1 John: Introduction

Fall and Winter 2024

Mathiston First Baptist Church

1 John: To Know and To Show

Message #1

10/02/2024

Background and Introduction to 1 John

Who wrote First John?

The Apostle John, son of Zebedee, who also authored the Gospel of John.

Vocabulary and style match that of the Gospel of John (verbal form of believe instead of faith)

Major themes and emphases of the Gospel of John and the epistle overlap. (Affirming Jesus’ full deity and humanity; close connection between doctrine and ethics; heard, seen, observed, and touched [1:1] John, as the beloved Disciple who was present at the cross “was highly qualified to write of (these things mentioned in 1:1)” (ESVSB)

General acceptance by the early church and the church since until the late eighteenth century.

To Whom was First John written?

Circulatory letter

Likely written to churches in the region of Asia Minor

Paul was likely in Ephesus during this period of his life and ministry following the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 when he would have relocated.

When was First John written?

Like late first century, perhaps around AD 90.

After the Gospel of John was written (around AD 80-90)

What prompted First John to be written? (Occasion)

The rise of false teachings

Some suggest this as the early stages of Gnosticism

Why was First John written? (Purpose)

To help believers have assurance that they know Jesus and to help them have the knowledge to show that Jesus is Lord both in their belief and in their actions.

John’s focus is positive, not polemical. His aim is redemptive, not reactionary. He urges readers to refine their theological understanding , sharpen their ethical rigor, and heighten their devotional intensity. That is, they must grow in faith, obedience, and love. Yet the letter is not a list of dos and don’ts. It is rather a manifesto of “Done!”— Jesus’ words “It is finished” (John 19:30) come to mind. First John highlights what God the Father has “done” in sending Christ the Son, offering him up as a sacrifice for sins, and sending forth “the word of life” (1 John 1:1) that is causing this world’s darkness to pass away and the true light of the coming age to shine (2:8)… God’s will is for the readers to receive the saving message of Christ’s coming, rejoice in the commands of Christ’s teaching, and revel in the love of teh Father as it continually translates into Christian love for one another and ministry to the world. This is “not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (3:18). (ESVSB)

Themes and Theme verses:

To help believers experience real joy. (1 John 1:4 “4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”)

To help believers live holy lives. (1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.”)

To help believers resist false teachings. (1 John 2:26 “26 I have written these things to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.”)

Docetic Gnosticism — denied that Jesus was really a man.

Cerinthian Gnosticism — Denied that Jesus was really God.

To help believers have assurance of salvation. (1 John 5:13 “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”)

Important Notes:

oida (οιδα) verses ginosko (γινωσκω)

Both translated as “know”

ginosko appears more frequently than oida

Together, the terms appear more than 35 times in the letter.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Contribution to the Bible

First John maps out the three main components of saving knowledge of God: (1) faith in Jesus Christ, (2) obedient response to God’s commands, and (3) love for God and others from the heart. This epistle shows how Jesus expects his followers to honor him in practical church life and wherever God calls his people to go and serve.

Application:

1 John 1:5 “5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.”

1 John 5:1 “1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.”

1 John 5:13 “13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The importance of this text is that the readers might know Jesus (right doctrine) and have fellowship with him living in obedience to Christ (right ethics) resulting in fellowship and love with one another (right attitudes and relationships).

John does not wait around to address the issues. He does not lessen the standard to please those around him who may not believe. He takes seriously the issue of false teaching and urges His readers to also.

You and I can know for certain that we have a right belief of Jesus.

He is the Christ

Born of God

And in believing, we have eternal life. Yet, here, we have the obligation to correct those who do not teach things congruent with who Jesus actually is. What are false teachings circling today?

Prosperity Gospel — believe in Jesus and gain material, financial, and physical wealth here.

Easy believism (Nominal-ism)— Jesus may be savior, but he is not lord. (meaning— Jesus does not require anything of his followers)

Universalism— Belief that Jesus is not the only way to salvation or acceptance by God. 56% American Evangelicals, in 2022, agreed “God accepts the worship of all religions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”

Arianism— Belief that Jesus was created by God and has not always existed. According to 2022 research, 73% of American evangelicals agreed “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God”; additionally, 43% agreed “Jesus was a good teacher, but he was not God.”

Pelagianism— Belief that people are good by nature. According to 2022 research, 57% Evangelicals agreed “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature” While 66% other Americans agreed— only a 9% difference between Evangelicals and non-evangelicals on this.

Response Questions:

[1] Do you have certainty that you saved— because of right belief in Jesus Christ and faith in His finished work?

[2] Do you recognize that many living in community around you daily do not share these same beliefs and may even be teaching something unbiblical? At minimal, they’re living in lies.

[3] What is your responsibility, Christian, as you become aware of these issues?

Sources:

Barclay, William. Introduction to the First Letter of John, The New Daily Study Bible. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017.

Editorial, Ligonier. “What Is the Prosperity Gospel?,” Ligonier.Org, July 10, 2023. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/field-guide-on-false-teaching-prosperity-gospel.

McArthur, John. Introduction to 1 John, The McArthur New Testament Commentary. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2007.

McDade, Stefani. “Top 5 Heresies Among American Evangelicals,” Christianity Today, 2022. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/09/state-of-theology-evangelical-heresy-report-ligonier-survey/.

TableTalk. “The Lordship of Christ,” Ligonier.Org, 2009. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/lordship-of-christ.

Yarbrough, Robert W. Introduction to 1 John, The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2008.

Yarbrough, Robert W. 2017. “1 John.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 1992. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.