I. INTRODUCTION : It was believed that they were written by the disciples , but not so, it is similar to the Gs of John

 

                              1 Jn 4:10   > Gods love for us 3:16          

 2 fold thoughts <

                              John 13:34 = 1 Jn 4:7 > Our love for all = loving our selves

The Gs of Jn resembles the letter of Jn

John wants to say Active love is the only true religion.

Relation between the 1 Jn to the Gs of Jn.

Similarities between the vocabulary & style: The common ideas are:

The word made flesh

The only begotten saviour

Coming in the flesh

Privacy of faith & love

The anti thesis of light & darkness, truth & lie

Differences Several key words of Johns Gs are not in 1 Jn.’ Glory, HSp, mission, judgment

The key wds in 1Jn not in Jn are anointing, parousia, the seed of god, Anti Xt, communion

In 1 Jn there are no quotations of the Ot like Jn.

The authors are not the same

The initial tradition must be passed to Johannine community.

 

i) 2, 3 Jn corresponds to the convention of the ancient letters writing, but they are typical in not giving a personal name for sender & in 2 Jn it is not stated to whom the letter is addressed to. & where the Church is addressed to.

ii) 2 Jn has the wds grace, mercy, peace, Vs3. in the form of a statement, & not a greeting.

3 Jn has no greeting

iii) 1 Jn has no name of the sender & receiver, no formula of greeting or conclusion.

It is more a didactic ( teaching & instructions) composition or an encyclical

( letters meant for the public giving teachings on different matters on matters of faith & moral)---going to group of churches in Asia.

 

Who is Jn in 2, 3, Jn is the elder

The title is unique in the NT

In the Johannine school, we could identify 4people a) beloved disciple. b) Evangelist who called himself John. c) Presbyters of the 3 epistles. d) Redactors ( final editors = the one who gives the final SHAPE )

of the Gs           What is the possibility--- of 1, 2, 3, Jn = 100AD date of this epistle , disciple of the school of Jn.         

 

In Greek interpretation go back to the life situation / background in which the text written, what is the meaning for us today. Never take the Bible literally. The problem in 1 Jn is false teachers. Therefore Jn had to counter this problem that had come up in the community. Jn is aware that the community is aware of this & therefore gives this teaching.

Why Jn wrote this letter: 2:18;   2:28;   4:1; 4:26; 5:13.

This is a testament to his disciples. The only effective way to counter error (false teachers) is to give men an idea. To live by, to hold up before them the incarnate son of God. It is worth having experience of the word of life.

Who were the false teachers. Biblical scholars tell us they are Gnostics. Gnossos = Knowledge, secret knowledge, there were different form of Gnostics those who claim superior form of knowledge. Which went hand in hand with moral conduct.

From the epistles the Gnostics claim the knowledge of God

The Gnostics believed in myths a divine spark who claim & in another spark they received knowledge. They thought they knew how to save them selves. They thought they had superior knowledge that was above all people. For them morality did not matter 1 Jn 2:4, they thought they had overcome the flesh. JC came in flesh, so they did not believe in him. ‘Jesus was fully divine & fully human’. 

4:8   Our love for all .

4:20 you cannot love God without loving Gods people. Claim fellowship with God.

1:6 superior to those of the ordinary Christians

2:6-9. They deny that Jesus is the Messiah. 2:22 because of their superior knowledge.

4:15; 5:5 They also deny that Js has come from flesh, flesh is evil & cursed. How can the Messiah come from flesh 4:2.---5:6 Jn speaks emphatically, he makes a strong emphasis. John refers to the baptism & the death of Jesus, Jesus is not a ghost or a phantom, He was born in flesh. 1 John 1:1 uses the 5 senses

i) The Anti-Christ could be Gnostics = false teachers

ii) The others could be Docetists, The Docetists denied that Jesus was truly human. ‘Jesus was truly human &fully divine’

iii) Cerinthus: He held that Xt was a spiritual being that descended upon Jesus. Jesus lived a normal life, as a normal man after baptism, & withdrew from him before crucifixion & returned to the father.

