INTRODUCTION TO FIRST JOHN - KELVIN CHISIZA

AUTHOR

1.In the opening lines of the book, just like the book of Hebrews. the author does not mention his name. we just rely on the internal, external, and some similarities to the gospel of John.

2. there are some similarities between the literature of 1 John and the gospel of John. common examples are

1 John 5:1, Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 20:30,31 “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.”

3. INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

D. A. Carson says that never is any of the three Johannine epistles is attributed to any other than John the son of Zebedee. other external evidence suggest that the early church fathers such as Papias, Irenaeus and clement of Alexandria, all attribute the epistle as the work of John. Bible commentators also suggest that the epistle was written by Apostle John.

John the Apostle wrote the book of 1 John.

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN

Scholars suggest that this Johannine epistle is closely bound up with the fourth gospel. Douglas J. Moore dates the book between AD 80-85. while many conservative scholars like Donald Guthrie, believes John wrote the epistle much later between AD 85-97 attributing this to the time He wrote the book of Revelation. From this argument i will opt for a much later date for 1 John to be approximately AD 90-95.

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN

John wrote the first epistle to warn his readers about the false teachings that had gone out in the region. Most notably, those who denied that Jesus came in the fresh 1 John 4:2,3. Other scholars suggest the false teachings were in the form of docetism and gnosticism. Again, He wrote to warn them about the coming of the Anti-Christ in 1 John 2:26.

The apostle John also wrote the epistle to re-assure the believers about their state in Christ. In multiple verses He emphasizes about the fellowship believers have in Christ so that their joy may be complete John 5:13, 2:12-14, 1:4, 1:7.

TO WHOM WAS IT WRITTEN

1. The letter does not contain any reference as to who the recipient were. neither does it specify the specific persons as in the second and third epistles. One hint that comes up is that it was written to believers 1 John 2:12-14, 21, 5:13. The other thing is the use of the term children, my children 1 John 2:1, 18, 28 or brothers suggest that the recipients were believers. In addition, the destination could be Ephesus because the Apostle’s tone suggest he was writing to people he knew. From the early church tradition, it is believed that that the Apostle John stayed in Ephesus for a long time.

2. THE INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

Scholars suggest that probably these epistles were sent to churches (and individuals) somewhere in the Ephesus area including perhaps the territory spanned by the seven churches of Revelations 2-3.

APPLICATION

The information regarding all what needs to be known about the book of 1 John has been given clearly. I understand all of us here have grasped some information that can help us comprehend what the book of 1 John is all about. but this morning i want us to consider two things from the information given. the first one is about the recipients of the book. they were believers like us, they had placed there faith in Christ for eternal life just like us here. The second thing is the reasons why He wrote the epistle. These recipients or church were under attack from false teacher just like in our time. He warned them to be careful about false teachers who denied the coming Jesus christ in the fresh. Is there any difference with our experience in our time? the difficulty thing in our time maybe the way to recognise them because they come in sheep clothing Matthew 7:15.

In conclusion, 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” My brethren, the only way we can discern what the Apostle John is commanding us, is when we Know the word of God. without knowledge we will be deceived and will say Amen to everything. Lets go back to the word we have neglected and the Holy Spirit will help us. Amen.