introduction to first John - Brian Simwanza
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who wrote it?
who wrote it?
What comes to mind when you hear the term, Epistle?” this term is another form of saying the letter. So when we talk about an epistle of John, we simply are saying the letter of John. Now there are at least a few things that can make us identify a letter. For instance, we know that every letter must have a salutation, the name of the one writing, the recipient of the letter, the main body, and finally the ending. Unfortunately, the first letter of John does not begin with any salutation or identify himself.
This makes this epistle prone to skeptical attacks. Despite the many arguments about whether the apostle John is the writer of this epistle, we have both internal as well as external evidence that can help us to identify the author.
if we compare this epistle to the gospel according to John, numerous similarities can be observed. for instance term parakletos occurs only in Johannine materials .
John 14:16 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
John 14:26 (ESV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 16:7 (ESV)
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
1 John 2:1 (ESV)
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
furthermore, the early ascribed the authorship of this epistle to John. Traditionally, the Gospel of John and 1 John were considered products of the same author, John the Apostle (e.g., Papias apud Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.39.16; Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses 3.16.5; the Muratorian Canon; Dionysius apud Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 7.25.7; and Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.25.2). Early Christians linked the Gospel of John and the Letters of John with a common author (Eusebius of Caesarea (ca. AD 263–339), Ecclesiastical History 7.25.7, 10; compare 2.23.25).
Sweeney, James P. 2016. “John, First Letter of.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
I can therefore, conclude that John is the author of this epistle.
To whom was it written?
To whom was it written?
this epistle does not indicate its recipient which makes it difficult to identify whom it was written to. some suggest that it could have been written to a number of churches. The author uses the plural to address them throughout: “Beloved.”
we can assume that the first epistle was written to a church or group of churches that were attacked by false teachers.
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
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.
Sweeney, James P. 2016. “John, First Letter of.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
when was it written?
when was it written?
scholars have different views when it comes to dating the first epistle. some places all the three epistles between A.D 98 - 117 which falls until the time of Trajan.