1 JOHN - OVERVIEW
Author
John wrote five books.
--- Gospel of John
--- 1 John
--- 2 John
--- 3 John
--- Book of Revelation
The writer's name is not mentioned in either one of the three John epistles.
Uniqueness
The general epistles of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John are the only book in the Bible that are really three different letters. The author of the epistles of John was an eyewitness of the resurrected Savior, which was certainly true of John the Apostle (1 John 1:1–4; 4:14).
Purpose
John wrote 1 John to Christians to show them what fellowship with God really means. He warned the saints to have no fellowship with darkness and to stay in the safety of the gospel light.
As you read and study 1 John, notice that John uses "we" throughout the letter. That means he includes all Christians in that inclusive personal plural pronoun.
Keyword
Fellowship
Key Phrase
Fellowship with God
Themes
--- The main themes of the epistle are love and fellowship with God.
--- The author describes various tests by which readers may ascertain whether or not their communion with God is genuine, and teaches that the proof of spiritual regeneration is a life of active righteousness.
--- It also distinguishes between the world (which is full of evil and under the dominion of Satan) and the children of God (who are set apart from the world).
Writing Style
The epistle is not written in the same style as the other epistles. It doesn't have an epistolary opening or conclusion. The epistle is written in a simple style.
Why John Wrote 1 John
John wrote this letter to encourage his readers to walk in the knowledge of the truth. John lists the characteristics of fellowship with God and shows that those who abide in Christ can have confidence and assurance before Him.
As you read 1 John, notice the parallelisms: Christ vs. antichrists, light vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood, righteousness vs. sin, love of the Father vs. love of the world, and the Spirit of God vs. the spirit of the Antichrist.
John teaches that love comes from God, and he encouraged believers to love one another (1 John 4:7). John’s first epistle teaches that while it is important to recognize the lines between truth and error, it must always be done in a spirit of love.
Why Study 1 John
First John can help you become more discerning of false teachings about Jesus Christ, and following John’s counsel can help you maintain close fellowship with the Lord as you abide in the truth.
As you study 1 John, keep in mind that the writer wanted his readers to experience true fellowship with God and with God’s people. However, he knew that would not happen until the Christians set aside their own selfish desires in favor of the pursuits God had for them.
To help them attain that goal, John focused on three issues:
--- 1. the zeal of the believers
--- 2. standing firm against false teachers
--- 3. reassuring the Christians that they have eternal life
John wrote to churches full of people who had struggled with discouragement because of their own sinful failures and the presence of false teachers in their midst.
Outline of 1 John
1 John 1–3
John teaches that through obedience we can come to know God, have fellowship with Him, and become like Him. In the last days, antichrists will arise. The Savior’s love for us is manifest through His atoning sacrifice.
1 John 4–5
John encourages the Saints to determine whether a teacher is of God. God is love, and because of His great love for us, He sent His Son to suffer on our behalf. Those who love God will keep His commandments. Those who believe in Jesus Christ and are born of God will overcome the world.
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