The book of 1 john contains some of the bibles most beautiful descriptions of god and his unfailing love. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was 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. Book of third john overview insight for living ministries. Paradoxically, this dualism also led to licentiousness. Since the letter identifies no specific church, locati. The apostle john identified himself in 3 john only as the elder 3 john 1. This short work was written before john was exiled to the island of patmos, and before he wrote the book of revelation. John 1 indepth versebyverse bible study and commentary of john chapter 1 in plain english. This view is the background of much of 1 john see 1.
Download for free on all your devices computer, smartphone, or tablet. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and love in jesus christ. About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. The gospel of john presents a unique perspective on jesus. 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. Bible study introduction to the book of 1 john learn religions. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Near the end of the 1st century, john was exiled to the island of patmos.
In the beginning, god created the heavens and the earth. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as john the apostle. John 1 in the beginning was the word, and the word was with.
It is attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the gospel of john and the other two johannine epistles. John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of gnosticism see background and setting which was in its early. 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 first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first. The epistles of john show jesus as the way, the truth and the life. 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. However, its similarity with the gospel composed by john means it was. Jan 02, 2020 however, all the evidence points to the author as john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. Many contemporary biblical scholars believe that the writer of the letters was not the author of the gospel. In this epistle the apostle john addressed the dangerous spread of apostate influences in the. 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.
The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the gospel of john and the other two epistles of john. The three books share the same writing style, however, and so are likely from the same hand. This ascetic form of gnosticism is the background of part of the letter to the colossians see col 2. Polycarp, the disciple of john epistle to the philippians, 7, quotes 1 john 4. 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. The author we can say with confidence that the apostle john is the author of the book of 1st john. In john, jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator god of. John the son of zebedee probably wrote his three nt letters no later than the 90s a. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. Whereas the gospel of john was written to unbelievers, this epistle was written to those who were already believers 5. These three books are often referred to as letters, though only 1 and 2 john truly fit that description. 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. John also wrote the fourth gospel and the book of revelation. It has no traditional introduction from whom, to whom.
Dionysius noted that john did not name himself in his epistles, not even in the second and third epistles, although they are short. In the introduction to 1 john in the niv study bible, donald w. 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. A number of reasons were involved in writing 1 john. The parallelisms in 1 john are striking for their simplicity. Since the body was considered evil, it was to be treated harshly. Scholars writing gospel of john commentary often grapple with the question. John 1 john 2 john 3 john revelation only paul authored more new testament books than john. He wrote from ephesus in presentday western turkey, perhaps to churches like those mentioned in rev. John chapter 1 kjv king james version homosexuality is a modern day name for an ancient sin called sodomy. Introduction to 1 john the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Outline of the book of i john floral heights church of christ. In order to help you dive in more deeply and get a feel for what all is going on underneath the surface of the book, we wanted to give you some background and introductory information on 1 john. The book of 1 john is not a personal letter nor a letter written to one church as much as it is an impassioned office memo from headquarters corporate letter. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. Jun 26, 2017 explains how revelations context and setting can help us understand its original meaning and apply its message to our own lives in the modern world.
Explains how revelations context and setting can help us understand its original meaning and apply its message to our own lives in the modern world. 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. Although this account states that the apostle john lived to the age of one hundred and twenty, it places the composition of the fourth gospel. 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. It is written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. The book of 1 st john is a general epistle apostolic letter. Intro to 2 john biblica the international bible society.
The epistle and johns gospel reflect similar vocabulary and manner of. However, several references point to a gentile audience, such as the empty way of. The apostle john is the author of the gospel of john, 1, 2, and 3 john and revelation. They emphasize that god is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate gods light and love. Written by john the elder to house church believers, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john echo the gospel of john. However, several references point to a gentile audience, such as the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors 1. At the writing of this, his final epistle, john was nearing the end of his life, a life that had changed dramatically some six decades before, when jesus had called john and his brother james out from their fishing boat. Aug 25, 2015 we are so excited to embark on a versebyverse journey through 1 john, one of the 3 letters that were written by the apostle john. Nov 19, 2015 why did the apostle john write the book of 1st john. The key personalities are the apostles peter and paul.
But since eusebius wished to attribute the book of revelation to a different john than the author of the gospel, his. Andy is a professor of bible and theology at the college of biblical studies in houston. View chuck swindoll s chart of first john, which divides the book into major sections and highlights themes and key verses. 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. However, some of the recipients of 1 john may be under pressure to side with the opponents, and one major reason for the letter would be to convince them not to do so. The gospel of john is one of the most intriguing books of the bible. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. John 3 background information with maps and images picture. It is the most poetic and philosophical writing in the new testament. Since gnostic teachers also relied on this practice see note on 3jn 5, 2 john was written to urge discernment in supporting traveling teachers. Watch our overview video on the gospel of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.