Either one or all three were effecting the community.

The authors emphasis on the need to breaking from sin & his insistence of the practical living is against the Gnostics, who hold that sin is of no account in one who possesses the perfect knowledge of God. Also when one is occupied with God one has no concern with others.

1 Jn 3:10 What does John say in reply to those who are children of God will do.---------

Anti-Christ can be Gnostics, Docetist, Cerinthus. John deals with these anti-Christ at 3 levels

They denied that JC was the son of God. 2:22-23

They negated the importance of Jesus by not confessing him as the Xt came in to flesh 4:3

They probably thought that salvation came solely by the entrance of the son of God into the world so   

They believed that God did send Jesus, in particular they may have neglected the atoning bloody death of Jesus which the author then emphasized

John had t reverse this:

1:7 Jesus’ blood cleanses us from our sins

2:2 Jesus died for the whole world

4:10 Our punishment fell on the sinless one, the son takes our punishment on him self.

5:6

All the anti-Christ boast in being in common with God & knowing God by walking in darkness & not keeping the commandments 1:6; 2:4.

Indeed they claimed not to have sinned 1:8, 10, you are calling God a liar. 3:4-6.

The author insists that a true child of God does not sin 3:9-10; 5:18.

and keeps the commandments especially to love ones fellow Christians 3:11, 23. 2:5

The children of God must walk in purity & love just as Gods son Jesus did 2:6; 3:3,7. 4:10-11.

3:9-10; 5:18; 3:11,23; 2:5, 2:6, 3:3,7; 4:10-11 To be righteous to be in the right relation with God.

The anti-Christ claims to be a teacher & even a prophet led by the spirit. How does John tackle this ?

John disclaims the need for a teacher 2:27 & warns against false prophets 4:1   4:5-6 2:27

The author of 1 & 2 John claims that his views & not those of the anti-xt represents the true Gs held from the beginning 1:5 3:11—(2 pts)

The author bears witness to the tradition that comes down from the beloved disciples ‘WE” who by personal witness or association have heard seen looked upon & felt Jesus the embodiment of the Life of God 1 John 1:1-4 prologue.

 

1:1-4         Prologue

1:5-2:27    Communion with God.

2:28 – 4:6 Living as children of God.

4:7 – 5:12 Love & Faith

5:13         Conclusion

5:14 – 21. Appendix

 

1. Prologue 1:1-4.

Historical reality that they have experienced JC

John 3:16 ( the wd was made flesh) The incarnate son is seen, heard, touched that we have eternal life

We now see some similarities between Gs John & 1 John.

Here it is the life that was made known. This is the proclamation of divine life.

With out the son there was no access to God. We were separated from God because of sin. Now JC bridges the gap. This fellowship with the father is the root of Xtian joy Vs 4. an essential constituent of the Johannine community.

Complete joy is eternal Joy in Jesus possessed by all those who believe.

Johns joy of the risen lord is not complete unless you share it with others. By sharing with them the experience of the risen Lord

2. Johns exhortation to walk in the light 1:5-7

a) God is light, John sees the world in light & darkness, darkness is evil. Walking in the light means keeping the commandments.

b) Jn calls his followers to oppose sin 1:8- 2:2

c) Keep the commandment 2:3-11.

d) Be not of this world 2:12-17.   If you begin to love the things of the world, you will not love God.

e) Be aware of the anti-xt 2:18-27. Be faithful to the teachings that you were given at your baptism.

f) Be children of God 2: 28—3:3

g) 3:4-10. Beware of sin, the last exhortation is to avoid sin, sin is real & because of sin Jesus died for    

Vs:12-14 Children is the general term used for ALL, father, older Xtians in the community, young men

4:1> By their fruits you shall know them, test the spirit, ones spirit of tendency will betray itself in ones

 

The elder elect lady used for an unnamed local church, the members of this church are called children

John loves this community, he loves them in their divine truth. The divine truth is JC

Vs 4: John complements the church saying there are at least some following the truth.

