1. The Letters of John The Knowledge of Life Eternal
December 4, 2016
Through the Bible in a Year
Xavier Reyna, Director
Ben Compere, Editor
Wayman Lim, Choir Director
Susan Turner, Prayer Warrior
Anthony Smith, Sergeant at Arms
“Few books in the New Testament are more loved, memorized, or quoted than 1 John. On the other hand one is hard pressed to find any books of scripture more ignored and less taught than 2 and 3 John…” D.L. Akin, “1,2,3 John”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

2. An Introduction to a Book of the Bible Provides Three Things:
Information: general information about the book
Insights: to enhance a more detailed study of the book
Incentive: whets your appetite to pursue further study of the book
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

3. John’s Letters are Grouped in the General Epistles
Introduction
John’s Letters are Grouped in the General Epistles
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

4. The Knowledge of Life Eternal
Lesson
The “Tests of Life”
John calls on us to “test” our profession of faith by examining what we believe about Jesus, how we treat our fellow man and how we handle our failures to obey God’s commands to assure us that we possess life eternal .
The Knowledge of Life Eternal
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

5. Two Keys to Aid in Understanding John’s Letters
Purpose: warn the readers against false teaching encourage them to know they have eternal life
False teaching issues:
Sin – do God’s children sin?
Loving one another – can we hate our brothers?
Correct Christology - can the Christ be human?
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

6. The Author
How Do We Know John is the Author? The Argument for Johannine Authorship
All the epistles are anonymous!!
The Gospel of John was written by John, the apostle
1 John is similar to the Gospel of John in vocabulary and style
2 & 3 John are similar to 1 John in vocabulary and style
2 & 3 John are closely related
External evidence attests to John’s authorship
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

7. What Little We Know About Those to Whom John Writes
The Audience
What Little We Know About Those to Whom John Writes
John’s Network of Churches
A network of churches close to Ephesus
John is likely the venerated leader of these churches
These churches have been recently harassed with false teaching
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

8. What Prompted John to Write These Letters?
Circumstances
What Prompted John to Write These Letters?
Theological conflict within John’s network of churches has resulted in people leaving the churches
John refers to the schismatics as:
Deceivers (2 John 7
Liars (1 John 2:4,22; 4:40)
False prophets (1 John 4:1)
Antichrists (1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7)
Former church members among them (1 John 2:19)
Continually seek to convert the church members (2 John 7-11)
“John has to combat false teachers who are splitting churches and taking followers with them...” C.L. Blomberg, “From Pentecost to Patmos ”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

9. The Relationship Among John’s Correspondence
Gospel of John: Against the heretics
1 John:
The heretics have begun to secede
2 John:
Heretics attack those remaining
3 John: True believers are under siege
Revelation: Believers have lost their first love
“The three letters of ‘John’ provide a kind of sequel to the Gospel of John … Each of these letters addresses challenges very specific situations within the life of specific communities…” D.A. DeSilva, “An Introduction to the New Testament”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

10. The Letters of John Compared and Contrasted
Relationship
The Letters of John Compared and Contrasted
Attribute
1 John
2 John
3 John
Chapters 5 1
Verses
105 13 15
Words
2141
245
219
Key Verse
5:13
9-11 4
Author
Anonymous
The elder
Recipients
Dear children: believers of John’s churches who had just experienced a church split
The chosen lady: believers of John’s churches who are harassed by heretical missionaries
Gaius, a friend of the elder and a church leader who has to deal with a malcontent, Diotrephes
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

11. The Letters of John Compared and Contrasted…2
Relationship
The Letters of John Compared and Contrasted…2
Attribute
1 John
2 John
3 John
Occasion
Recent departure of false teachers from the church
False teachers desiring “hospitality” from believers
Diotrephes making trouble in his local church
Purpose
To assure them that they have eternal life in spite of what the false teachers are telling them
To instruct the chosen lady not to provide “hospitality” to heretical missionaries
To call attention to Diotrephes malicious works when the elder visits
Themes
Incarnation, righteousness, love
Truth, love, hospitality
Truth, hospitality
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

