NT Survey INT Survey I

1 John1 John

Introductory Matters for 1 Introductory Matters for 1 JohnJohn Author:Author:

Though he does not explicitly Though he does not explicitly identify himself in 1 John (and identify himself in 1 John (and only identifies himself as “the only identifies himself as “the Elder” in 2 and 3 John), the Elder” in 2 and 3 John), the best conclusion is that the best conclusion is that the Apostle John wrote all 3 of Apostle John wrote all 3 of these letters.these letters.

Similarity in vocabulary and Similarity in vocabulary and style to the Gospel of Johnstyle to the Gospel of John

Testimony of the early church, Testimony of the early church, including Papias, Polycarp, and including Papias, Polycarp, and Irenaeus Irenaeus

Like Peter, John was fisherman Like Peter, John was fisherman who became an apostle of who became an apostle of Christ and an eyewitness to His Christ and an eyewitness to His works and teaching. (He also works and teaching. (He also disappears from the story of disappears from the story of Acts after chapter 8). Acts after chapter 8).

After leaving Palestine in the After leaving Palestine in the late 60’s, he ministered in late 60’s, he ministered in Ephesus and provided Ephesus and provided apostolic oversight for apostolic oversight for churches in Asia Minor. He churches in Asia Minor. He would later be exiled to Patmos would later be exiled to Patmos by the Roman Emperor by the Roman Emperor Domitian.Domitian.

Introductory Matters for 1 Introductory Matters for 1 JohnJohn

Date:Date: Hard to pin down precisely, as there Hard to pin down precisely, as there are no time indicators in the letter. We know are no time indicators in the letter. We know it was late in the first century, probably after it was late in the first century, probably after John’s gospel and between 80 and 90 AD.John’s gospel and between 80 and 90 AD.

Audience:Audience: No one named. This was likely an No one named. This was likely an epistle sent out to churches in Asia Minor for epistle sent out to churches in Asia Minor for whom John served as an apostolic overseer. whom John served as an apostolic overseer. The relationship is one of intimacy and The relationship is one of intimacy and recognized authority. The readers were recognized authority. The readers were evidently people who had been believers for evidently people who had been believers for some time.some time.

Introductory Matters for 1 Introductory Matters for 1 JohnJohn

Occasion:Occasion: The letter seems to have been The letter seems to have been prompted by a change in attitude in the prompted by a change in attitude in the readers concerning their relationship to the readers concerning their relationship to the world (2:15; 3:13), a lack of brotherly love world (2:15; 3:13), a lack of brotherly love (2:10,11), and a development of spiritual (2:10,11), and a development of spiritual laxity. Such conditions made these readers laxity. Such conditions made these readers ripe for false teaching, which this letter sought ripe for false teaching, which this letter sought to confront and refute.to confront and refute.

Character of the book:Character of the book: Very “unletter-like” in Very “unletter-like” in comparison with other NT epistles; no opening comparison with other NT epistles; no opening greeting or closing salutation, no mention of greeting or closing salutation, no mention of names; yet shows a keen interest in and names; yet shows a keen interest in and personal concern for the readers. Simple in personal concern for the readers. Simple in language but profound in theological truth.language but profound in theological truth.

Backdrop of 1 John: the Error of Backdrop of 1 John: the Error of GnosticismGnosticism

Gnosticism did not profess outright opposition to Gnosticism did not profess outright opposition to the Gospel, but rather “re-interpreted” the Gospel, but rather “re-interpreted” Christianity in terms of the prevailing thought of Christianity in terms of the prevailing thought of the day.the day.

There were two guiding principles that ran There were two guiding principles that ran through all of Gnosticism’s teachings:through all of Gnosticism’s teachings: The supremacy of intellect and the superiority of The supremacy of intellect and the superiority of

enlightenment to faith and conduct. Gnostics believed enlightenment to faith and conduct. Gnostics believed they possessed higher knowledge, which enabled a they possessed higher knowledge, which enabled a man to rise above lowly, earthbound man to rise above lowly, earthbound mattermatter into the into the spiritual apprehension of spiritual apprehension of truthtruth..

Spirit is good and matter is inherently evil. Therefore Spirit is good and matter is inherently evil. Therefore there could not be a true incarnation of the Son of there could not be a true incarnation of the Son of God. This led to the ideas of God. This led to the ideas of DocetismDocetism (Christ had only (Christ had only the appearance of a human body) andthe appearance of a human body) and Cerinthianism Cerinthianism (separated the man Jesus from the Spirit Christ).(separated the man Jesus from the Spirit Christ).

Major Themes in 1 JohnMajor Themes in 1 John

GodGod His relationship with JesusHis relationship with Jesus His relationship with His childrenHis relationship with His children

Jesus is the Christ/warning against false teachingJesus is the Christ/warning against false teaching LoveLove FellowshipFellowship TruthTruth Assurance (“know”)Assurance (“know”) CommandsCommands AbidingAbiding Antichrist (this term appears only in John’s letters Antichrist (this term appears only in John’s letters

in the NT)in the NT) Pairs of Contrasts (1:6,7; 1:8-10; 2:4,5; 2:9,10; Pairs of Contrasts (1:6,7; 1:8-10; 2:4,5; 2:9,10;

3:7,8; 4:2,3; 4:4,5; 4:7,8; 5:10)3:7,8; 4:2,3; 4:4,5; 4:7,8; 5:10)

Purpose Statement for 1 Purpose Statement for 1 JohnJohn

John declared the truth that gave believers John declared the truth that gave believers assurance of eternal life, fellowship with assurance of eternal life, fellowship with God’s children, and awareness of error. God’s children, and awareness of error. Or, in his own words…Or, in his own words…

““These things I have written to you who These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have order that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Survey of 1 JohnSurvey of 1 John The Basis of Fellowship (1:1 – 2:27)The Basis of Fellowship (1:1 – 2:27)

Introduction (1:1-4)Introduction (1:1-4) Conditions for Fellowship (1:5 – 2:14)Conditions for Fellowship (1:5 – 2:14)

Walk in the LightWalk in the Light Confession of SinConfession of Sin Obedience to His CommandmentsObedience to His Commandments Love for One AnotherLove for One Another

Cautions to Fellowship (2:15-27)Cautions to Fellowship (2:15-27) Love of the WorldLove of the World Spirit of AntichristSpirit of Antichrist

Survey of 1 JohnSurvey of 1 John The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28 – The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28 –

5:21)5:21) Characteristics of Fellowship (2:28 – 5:3)Characteristics of Fellowship (2:28 – 5:3)

Purity of LifePurity of Life Practice of RighteousnessPractice of Righteousness Love in Deed and TruthLove in Deed and Truth Testing the SpiritsTesting the Spirits Love as Christ LovedLove as Christ Loved

Consequences of Fellowship (5:4-21)Consequences of Fellowship (5:4-21) Victory over the WorldVictory over the World Assurance of SalvationAssurance of Salvation Confidence in PrayerConfidence in Prayer Freedom from Habitual SinFreedom from Habitual Sin

Selected Interpretive IssuesSelected Interpretive Issues

““No one who is born of God practices No one who is born of God practices sin” (3:9)sin” (3:9)

““Three that bear witness” (5:8)Three that bear witness” (5:8) ““Sin to death” (5:16)Sin to death” (5:16)

Next Week: 2 and 3 John Next Week: 2 and 3 John and Judeand Jude

Eric Flintoff teachingEric Flintoff teaching