1 John
Book Overview
Author: John the Apostle (same author as Gospel of John) Date of Writing: Approximately 85-95 AD Historical Context: Early Gnostic-like heresy denying Jesus came in flesh; some left the church Original Audience: Churches in Asia Minor under John's care Purpose: To provide assurance of salvation and expose false teaching about Jesus and Christian living Genre: Epistle; more like sermon or tract than typical letter
One-Sentence Summary
God is light and love; genuine believers demonstrate authentic faith through right belief about Jesus, obedience to God's commands, and love for one another.
Book Structure
-
God is Light: Fellowship and Confession (1:1-2:27)
- The Word of Life proclaimed (1:1-4)
- Walk in the light (1:5-2:2)
- Obedience and love required (2:3-17)
- Warning against antichrists (2:18-27)
-
Children of God: Righteousness and Love (2:28-4:6)
- Practice righteousness (2:28-3:10)
- Love one another (3:11-24)
- Test the spirits (4:1-6)
-
God is Love: Love and Assurance (4:7-5:21)
- God's love and our love (4:7-21)
- Faith conquers the world (5:1-12)
- Assurance and confident prayer (5:13-21)
Key Verses
1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Significance: Provides assurance that honest confession leads to complete forgiveness and cleansing through God's faithfulness.
1 John 3:16-18 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Significance: Defines genuine Christian love as practical, sacrificial action modeled on Christ's ultimate sacrifice, not mere words.
1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved us."
Significance: Establishes that all Christian love flows from and responds to God's initiating love, not from human effort or merit.
Key Themes & Messages
Major Themes
-
Assurance of Salvation
- These things written "so that you may know you have eternal life"
- Tests of genuine faith: belief, obedience, love
- Children of God with confident access to Father
- Assurance grounded in God's testimony about His Son
-
God is Light
- God is light; in Him is no darkness at all
- Walk in the light to have fellowship
- If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves
- Jesus' blood purifies from all sin
-
God is Love
- God is love - defines His nature
- Loved us while we were still sinners
- We love because He first loved us
- Perfect love drives out fear
-
Test of Genuine Faith
- Obedience: keep His commands
- Love: love for fellow believers
- Confession: Jesus came in the flesh
- Righteous living, not continuing in sin
-
Warning Against False Teachers
- Antichrists deny Jesus is the Christ
- Docetism: denying Jesus came in flesh
- Those who left "were not really of us"
- Test the spirits - do they confess Jesus?
Central Message
1 John provides tests for genuine salvation: right belief about Jesus, obedience to God's commands, and love for other believers. Written to counter early heresy denying Jesus' true humanity, John emphasizes that the eternal Word became flesh. God is both light (requiring holiness) and love (providing forgiveness). Christians can have assurance of salvation through these evidences of genuine faith. The letter combats false teaching while encouraging believers in their relationship with God, whom John presents as knowable, loving Father. Walking in light and love demonstrates we are God's children.
Practical Application
For Daily Living:
- Walk in the Light: Practice honesty and transparency - confess your sins regularly rather than hiding or denying them (1 John 1:7-9)
- Love Concretely: Don't just say you love other believers - demonstrate it through actions and generosity when you see genuine need (1 John 3:17-18)
- Test Teachers: Evaluate any teaching against this standard - does it confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh? (1 John 4:2-3)
- Keep God's Commands: Show your love for God through obedience - His commands are not burdensome when you truly know Him (1 John 5:3)
- Love Without Fear: Let God's perfect love drive out fear - you can approach Him confidently as His beloved child (1 John 4:18)
For Spiritual Growth:
- Regularly examine your life using John's three tests: right belief about Jesus, obedience to His commands, and love for fellow believers
- Develop assurance of salvation by observing these evidences of genuine faith in your life (1 John 5:13)
- Meditate on God's nature as both light (holy) and love (gracious) - let this dual truth shape your understanding of relationship with Him
- Practice abiding in Christ by staying connected through prayer, Scripture, and obedience - this produces spiritual fruitfulness (1 John 2:28)
Recommended Resources
Commentaries
Best Overall The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Colin G. Kruse - Excellent treatment of John's tests of genuine faith with pastoral sensitivity.
For Beginners The Epistles of John (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) by John Stott - Clear, accessible exposition of assurance and authentic Christianity.
For In-Depth Study 1, 2, and 3 John (NIV Application Commentary) by Gary M. Burge - Outstanding at applying John's teaching on love and truth to contemporary Christian living.
Technical/Academic The Epistles of John (NIGTC) by I. Howard Marshall - Comprehensive scholarly treatment with careful attention to theological and interpretive issues.