12. Helpful Facts for Understanding the Style of John’s Letters
Affectionate: “dear, children, dear friends” (15 times)
Limited and repetitive vocabulary: love, know, world, children, son
Simple sentence structure: “God is love.”
Frequent use of antitheses: light/darkness; love/hate; sin/righteousness; truth/lies
Repetitive consideration of major themes
No Old Testament quotations and only one allusion
“It combines profound thought with simplicity of expression.”
D. Guthrie, “New Testament Introduction”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

13. The Purpose for John’s Letters
To assure his “dear children” that they have eternal life in spite of what the false teachers are telling them
2 John
To instruct the chosen lady not to provide “hospitality” to heretical missionaries
3 John
To call attention to Diotrephes’ malicious works
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

14. Summary of John’s Letters
1 John – John writes to a congregation of his “dear children” and repeatedly explains three “tests of life” concerning (1) the believers’ relationship to sin, (2) the believers’ relationship to each other (love) and (3) the true believers’ conviction that Jesus the man is the Christ. He reviews these tests not only to refute false teachers but also to reassure his “dear children” of their possession of eternal life.
2 John – John writes to the “chosen lady” to walk in love and to be on the lookout for deceivers who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. He urges her not to provide hospitality to these false teachers.
3 John – John writes to his friend Gaius to commend him for his adherence to the truth and his love and hospitality towards the fellow believers. He warns Gaius about the troublesome Diotrephes who is spreading malicious rumors about John and is refusing hospitality to John’s people. He also commends Demetrius.
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

15. The Structure of 1 John Not based on hard and fast divisions
Analysis
The Structure of 1 John
“The epistle is exceedingly difficult to analyze.”
D.E. Hiebert, “An Introduction to the New Testament ”
Not based on hard and fast divisions
Based on recurrent themes
Repeatedly cycles through three key themes which together form the “Tests of Life”
Sin: Do God’s children sin?
Loving one another: Can we hate our brothers?
Correct Christology: Can the Christ be human?
“Probably few commentators have satisfied themselves with their own analysis of this epistle; still fewer have satisfied other people. “ Alfred Plummer
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

16. 1 John Prologue: (1:1–4) The Test of Life: Cycle One (1:5–2:27)
Analysis
Prologue: (1:1–4)
The Test of Life: Cycle One (1:5–2:27)
Sin vs. Obedience (1;5-2:6)
Love for One Another (2:7-17)
Correct Christology (2:18-27)
The Test of Life: Cycle Two (2:28-4:6)
Sin vs. Righteousness (2:28-3:10)
Love for One Another (3:11-24)
Correct Christology (4:1-6)
The Test of Life: Cycle Three (4:7-5:21)
Love for One Another (4:7-21)
Correct Christology (5:1-15)
Sin vs. Life (5:16-21)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

17. 1 John: The Tests of Life Tests Sin Love One Another
Analysis
1 John: The Tests of Life
Notice: Cycle 3 is out of order.
Tests
Cycle 1
Cycle 2
Cycle 3
Sin
1:5-2:6
2:28-3:10
5:16-21
Love One Another
2:7-17
3:11-24
4:7-21
Correct Christology
2:18-27
4:1-6
5:1-15
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

18. 2 and 3 John are Much Easier to Analyze than 1 John
Analysis
2 and 3 John are Much Easier to Analyze than 1 John
2 John
3 John
Greetings to the Chosen Lady (1-3)
Walk in Truth and Love (4-6)
No Hospitality for False Teachers (7-11)
Benediction (12-13)
Greetings to Gaius (1)
Commendation of Gaius (2-8)
Condemnation of Trouble-Making Diotrephes (9-10)
Commendation of Demetrius (11-12)
Benediction (12-13)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

19. John’s Three “Tests of Life”
Sin: relationship between sin and being God’s children (1:5-2:6; 2:29-3:10;3:23-24;5:4-21)
Loving one another: treat your fellow believers as Jesus treats you (2:7-10; 3:10-24; 4:7-5:3)
Correct Christology: believe that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh (2:18-28; 3:23-4:6; 4:14-15; 5:1-15)
“In 1 John, the apostle repeatedly introduced these tests to help his readers come to an assurance about their relationship to God.”
Lea and Black, “the New Testament”
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

