Introduction to First John

Who wrote 1 John?

John the Apostle

Ancient tradition assigns these epistles to John the son of Zebedee, one of the twelve apostles. Although efforts have been made to evade the implication that an eyewitness wrote 1:1–4, these efforts are faulty. The statement of 4:6 (“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error”) would be pompous, to say the least, if it was not penned by an apostle.

Zane C. Hodges, “1 John,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin, Revised Edition (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2019), 587.

1 John 1:1–4 NKJV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

The Apostle John