1. JESUS
AND THE
JOHANNINE
LETTERS
Lesson 1 for the 4th of July, 2009

2. WHO WAS JOHN?
John and his brother James were the “Sons of thunder”, converted in fishers of men by Jesus.
He enjoyed a closer relation with Jesus than the other apostles.
He was known as the disciple “whom Jesus loved”.

3. “John pressed into still closer intimacy with Jesus, so that he is distinguished as the one whom Jesus loved. The Saviour loved them all, but John's was the most receptive spirit. He was younger than the others, and with more of the child's confiding trust he opened his heart to Jesus. Thus he came more into sympathy with Christ, and through him the Saviour's deepest spiritual teaching was communicated to His people.”
E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 30, p. 292)

4. SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN
He was very young when he was called by Jesus.
He was the only apostle who was with Jesus during his trials and his crucifixion.
He lived in Jerusalem until its destruction in 70 AD, except some short trips

5. SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN
He was pastor of some churches in Asia Minor until he was sent to Rome to be judged by Emperor Domicianus.
He was condemned to die in a boiling oil cauldron, but he was miraculously saved.

6. SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN
Domincianus [81-96 AD] deported him to the isle of Patmos, where he wrote Revelation around 95 AD.
The next emperor, Nerva [96-98 AD], freed John and he returned Ephesus.

7. SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN
He wrote the Gospel named after him at the request of the elders.
He wrote the three letters at an advanced age (about 90 years old)
He was the only apostle who didn’t suffered a violent death (of those registered)
SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN

8. Was John the real author of these letters?
Reading the gospel and the three letters is enough to understand that all were written by the same person. These are some of the resemblances:
Gospel of John
1st epistle of John
"that your joy may be full" (16: 24).
"that your joy may be full" (1: 4).
"does not know where he is going" (12: 35).
"does not know where he is going“ (2: 11).
"the Spirit of truth" (14: 17).
"the spirit of truth" (4: 6).
"abides forever" (8: 35).
"abides forever" (2: 17).
“that you love one another” (15: 12).
"that we should love one another” (3: 11).
“has passed from death into life” (5: 24).
"we have passed from death to life” (3: 14).
"I always do those things that please Him" (8: 29).
"[we] do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (3: 22).
"He gave His only begotten Son" (3:16).
"God has sent His only begotten Son" (4: 9).
"In Him was life" (1: 4).
"this life is in His Son" (5: 11).

9. THE LETTERS THEME The main theme is God’s love: God is love.
Love comes from God.
God loved us and sent his Son.
Consequently, we should love one another.

10. THE LETTERS THEME
He wrote to fight heresies that started to spread inside the church.
“John was filled with sadness as he saw these poisonous errors creeping into the church. He saw the dangers to which the church was exposed, and he met the emergency with promptness and decision. The epistles of John breathe the spirit of love. It seems as if he wrote with a pen dipped in love. But when he came in contact with those who were breaking the law of God, yet claiming that they were living without sin, he did not hesitate to warn them of their fearful deception.”
E.G.W. (The Acts of the Apostles, cp. 54, p. 554)

11. HERESIES DOCETISM CERINTHUS
John fights two important heresies:
DOCETISM
CERINTHUS
He was contemporary of John; he studied in Egypt and taught in Asia minor. He taught that Jesus was born in a natural way through Joseph and Mary, and that Christ entered inside Jesus’ body in his baptism but he left it before the crucifixion.
They denied incarnation and they taught that Christ had a human body only in appearance.
“This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,”
1 John, 4: 2 NIV

12. HERESIES
The third epistle of John was written against one of supporters of these Gnostic heresies: Diotrephes. He prevented the reading of the 1st epistle of John to the church. He tried to stop those in favour of John preaching in the church and he expelled everyone who agreed them (3 John, 9-10)

13. JESUS IN JOHN’S LETTERS
Jesus, inseparable from the Father, is shown in the letters as:
TRUE LIGHT
VERB OF LIFE
THE CHRIST
SON OF GOD
ETERNAL LIFE
TRUE GOD
JUST LAWYER
THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD

14. JESUS IN JOHN’S LETTERS
John shows us the theological concepts about the divine-human nature of Jesus, and he also emphasizes the interceding work he does for us:
His blood clears us of every sin.
He gives us eternal life.
He gives us confidence in his Coming.
He undoes the works of the devil.
He gave his life for us.
He keeps those who believe in Him and He protects them.
He gives us grace, mercy and peace.

15. BELIEVE IN HIM ! LOVE HIM ! FOLLOW HIM ! OBEY HIM !
If Jesus gives you forgiveness of sins, security of salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the hope of His Second Coming, if he promises that we’ll be like Him and we’ll see Him as He is, then...
BELIEVE IN HIM ! LOVE HIM ! FOLLOW HIM ! OBEY HIM !
REMAIN IN HIM AND IN HIS TEACHINGS !