Subject: Study of 1 John |
Bible Note: A Study of the Epistle of 1 John by Nolan Keck ***************************** The apostle John has always been one of my favorite subjects of study within Scripture! Every evidence points to John the elder, being the same man as John the apostle, as the author of this letter (Luke 6:13,14). 1 John is the first and largest of 3 epistles that bear the Apostle John's name. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a "general epistle." Although 1 John does not exhibit some of the general characteristics of an epistle common to that time (e.g., no introduction, greeting, or concluding salutation), its intimate tone and content indicate that the term "epistle" still applies to it. The epistle does not identify John as the author, but this anonymity strongly affirms the early church's identification of the epistle with John the apostle, for only someone of John's well known and preeminent status as an apostle would be able to write with such unmistakable authority, expecting complete obedience from his readers, without clearly identifying himself. The similarity of vocabulary and writing style between this book and the Gospel of John argues convincingly that both were written by the same person. Strong tradition says that John spent his old age in Ephesus. Lack of personal references in this letter indicates that it was written in sermonic style to Christians all over Asia Minor (much like Ephesians). It was probably written after the gospel and before the persecution under Domitian in A.D. 95, which places its writing in the late 80s or early 90s. John's readers were confronted with an early form of Gnostic teaching of the Cerinthian variety. This heresy was also libertine, throwing off all moral restraints. Consequently, John wrote this letter with two basic purposes in mind: (1) to expose false teachers (2:26) and (2) to give believers assurance of salvation (5:13). In keeping with his intention to combat Gnostic teachers, John specifically struck at their total lack of morality (3:8-10); and by giving eyewitness testimony to the incarnation, he sought to confirm his readers' belief in the incarnate Christ (1:3). Success in this would give the writer joy (1:4). Outline of 1 John ****************************** I. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship (1:1-2:17) A. The Fundamental Tests of Doctrine (1:1-2:2) 1. A biblical view of Christ (1:1-4) 2. A biblical view of sin (1:5-2:2) B. The Fundamental Tests of Morals (2:3-17) 1. A biblical view of obedience (2:3-6) 2. A biblical view of love (2:7-17) a. The love that God requires (2:7-11) b. The love that God hates (2:12-17) II. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship (2:18-3:24) A. Part 2 of the Doctrinal Test (2:18-27) 1. Antichrists depart from Christian fellowship (2:18-21) 2. Antichrists deny the Christian faith (2:22-25) 3. Antichrists deceive the Christian faithful (2:26,27) B. Part 2 of the Moral Test (2:28-3:24) 1. The purifying hope of the Lord's return (2:28-3:3) 2. The Christian's incompatibility with sin (3:4-24) a. The requirement of righteousness (3:4-10) b. The requirement of love (3:11-24) III. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship (4:1-21) A. Part 3 of the Doctrinal Test (4:1-6) 1. The demonic source of false doctrine (4:1-3) 2. The need for sound doctrine (4:4-6) B. Part 3 of the Moral Test (4:7-21) 1. God's character of love (4:7-10) 2. God's requirement of love (4:11-21) IV. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship (5:1-21) A. The Victorious Life in Christ (5:1-5) B. The Witness of God for Christ (5:6-12) C. Christian Certainties Because of Christ (5:13-21) 1. The certainty of eternal life (5:13) 2. The certainty of answered prayer (5:14-17) 3. The certainty of victory over sin and Satan (5:18-21) |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 22021 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for 1 John | Author | ||
|
L. Reed | ||
|
Hank | ||
|
taby815 | ||
|
Racersedge | ||
|
Makarios | ||
|
Makarios | ||
|
Makarios | ||
|
top | ||
|
ecbntmkr | ||
|
ecbntmkr | ||
|
wxflight | ||
|
kirk |