First John begins with a first-hand eyewitness account of what the author and his apostolic companions witnessed in Jesus Christ. John calls on what they have seen and heard as a way to refute a group of professed teachers who may be called Revisionists. Their message does not accord with the truths originally given to the apostoles. If the readers were to adopt any of the doctrines these false teachers teach, it would destroy their fellowship with the apostolic circle and with God (v 3).
