The First Epistle of John (1 John) is the first of three epistles traditionally attributed to John, the beloved apostle. When we compare these works, it is clear that the same author wrote them. 1 John builds on the ideas established in the Gospel of John that God is light and God is love. The opening verses of the epistle draw from the Gospel of John, using much of the same language and alluding to the same argument that the word was the beginning and the word was Christ.
Authorship and Date
1 John does not identify its author. The author does, however, claim to be an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus. He must have been a disciple, and considering the language, style, and themes, it was most likely the same person who authored the Gospel of John. That would imply that the author of 1 John was John, son of Zebedee, son of thunder, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and brother to James. Various Church Fathers from the 2nd to 3rd century agreed that John was the author, among them Irenaeus (140-203 CE), Clement of Alexandria (150-215 CE), Tertullian (155-222 CE), and Origen (185-253 CE).
There are numerous similarities between 1 John and the Gospel of John. In both, the author uses opposites to illustrate his point, such as light and darkness, love and hate, truth and lies, and life and death. The sharp way the author refers to people, using terms like Antichrist, liars, and children of the devil, also fits the character of a “son of thunder.”
The letter dates to around 85 to 95 CE. He was likely an old man by that time, while some of his references allude to challenges the church faced in the late 1st century. He wrote this letter after the Gospel of John and he builds on much of what he had said in his gospel already.
Historical Context
1 John does not specify who the intended audience was, or where they were from. It is, however, clear that they were believers. John likely intended the epistle as a circular letter to a series of churches who would pass it along. That would explain why it does not mention anyone by name. Tradition has John residing around Ephesus from about 70 to 100 CE. John may have intended the letter for the seven churches he later mentions in Revelation (if he was the author).
From 1 John, the reader can glean that the churches he wrote to faced challenges from a form of Gnosticism called Cerinthianism. It taught that the divine Christ joined with the man Jesus at his baptism and left him just before his death.
Structure
1 John is more of a poetic sermon than a letter. It cycles through themes and, therefore, does not have the conventional structure a letter would have. Nonetheless, we can identify distinct sections in the epistle.
Salutation (1 John 1:1-4)
The author does not identify himself, but the style, vocabulary, and gist of the introductory verses remind the reader of John. The author claims to have been an eyewitness to the actions of Jesus.
God is light (1 John 1:5-2:9)
The metaphor of light versus darkness builds on the words of Jesus in John 8:12 and 9:5 where he declares that he is the light of the world. The author argues that a believer cannot engage in acts associated with darkness and claim to be in the light.
God is love (1 John 2:10-5:12)
1 John emphatically declares that God is love. It speaks to his nature and those that follow him should display that attribute as well.
Conclusion (1 John 5:13-21)
The epistle concludes with what John claims believers can know in the light of his epistle. It aims to reassure the reader and establish them in the faith.
Main Themes
God is light
The light metaphor is a continuing theme in John’s writings, resembling that which is from God and exposes all evil. Christ is the light God has sent to humanity. The light exposes sin and allows us to recognize it and rid ourselves of it.
God is love
Of the various Greek words for love, the Bible only uses agape in connection with God. Being a believer has the ethical implication of extending the love received toward others even if it is not reciprocated. John explains that love drives away all fear and places the interests of others before the self. Jesus exemplified that principle by his sacrifice on the cross on behalf of all.
Warning against the Antichrist
Like other epistles by Paul and Peter, John also warns of false teachings. He went as far as calling those who deny Christ is from God “Antichrist” and claimed that, though a future Antichrist was expected, there were already antichrists in the world in his day.
Testing the spirits
Because of the prevalence of deception, John warned that the believer should not believe every spirit but should test it to ensure the spirits are not prophesying falsehoods.
Faith in the Son of God
Because of the onslaught on the connection between the Son and the Father, John calls on readers to have faith in the Son, for in the Son, the believer has eternal life. Translations in the Erasmus tradition after 1522 contain the Johannine comma, text inserted in 1 John 5:7 and 8 which reads “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth … ” It does not appear in any manuscripts before that time.
Key Passages
1 John 1:1
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — ”
1 John 1:1 reflects much of the theology of the first chapter of the Gospel of John, specifically John 1:1 and 14. It alludes to the word that was from the beginning and became flesh to live among men. The focus is on the physical reality of Jesus as a man. It immediately speaks against the gnostic view called Docetism, the belief that the body of Christ was celestial or phantom, as opposed to physical.
1 John 1:5-6
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
Light and darkness are the first metaphors John employs to describe Christ. It reminds us of John 1:4-5, which uses the same metaphor. Light and darkness are not opposites. Rather, darkness is the absence of light. Darkness cannot overpower the light. If there is no light, darkness is the default.
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
John divides all sin into three categories, “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life.” This has a remarkable correlation with the narrative on the fall of man in Genesis 3:5-6 and the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). These desires are temporary but could have eternal consequences.
1 John 2:22-23
“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
John taught that it is a characteristic of the Antichrist to deny the unity between the Father and the Son. The early church had a much clearer view of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit than could be established from Old Testament teaching. They coined the term perichoresis to describe the unity of the Trinity.
1 John 3:1
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
This verse shows the love of God and his desire to draw close to us and adopt us as children. To the world, those who walk in darkness, will not make sense because they cannot grasp the love of God and will not understand the believer’s response to it.
1 John 3:16
“By this, we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
Christ, in his self-sacrificial act, has set an example for every believer to follow. This does not necessarily imply believers must die for others physically but rather refers to being dedicated to serving others with the love of God.
1 John 4:1
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John offers a stark warning about being led astray. Because of the deception in the last days that many of the gospels and epistles warn about, believers should test the spirits to ensure that the message is authentically from God.
Contemporary Significance
The First Epistle of John holds much value for the contemporary believer. It affirms the humanity and divinity of Christ, assures salvation, and shows that the believer can attain victory over the world. It also contains practical teaching on Christian living, calling on readers to love one another and espouse ethical living and obedience to God. In addition, it warns against false teachings and false teachers. All these are contemporary issues in Christianity that need to be highlighted.