20. The False Teachers Failed The Sin Test
Tests of Life
The False Teachers Failed The Sin Test
John’s Accusations: They claimed to
Have fellowship with God yet walk in darkness (1 John1:6)
Be without sin (1 John 1:8,10)
Know God, but are disobedient (1 John 2:4)
John’s Affirmations
To abide in God is to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6)
To sin shows one does not know God (1 John 3:3-6; 5:18)
Whoever sins belongs to the devil (1 John 3:7-10)
Anyone who has done evil has not seen God (3 John 11)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

21. The False Teachers Failed The Love Test
Tests of Life
The False Teachers Failed The Love Test
John’s Accusations: They claimed to
Love God but hate their brothers and sisters (1 John 4:20)
Be in the light, but hate their fellow Christians (1 John 2:9)
John’s Affirmations
We should love one another (1 John 3:11-12,17-18)
Refusing to love one another means that one has not inherited eternal life (1 John 3:14-15)
God is love and to know him is to love (1 John 4:8-10)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

22. The False Teachers Failed The Christology Test
Tests of Life
The False Teachers Failed The Christology Test
John’s Accusations: They denied
The Son (1 John 2:23)
That Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2; 2 John 7)
That Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22)
John’s Affirmations
Jesus is the Christ (1 John 5:1)
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2)
Jesus is the Son (1 John 2:23; 3:23; 5:1)
Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 1:3,7; 3:8,24; 4:9-10,15)
Jesus Christ came by “water and blood” (1John 5:6)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

23. Historical Background on the Theology of the False Teachers
Spirit/Matter Dualism: matter is the source of evil; spirit the source of good
Docetism: the divine Christ could not possibly dwell in a genuinely human body, therefore Jesus’ body was an illusion and only seemed human
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

24. Historical Background on the Theology of the False Teachers…2
Cerinthianism: distinguishes between the heavenly Christ and the earthly Jesus. The Christ descended on Jesus at his baptism and departed before his crucifixion
Christ Descending
Christ Departing
Jesus’ Baptism
Jesus’ Crucifixion
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

25. Historical Background on the Theology of the False Teachers…3
Antinomianism (against the law):
Body (evil) and spirit (good) are not related therefore, the spirit can not be held responsible for the deeds of the body
Therefore, the body can do as it pleases since sin is an inherent quality of bodily existence
The spirit can not sin since it is inherently good
Knowledge:
Knowledge, not love, is the highest virtue
Claimed to know God but their actions said otherwise
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

26. Two Keys to Aid in Understanding John’s Letters
Purpose: warn the readers against false teaching encourage them to know they have eternal life
False teaching issues:
Sin – do God’s children sin?
Loving one another – can we hate our brothers?
Correct Christology - can the Christ be human?
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

27. Do You Pass the Tests of Life?
Application
Do You Pass the Tests of Life?
Test
Question
Grade
Sin
What type of life do we live?
PASS
Love
Do we love other believers?
PASS
Jesus
Do we believe the correct teaching about Jesus?
PASS
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

28. John wrote these letters because:
Test
John wrote these letters because:
He was unable to visit these churches
His people had an incorrect view of sin
False teachers were attacking his churches
He needed their support to be elected bishop
His churches were not loving one another
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” Heb. 1:1,2,

29. John’s “Tests of Life” deal with which topics?:
Truth , knowledge and love
Light, love and life
Fellowship, hospitality and missions
Sin, love and Jesus
Eldership, apostleship and bishops
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” Heb. 1:1,2,

30. John’s purpose for writing was to:
Test
John’s purpose for writing was to:
Rebuke false teaching
Assure his “dear children and friends” of their eternal life
Explain Greek philosophical thought
Explain the how God is love
Assert his apostolic authority over his network of churches
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” Heb. 1:1,2,