Subject: salvation |
Bible Note: Yes the gnostic teaching had begun as history tells us. However, the purpose for John writing 1 John and determining who he is writing to might help us. John tells us in seven different verses his purpose for writing: 1:4 - And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 2:1 - My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.. 2:12-14 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning, I am writing to you, young men, becuase you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong , and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 2:21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. We see from these verses that John was writing to the believers and was warning them of those trying to deceive them, possibly the gnostics. |