The First Epistle of John
As I began my reading and study of John’s first epistle, I became more confused than before I began! Why? Because since 200 AD, the theologians of its day, and then now in modern times, have continued to discuss, dispute, and even dispel part of John the Apostle’s writings. The question remains, “How many?” And which one(s) did he write?
I started by reviewing a summary of John the Apostle’s life. This man John was a son of Zebedee, and one of the youngest (if not the youngest) of the disciples. Depending on what reference you read, he may have been a cousin of Jesus on his mother’s (Salome) side. History records his birth circa 6 AD and lived a long life until approximately 100 AD. The reference to this man (or someone else) has other referenced names: John the Evangelist; John of Patmos; John the Elder (presbyter) of Ephesus; the Beloved Disciple. And of course, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” While some historians conclude all are one and the same, others say they are different individuals, thus the difference of opinion in the authorship of the five books attributed to the Apostle John (Gospel, I, II and III John and The Revelation).
This son of Zebedee was a fisherman, but he was also a disciple of John the Baptist prior the ministry of our LORD. Along with Andrew, he was one of the first disciples of Jesus. He and his brother, James, were called, “Sons of Thunder (Boanerges).” This apostle lived approximately one generation beyond his colleagues, which is somewhat of a miracle considering the persecution that the church endured from the Roman emperors.
John was one of the three “favorite” disciples of Jesus that were referred to as the “inner circle.” They witnessed more than the others that included Jesus raising people from the dead, His glorious transfiguration, and more. Following Jesus’ ascension, Peter and John were bold to profess the good news of Jesus even to the point of imprisonment. John, while fleeing at times, was the only one recorded at the foot of Jesus’ cross and consoled Jesus’ mother.
John is referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and occurs six times in the Gospel of John but nowhere else in Scripture. His whereabouts in his legendary long life are not delineated, but he likely remained in Judea and its vicinity for some time. He ended up in Ephesus which was second only in size and importance to Rome as a center for commerce. Therein lies the apparent discrepancy of the various John names as I identified earlier. Some still suggest that the Apostle John authored the gospel and the first epistle. This conclusion may be due to the similarities to the gospel and the first epistle’s content.
| Phrase | Gospel John | 1st John |
| Beginning | In the beginning was . . . | That which was from the beginning/and I John 2:13 |
| Word (logos) | John 1:1ff . . . beginning was the Word | I John 1:1b Word of life |
| Pre-incarnate | Word was with God in the beginning | I John 1:1 |
| Love (agape) | John 3:16 God so loved | I John 4:11 God so loved |
| Flesh | John 1:14 Word became flesh and dwelt among us (tabernacled) | We have seen, looked at and touched. I John 1:1ff |
| Light | The true light (Jesus); John 1:9 | But if we walk in the light as He (Jesus) is in the light; I John 1:7 |
| Life | John 1:4 | I John 1:5 |
The timing of the various Johannine writings is also in question as they range from the 60’s to the 90’s AD. Of course, the Revelation of St. John from the Island of Patmos, also is brought into consideration much like the gospel and epistles. History records a significant time in history where the Roman emperors were persecuting the Christians regardless of their location in the empire. Nero and his followers continued to persecute Christians; and it is likely Domitian that forced John to the Island of Patmos.
Johannine Comparisons
The gospel of John, unlike the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), gives total attention to the deity of Jesus, the Messiah, his pre-incarnate nature, and the unity between the Father and the Son. Jesus was truly the promised One as He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, raised people from the dead, and performed miracles.
The First Epistle of John
This first epistle of John is written, unlike many of Paul’s epistles, without an opening and/or conclusion. Its style is simple and resembles a sermon to assist in strengthening the faith of its listeners or readers. The first epistle was written after the gospel and likely just before the end of the first century AD. Most likely it was an encyclical letter, i.e. intended to be routed to the various churches around Ephesus. The letter is definitely encouraging! Why? False teachers were creeping into the church and attempting to defile the true Word of God. John refers to these false teachers as “antichrists.” What were they saying?
History tells us that there were those who were called “Gnostics,” who proclaimed that God is a spirit and did not create matter, which in their view, was evil. God’s spirit dwelled in Jesus for a time but departed from Him prior to His crucifixion. As such, they were denying the dual nature of the Messiah as True God and True Man who became “flesh” and dwelt among us. The other thought process was called “Docetism” in which Jesus came to earth as a spirit without a real body of flesh, and that His death on the cross was not a true atonement for our sins.
John’s opening verses bring forth a feeling of “joy,” that is the fulfillment of our faith as we rest on His promises of life with Him in eternity. John’s letter is very personal as he refers to his readers as “dear children.” John restates the total nature of the Promised One as the pre-incarnate Christ and as true man who came into the world for our sins that separated us from God.
John encourages his readers to avoid sin and the evil one. Walk in the path of righteousness. He says, “The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (I John 2:17) John reminds his readers that all believers have been adopted into God’s family by Jesus’ atonement and refers to them as “children of God.” As children of the Father we are to love one another just as God loved us and sent His only Son to be sin for us and reunited us with the Father. Yes, God’s love (agape) is beyond comprehension. Twice St. John reminds us that “God is love.” The title of my notes includes the Latin translation from the Vulgate: Deus caritas est. Note that we also get the word “charity” from this Latin word, caritas. This is the same Latin word used for love in St. Paul’s great Love chapter in I Corinthians 13.
John’s farewell is one of ensuring that his readers test any who would claim be from God. If, he says, they do not acknowledge Jesus from God, then they are “spirits of the antichrist.” “But everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,” (I John 5:1). And as he puts his final stamp on the letter, John again reminds them that in Jesus there is eternal life! Amen.
As many of you know, my study Bible is over 30 years old and has been rebound three times. At the conclusion of this letter, I made notes from a pastor’s sermon (5/6/2018) which was entitled “Born to Overcome.” In his sermon he made several points:
- We are born of God (in faith)
- We are born to overcome (in faith) as a result of the Holy Spirit in baptism. And in that faith, we are born to serve Him.
- We are born to testifyàGod’s presence (Holy Spirit in baptism); and the means of grace (Word and Sacrament).
- God’s Testimony is this: That we have eternal life in Jesus Christ based on his sacrificial death and resurrection.
May the love of God shown in His son’s walk enable you to walk in love with one another and serve Him by serving others.
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
