Introduction to 1 John Lesson 1
A letter written by a Christian, to Christians,
for Christians of all times
“At first I believed that we should be assured of salvation primarily because God has declared that those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ possess it.
As I studied I John, however, I began to see that while this is undoubtedly true, the apostle John also works on a more practical level,
showing that the Christian can be assured of his salvation
in that God has brought about fundamental changes in his life.”
James Montgomery Boice
I. The Author - Who was he ?
- Born in Bethsaida
- Family of at least 4
- He may have been a cousin of Jesus
- (Salome – Mk 1540 w/ John 1925)
- Family was well off and well positioned
- One of the first to follow Jesus
- Closest to Jesus at the last supper
- Followed Jesus to trial; to Annus and Caiaphus
- Only disciple at the cross
- He was quick in sprint
- First to understand Jesus’ resurrection (John 201-8)
- First to recognize Jesus in Galilee (John 217)
II. The year – (90AD)
What has been written? Who’s been in charge? Where has John been?
Everything but his writings Augustus 27BC – 14AD
Tiberius 14 – 37 (cruel & perverse) Mentioned 3 x’s in Acts
Caligula 37 – 41 (psycho murderer)
Claudius 41 – 54 (poisoned) After Acts 15, (50AD) a 40 year silence
Nero 54 – 68 (pathetic persecutor) Paul and Peter are martyred
Galba 68 – 69 (a few months?)
Otho 69 (suicide)
Vitelius 69 (a few months)
Vespasian 69 – 79 (con artist) Left Jerusalem during rebellion (w/ Mary?)
Titus 79 – 81 (cruel murderer) In Ephesus for (30?) years
Domitian 81 – 96 (the worst of all) Exiled to Patmos (Revelation)
Nerva 96 – 98
Trajan 98 – 117 Died in Ephesus (around 100)
III. Why did he write?
The circumstances of the church
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30 ESV
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30 NIV
“Church members” were leaving?! Starting new churches. They went out from us, ... 1 John 2:19
They weren’t denying Christianity. They were “improving” it.
The purpose of his gospel
John 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Purpose of his letter
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
that you may know that you have eternal life.
“The one is an historical, the other an ethical statement of truth. The one sets forth the acts and words that prove that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; the other sets forth the acts and words which are obligatory upon those who believe this great truth.” Alfred Plummer
“John wrote for the third generation. Peter and Paul, James and Jude all wrote for the first and second generation of believers. John, however as a first generation apostle, passed over two generations to write for an increasingly apostate third generation.” John Phillips
First generation - conviction Great truths are grasped, embraced, and advanced - martyrs are common
Second generation - belief Beliefs are “held” but not so tightly that it hurts – the ‘fire’ has subsided
Third Generation - opinion Truth is diluted for the sake of “tolerance” – room is allowed for error
The errors infiltrating the church
The Ebionites Jesus was not God
The Docetists Jesus was not a man Gk: Dokeo “to seem” (Jesus only ‘seemed’ to be physical)
The Cerinthians ‘The Christ’ descended on Jesus at baptism; departed from him at crucifixion
John’s gospel clearly portrays the deity of Jesus
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,… (John 1:1, 14a )
John’s 1st letter clearly portrays the humanity of Jesus
… we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands,…
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
(1 John 1:1; 4:2)
The Three Main Emphases of John
1. Assurance
Isa 32:17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
1 Thess 1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power,
and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance
Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,
and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, ……
3:19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; …….
3:24 And by this we know that he abides in us, ………….
5:13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
John’s Method to Assure Those Who are Christian and Avoid Presumption in Those who Think They Are
3 Tests
Moral – Obedience
Doctrinal – Truth
Social - Love
Truth know the truth and error will become obvious
About ourselves knowledge of who we are by (sin) nature and how we deal with it
About Jesus knowledge of who he is and who we are in him
About Obedience a desire to follow Jesus; a devotion to him and what he wants
About Love a heavenly relationship with all others who truly believe
Relationship without obedience is ______
Obedience without truth is ______
Truth without relationship is ______
2 Address the Encroaching Gnosticism
3. To Emphasize the “New Commandment”
Why was that necessary?
What Jesus said:
John 13:33-34
33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
What the disciples heard:
John 13:36 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?
John 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
John 14:8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
So John Writes:
1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.
2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
3:15 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.
3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God
4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
5:1 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
IV. To Whom Did He Write?
There are no Old Testament quotes, but there is a strong reference to idolatry - Gentiles ?
Ephesus was the root of the ‘seven churches’ of Asia
Paul’s Favorite Words - Faith Hope Love
John’s Favorite Words - Light Life Love
The firebrand personality comes out in his writing (remember he was a “son of thunder”)
There are no shades of gray. Everything is either black or white, true or false, right or wrong, light or darkness, good or bad, love or hate, life or death
TNBS Questions Preparation for lesson 2
Read 1 John (it’s only 6 pages ! , [well, maybe 7] )
1. What are some of the clues in 1 John that indicate the types of heresies being introduced in the church?
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2. From your reading of 1 John, what does he assert as the absolute nonnegotiables of genuine Christianity?
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3. How does 1 John 1:1 immediately confront the three areas of heresy mentioned in our last lesson?
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4-7. John gives several objective evidences of why he should be considered an ‘expert’ witness to the truth
What are they and what past experiences would have prompted John to present them?
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8. Does it really matter that our doctrine of Christ be ‘exactly’ right? Why? or Why not?
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9. Does it really matter that the gospel claims concerning Jesus are rooted in historical facts? Why? Or Why not?
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10. How do the Apostles’ objective experiences provide the basis for our subjective experiences?
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What is Christianity?
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