Introduction to the first letter of John
The 62nd book of the Bible, the 23rd in the New Testament
Like his Gospel of Jesus Christ, the First Epistle of John does not bear the apostle’s name. Nevertheless, even in the early Church there was no doubt as to its authorship.
This is further evidenced by the linguistic similarities in style and vocabulary, as well as the close connection between its content and the Fourth Gospel.
The letter was written between approximately 85 and 93 AD, presumably not long after he had composed his account of the life of Jesus.
According to tradition, John was living in Ephesus at that time, serving as a leading figure there and also for the Christian congregations in the surrounding area of the Roman province of Asia.
Thus, the First Epistle of John is essentially a doctrinal letter or a sermon for the congregations under his care.
Here, too, various heresies began to spread, some of which questioned the nature, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Son of God—and thus the foundation of the Christian faith.
On the other hand, there were teachings that undermined a moral, pure lifestyle and promoted sin and lawlessness within the congregations.
It should be noted that by this time, the initial spread of the Christian faith within Jewish synagogues had come to an end, and a separation between Judaism and Christianity had already taken place.
On the one hand, this had reduced the influence on believers of the demand for Jewish legalism, as frequently mentioned in Paul’s epistles.
On the other hand, it also meant that more and more pagan and philosophical ideas from the non-Jewish nations were infiltrating the young, growing churches.
The central theme of John’s first letter is to clearly convey to believers the certainty of eternal life and to clearly illustrate the only way to achieve this goal.
This begins with faith in Jesus Christ, His divine nature, and His incarnation, so that He might “pay” for our sins.
A lifestyle lived in God’s love—a love that is not self-serving but prioritizes the well-being of fellow believers.
A life in which one consciously submits to God and His commandments, accepts the gift of HIS righteousness, and decisively turns away from the world around us with its prevailing value system.
Outline of the First Epistle of John:
Chapter 1 – The Word of Life – Jesus the Christ, Life in the Light, Fellowship with God and People, Forgiveness of Sins
Chapter 2 – Jesus our Advocate, Life under the New Commandment, Doctrine and Righteousness, Warnings Against the Love of the World and Temptations
Chapter 3 – Love in Action, The Significance of Being a Child of God
Chapter 4 – Discerning Spirits, Transformation in the Spirit of God and Love
Chapter 5 – The Power of True Faith and Its Fruits, God’s Testimony Concerning His Son, Prayer, Intercession, and Eternal Life Through Christ
Content of the first letter of John:
1. John chapter 1
I. The Instructional Section (1:5–2:27)
1. John chapter 2
II. The Exhortatory Section (2:28–5:12)
1. John chapter 3
1. John chapter 4
1. John chapter 5
III. Concluding Thoughts