloved disciple with john. Voice bible studies, introduction to the gospel of john, lesson 1. This say a lot about the man john, and the fact that jesus left his mother mary in johns care, having spoken the words from the cross, is very significant. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and love in jesus christ.

He wrote from ephesus in presentday western turkey, perhaps to churches like those mentioned in rev. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. One hundred fifty years ago, if one had asked a new testament scholar which of the four gospels gave us the most information about the life and ministry of jesus, the answer would almost invariably have been, the gospel of john. The book of 1 john may be one of the most difficult books within the bible for the christian to understand, particularly in light of the plethora of scriptural passages in the new testament that clearly teach that eternal spirit salvation justification is by faith alone in christ alone. Each book also addresses deceivers, teachers who no longer acknowledge that jesus is the messiah or son of god. The evangelist john rests one hand on his gospel book, in this 83inchtall marble sculpture carved by donatello in about 1415 for a niche in the facade of the cathedral of florence. Johns first epistle teaches that while it is important. Father is used times and little children is used 11 times. I john 15 before we can appreciate its i john message fully, or feel the force of its searching analysis in our lives, we need to know a little about why these letters came. Paul referred to peter, james, and john as the pillars of the church in jerusalem. Every spirit that acknowledges that jesus christ has come in the flesh is from god, 3 but every spirit that does not. I looked up book of john and halfway down the first chapter i saw philip. Introduction to 1 john bible exposition commentary.

Background to the study of john views on the authorship, origin, and historicity of the fourth gospel have changed drastically over the last century and a half. First john calls readers back to the three basics of christian life. Written by john the elder to house church believers, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john echo the gospel of john. John the son of zebedee probably wrote his three nt letters no later than the 90s a. Watch our overview video on the gospel of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. John 3 background information with maps and images picture.

New testament papyrus 46, one of the oldest new testament papyri, showing 2 cor 11. However, several references point to a gentile audience, such as the empty way of. The last books in the bible to be written were 1st john ad 8595, 2nd john ad 8595, and 3rd john ad 8595 as well as the book of revelation, which was apparently written near the turn of the. Invoking the in the beginning language of genesis 1. Jan 02, 2020 however, all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. If taken at face value, however, they make a significant contribution to the authority with which the author speaks. The key personalities are the apostles peter and paul.

Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. John encourages believers that jesus was jehovah god who had come in the flesh, that god is light and he encourages christians to walk in the light by keeping his commandments, and the main commandment was to love god and love one another. John recognized that love comes from god, and he encouraged the believers to love one another 1 john 4. In john, jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator god of. The author we can say with confidence that the apostle john is the author of the book of 1st john.