Introduction and Authorship:
The First Epistle of John is a significant New Testament text traditionally attributed to the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee, who is also credited with the authorship of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. The epistle is believed to have been written in the late first century A.D., likely from Ephesus, where John is thought to have spent his later years. The writing style, vocabulary, and theological themes closely align with the Gospel of John, supporting the traditional view of common authorship.

Purpose and Themes:
The First Epistle of John addresses several key issues facing the early Christian community, including the nature of Christ, the importance of love, and the assurance of salvation. The epistle serves to combat emerging heresies, particularly Gnosticism, which denied the incarnation of Christ. John emphasizes the reality of Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, stating, "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (1 John 4:2).

A central theme of the epistle is the call to live in love and truth. John writes, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). This love is not merely an emotional response but a reflection of God's nature and a commandment for believers to follow.

Structure and Content:
The epistle lacks a formal introduction and conclusion, resembling more of a sermon or theological treatise than a traditional letter. It is structured around three main themes: God is light, God is love, and God is life.

1. God is Light (1 John 1:5-2:29): John begins by affirming the message heard from Jesus, "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). He calls believers to walk in the light, confessing their sins and living in fellowship with God and one another. The section emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commandments as evidence of knowing Him.

2. God is Love (1 John 3:1-4:21): This section elaborates on the nature of God's love and its implications for believers. John declares, "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19), urging Christians to love not only in words but in actions and truth. The love of God is demonstrated through the sending of His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sins, and believers are called to reflect this love in their relationships.

3. God is Life (1 John 5:1-21): The final section focuses on the assurance of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. John writes, "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11). The epistle concludes with a call to confidence in prayer and a warning against idolatry.

Key Doctrines:
The First Epistle of John is rich in doctrinal content, affirming the full humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, the necessity of love as a mark of true faith, and the assurance of salvation for those who believe in the Son of God. It underscores the importance of living in truth and righteousness, warning against false teachings and encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith.

Relevance for Today:
The First Epistle of John continues to be a vital source of theological insight and practical guidance for Christians. Its emphasis on love, truth, and assurance resonates with believers seeking to live out their faith in a complex and often challenging world. The epistle's call to discernment and fidelity to the apostolic message remains relevant as the Church navigates contemporary issues and challenges.the First Epistle General Of John

There can be no doubt that the apostle John was the author of this epistle. It was probably written from Ephesus, and most likely at the close of the first century. In the introduction, ch. (1 John 1:1-4) the apostle states the purpose of his epistle: it is to declare the word of life to those whom he is addressing, in order that he and they might be united in true communion with each other, and with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. His lesson throughout is that the means of union with God are, on the part of Christ, his atoning blood, ch. (1 John 1:7; 2:2; 3:5; 4:10,14; 5:6) and advocacy, ch. (1 John 2:1) on the part of man, holiness, ch. (1 John 1:6), obedience, ch. (1 John 2:3) purity, ch. (1 John 3:3) faith, ch. (1 John 3:23; 4:3; 5:5) and above all love. ch. (1 John 2:7; 3:14; 4:7; 5:1)

The First General Epistle of John
... The First General Epistle of John. CONTENTS It is impossible to give a satisfactory
schematic representation of the contents of this letter. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the first general epistle of 2.htm

The First Epistle General of Peter
... CHAPTER XXI THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. ... for its authenticity is strong, and
stronger than that for any other Catholic Epistle except 1 John. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxi the first epistle.htm

The Second and Third General Epistles of John
... concepts and expressions clearly remind us of I John, as fi ... Moreover the aim of these
letters is in general the same as that of the first Epistle, viz. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the second and third general.htm

First Epistle of St John, Ch. Ii. Part of the 1St and 2D Verses.
... First Epistle of St JOHN, Ch. II. ... of a guilty Conscience; and these are often found
to be fixed, without the least Ground, upon such general Declarations of ...
/.../sermon xii first epistle of.htm

The First General Epistle of Peter
... a period of twenty-five years as its first bishop. ... a terminology that was likely
to come into general use, as ... labors at the time, when this Epistle was composed ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the first general epistle of.htm

The Second Epistle General of Peter
... CHAPTER XXII THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. ... John. ... Readers of the First Epistle
could hardly fail to have these {247} facts printed in their very souls. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxii the second epistle.htm

1 John ii. 5
The First Epistle of John, Practically Explained. ... are here referred back to his word,
his doctrine in general. For John is not here speaking of single isolated ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 5.htm

1 John ii. 16
The First Epistle of John, Practically Explained. <. ... CHAPTER II. 1 John ii.
16. John now proceeds to exhibit that general contrariety, between the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john ii 16.htm

1 John iii. 8
The First Epistle of John, Practically Explained. ... of all sin with him from whom sin
first proceeded,"with ... are employed by John with the same general import. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iii 8.htm

1 John iii. 10
The First Epistle of John, Practically Explained. <. ... But why
then does John make only this general distinction? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john iii 10.htm

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