The problem of 2 John is the same as 1 Jn that of the false teachers

Jesus is essential for any real worship to the father

Vs 7: I beg you dear children if you adopt their wrong doings you will forfeit everlasting life.

In to your house = Church.

 

This letter is addressed to Gaius, He was a lay Xtian, some say he was the bishop of Pergamum

(found in the book of Rev) He is a good man. Gaius is blessed because some of the Xtians have reported his kindness to traveling missionaries.

1:3-8 John emphasizes on truth                                When you are born, you cry & every one rejoices

Vs 7: Walking in truth                                                   When you die Every one cries & you rejoice                  

Vs 5,6: Brotherly love.                                                     

In the letter there is a character opposing Gaius named Diotrophes, he ignores the authority of the presbyters (the over seer of the community) He rejects the presbyters letters, reviles him & blocks his missionaries. Case of insubordination, abusing his authority.

Demetrius = one of the missionaries for whom the letter act as a recommendation  before Gaius.

‘his Xtian way of life is his own recommendation”

 

It belongs to a section called Catholic Epistles

The readers are not identified, This is a tract addressed to the Xtians in general.

It looks like a Jewish Hellenistic homely.

Jude / Thaddeus   Mk 3:18 list of apostles----------Lk 6:16; --Acts1:13.

Gal 1:19 He claims blood ties with James (the brother of the Lord)

Act 15:13-21 – leader of the church—executed by Herod.

Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3 Jude is mentioned as a brother of the Lord.

This is a pseudonymous letter, written in the name of John.

Vs 17: Disciple has put Jude’s name.

Vs 3: characteristic of the early Xtian writing.

Language: It has an excellent Greek style, it could be Hellenistic, it is attributed to the early disciples. Written around late 1^st.centuary AD.

Purpose: There are scoffers in the community.

Vs 18: They are contesting the validity of Gods authority 

Vs 4: Their bad theology leads to immorality.

Why is the letter written—to combat the false teachers, who abuse the freedom of the Gs 7 equivalently deny Xt.

There is an internal conflict one the leaders of the church & the traditional issues, called to question.

Vs 19: They who caused divisions are possibly Gnostics, so the letter describes their licentious behavior

 (immoral behavior) 4, 6-8; 12-13; 16.

Vs 4: Ungodly

Vs 6-8: Defiled Flesh, rejected authority, slander, he is referring to fallen angels.

Vs 12-13, 16: there is severe punishment that are awaiting these Gnostics.

1-2: Opening greetings.

3-4: Appearance of false teachers.

5-16: Certainty of the punishment of the false teachers.

17-23: How the faithful should counter false doctrines

24-25: Doxology—Statement of praise

 

Vs 3-4: His eagerness to write to the faithful was because Jude was a very orthodox man

The heretics pervert grace (freedom)  to licentiousness.

& they deny that Jesus is Lord & Master.

Their doctrine is so perverse that it leads to the worse type of sexual morality. The heretics also despise some important item of faith & so are seen as reflecting Jesus teaching Mt 10:33.

Vs 5-8: Warning are given by using biblical examples Num 14:35.

Vs 11-13. 3 more examples of Sin.

In Jewish tradition these 3 are characterized as figures who rejected Gods judgment who act contrary to divine directives & rise in rebellion against Gods established leader this trio is commonly linked together who lead Israel in to error- who lead rebellion as God punished this trio of sinners so he will punish the heretics.

 

11-13: Like moisture less clouds, they have no direction & so are the heretics

 

Judgment will be pronounced on these sinners.

Vs 22-23: The church should protect it self from heresy, must protect the week ones from the heretics.

Because lust is soiling their baptismal garments of grace.

Vs 24-25: Right theology leads to right morality, uprightness in faith & morals leads to Joy & glory. God is acclaimed for his glory, power & authority, the vey things the heretics deny.