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I JOHN – LESSON 1

I. THE AUTHOR: THE APOSTLE JOHN

A. John, the apostle, is writer of five New Testament Books: Gospel of John, I, II, III John, and Revelation.  In this study, we will examine the three Epistles which bear his name.

1. I John was written to people in general.

2. II and III John are personal letters to: “the elect lady” and “Gaius.”

B. John was one of the sons of Zebedee – a well-to-do fisherman (Mark 1:20).  His mother was Salome (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40).

1. Close to Peter in the work as fishermen (Luke 5:10)

2. Close to Peter in the work as disciples of Jesus (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1, 26:37; Acts 4:13, 19).

3. “Boanerges” – “sons of thunder” indicates an impetuous nature (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:49, 54).

4. Yet, tender in admonition toward believing readers ‘ “little children” (John 13:33, I John 2:1, 12, 18; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21).

5. A pillar in the church at Jerusalem; banished to the Island of Patmos (Galatians 2:9; Acts 8:14; Revelation 1:9).

II. GONISTICISM IN THE BACKGROUND

A. From “Ginosko” – “to know;”  “Knowledge” not because of higher intellect, but of superior revelation (cf. I Timothy 6:20).

1. John combats this secret knowledge with “Hereby we know…” (2:3, 5, 18; 3:2, 24; 4:2,6; 5:2, 13, 18, 19, 20).

B. Belief in “matter” being inherently “evil” and “spirit” inherently “good.”  

1. Produced a false concept of Jesus as the Christ.

a. The Christ did not come in the flesh – “Docetism” (from “dokein” – to seem).  (cf. I John 1:1).

b. Cerinthus a contemporary of John believed the Christ came upon the man Jesus at baptism and left him at the cross (I John 4:2; 5:6).

2. Produced a false concept about living for God. The fleshly part of man was what was sinning, not the inherently good spirit (cf. I John 1:8).

C. Clear contrasts presented: Light/darkness; children of God/ children of the Devil; life/death; truth/error; love/hate (1:5; 3:10, 14; 4:6, 4:20).  

III. PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE

A. To present the true knowledge of God for living in order that eternal life could be enjoyed (1:4; 2:1, 13-17, 21-24, 26; 5:13).

IV. OUTLINE:

A. PROLOGUE: Word of life manifested (1:1-4)

B. Knowing fellowship with God as it related to sin (1:5-10)

C. Knowing God by godly action (2:1-17)

D. Knowing the last hour and the antichrist (2:18-29)

E. Knowing the character of the children of God (3:1-12)

F. Knowing the character of love (3:13-23)

G. Knowing the true spirit (3:24- 4:6)

H. Knowing that God is love (4:7-21)

I. Knowing the victorious faith (5:1-12)

J. Knowing eternal life (5:13-21)