Prem & Amy Saganti with Rev (Dr) and Mrs. S. E. CFCC 2009 January 10, 2009 Studies from the Epistles of John

Walking in Fellowship with Christ so as to Not be Drawn into False Beliefs Walking in Fellowship with Christ so as to Not be Drawn into False Beliefs That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:4-10 KJV)

The First Epistle of JOHN The similarities between this epistle and the Gospel of John provide conclusive evidence that the author of 1 John was the Apostle John (see introduction to the Gospel of John), The usage of words like "truth," "light," and phrases like "in the light," and "born of God' in 1 John reveal the significant resemblances in structure, style, and vocabulary to John's Gospel. It is also significant that John's anonymity is evident in his epistles as it was in his Gospel (see introduction to John). He never uses his authority as an apostle in substantiating his message, but begins this first epistle much the same way as with the Gospel of John (1John 1:1, 2, cf. John 1:1, 2, 14). This differs from both Paul's and Peter's writings where they use their authority as apostles of Christ to give weight to their message. John was writing this epistle to believers, namely to those who were members of the churches of Asia Minor. Because the letter addresses such broad moral topics, it is clear that John's goal was to provide direction for those Christians who faced new challenges to their faith. At this time, there was an emergence of various groups whose teachings opposed Christianity. These people infiltrated the church, and there were many who gave in to their denial of the key fundamentals of Christianity (e.g., Christ's deity and resurrection).

The First Epistle of JOHN (contd.) As opposition to the believers' faith arose, they were encouraged to continue walking in fellowship with Christ so as to not be drawn into false beliefs (1 John 1:5 - 2:2). The Book of 1 John is believed to have been written in approximately A.D. 90. There are several ways that this date can be substantiated. First, there are no references by John to any persecutions of believers. From an examination of church history during the first century A.D., one may observe that there were no significant persecutions on Christians until the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan (A.D ). Secondly, if the date were closer to A.D. 70, John would certainly have had reason to refer to the catastrophic events surrounding the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the temple. However, an examination of the focus of John's epistle makes it obvious that he is instructing believers concerning the heretics that were being spread among them, not concerning some disaster that had come as a result of political events. [Source for Introduction of chapter: Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible KJV edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422]

The First Epistle of JOHN (contd.) Hence, the infiltration of these corrupt ideas that the church was experiencing was most likely from gentile influences, not Jewish opposition. Thus, this would most certainly place the date of writing much later than A.D. 70. It has been suggested that this Book of 1 John is divided into four major sections. John seeks first to warn believers concerning indifference to morality and sin (1 John 1:1 - 2:11) Next, he admonishes concerning a love for the things of the world as opposed to a love for the things of Christ (1 John 2: ). A third section deals with importance of the believer exhibiting a pure and righteous love, especially when relating to another brother in Christ (1 John 2:29 - 3:22). Finally, John reveals that a true faith in Christ as the Son of God is [Source for Introduction of chapter: Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible KJV edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422]

Love One Another I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (2 John 1:4-6 KJV)

The 2 nd Epistle of JOHN The Apostle John is unmistakably the author of this book (see introduction to I John). It probably written about the same time as the Book of 1 John (AD ) and may have addressed to some of the same people. The "elect lady and her children" (2 John 1:1) be a reference to an actual lady and her children, but many scholars contend that this is a cryptic way of addressing a church to safeguard against the letter falling into the hands of those who were hostile to the Church. The purpose of the book was to warn against false teachers who commonly traveled church to church spreading heresy. John instructed that these people should not even receive ordinary hospitality from those in the church (2 John 1:10, 11). Another objective of Book of 2 John was to inform the recipients of his plans to visit them soon. This is also as the reason for the brevity of the letter (2 John 1:12). [Source for Introduction of chapter: Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible KJV edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422]

Children Walk in Truth "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:3-4 kjv)

The 3 rd Epistle of JOHN The Book of 3 John was written by the Apostle John who calls himself 'the elder'. It is closely related to the books of 1 and 2 John (see introductions to these books) in that they deal with similar subjects and were all written about the same time (ca. A.D O). John addressed this letter to Gaius who was a leader in the congregation of a church that John had most likely helped to establish. The purpose of this epistle was to encourage Gains to continue to help those who were spreading the gospel and teaching the truth (3 John 1:5ff). John also wanted to express his displeasure about the offensive behavior of Diotrephes who refused to accept John and was mistreating other believers (3 John 1:9). Furthermore, he revealed his intention to visit the church there himself and reprove this proud, selfish, and indifferent man (3 John 1:10). [Source for Introduction of chapter: Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible KJV edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422]

From MSN Encarta Epistles of John, three books of the New Testament. Ecclesiastical tradition has ascribed them to Saint John the Evangelist. Today, however, considerable disagreement exists over the authorship of the five books ascribed to John: the three Epistles, the Gospel of John, and Revelation. Thus, for example, despite close similarities in language, literary style, and theology between the three Epistles and the Gospel, some scholars attribute the Gospel and 1 John to John the Evangelist, and 2 and 3 John to another author, perhaps “the elder” (a church official) named in 2 John 1:1 and 3 John 1:1. Other scholars attribute all four works to the same person, possibly “the elder,” instead of to John the Evangelist. Still other scholars, making no mention of the Gospel, attribute 1 and 2 John to one author and 3 John to another. A view favored by many commentators is that one author, who may have been “the elder,” wrote all three Epistles and the Gospel. Scholars generally agree that the letters date from about the turn of the 1st century AD.

From MSN Encarta: I John The first Epistle is in the form of a homily, rather than that of a traditional epistle, with its characteristic salutation (giving the name of the writer and the destination of the letter) and closing greetings. Probably, it was written for circulation among the churches of a region, perhaps Asia Minor, instead of to a specific church or congregation. The author's primary concern, never specified in the letter, appears to have been certain “false prophets” (4:1) who denied “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [and] is of God” (4:2). The teaching of these “antichrists” (2:18) was apparently an incipient form of Gnosticism, a religious philosophy that so disrupted the unity of the early churches that the author approved of the withdrawal by some of these “antichrists” from the Christian community (2:19). A second major concern was to counteract the “spirit of error” (4:6) introduced by the false prophets. The author reminds the faithful of the true revelation, that “God is love,” that “he loved us, and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins,” and therefore that “if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another,” for “if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us” (4:8-12).

From MSN Encarta: II John The second Epistle, the shortest book of the Bible (consisting of 13 verses), is addressed to “the elect lady and her children” (1:1). Scholars agree that “the elect lady” referred to here is not a woman but a church, possibly one of the churches in Asia Minor. The author presents the main points of 1 John in a much abridged form (1:4-9), adding, however, the warning that “if any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house” (1:10). Such a person is “the deceiver and the antichrist” (1:7); and he that shows him hospitality “shares his wicked work” (1:11).

From MSN Encarta: III John The third Epistle, also a brief letter, is addressed to an individual named Gaius (1:1),apparently an exemplary church member. The occasion for writing seems to have been the behavior of another member, Diotrephes (1:9). Diotrephes has refused to recognize the authority of “the elder,” who promises to deal personally with Diotrephes at a later time (1:10). The author praises Gaius for behaving properly (1:3-7) and urges him to continue being a fellow worker “in the truth” (1:8).

An Overview of I-John

1/6

2/6

3/6

4/6

5/6

6/6