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 lird 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

We have the advocate with the father ie JC.

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. see the love that the father has lavished on us. Be children of God.

g) 3:4-10. Beware of sin, the last exhortation is to avoid sin  

 

John wishes to state that the greatest weapon against sin is its recognition & its dependence on the redemption wrought by Jesus. The hall mark of the community is the self sacrificing love of Christians for one another, based on Jesus love for them. The failure to keep this great commandment of Love removes one from the sphere of the light of Jesus.

Vs 12-14. Children is the term for all :- ie father, older Christians in the community, youn men, recent Christians.

By their fruits you shall know them. Test the Spirit 4:1.

Ones spirit of tendency will betray itself in one action.