1, 2, + 3 JOHN BOOK OVERVIEW
NEW TESTAMENT LETTERS: JOHN‘S MESSAGE TO BELIEVERS
Although authorship is not clearly stated, 1 John was likely written by John the apostle, an eyewitness of Jesus. John was likely writing to churches in Ephesus that were experiencing crisis and division because of false teachers and those abandoning the faith. 1 John was written to encourage believers and control the damage done by the people who denied Jesus as the Savior.
This collection of letters reiterates the teachings of Jesus and reminds believers to stay true to their beliefs and to love one another. John encouraged his readers not to love the world and the things of it, but to cling tightly to faith in God, the source of all light and love. John argued that he did not know God apart from Jesus because Jesus is God’s ultimate expression of love.
MAIN IDEAS: GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ALL LOVE AND TRUTH
As a response to loving God, believers abide with God and follow His teaching. (1 John 2:4-6)
Believers are to imitate God’s perfect love by relying on His love and loving one another. (1 John 4:7)
Believers are called to be aware of false teachers. (2 John v.5-7)
Believers are to imitate God by showing hospitality and supporting one another. (3 John 1:8)
EXAMPLE OF GOD’S CHARACTER: LOVE + LIGHT
The author of 1, 2, and 3 John did not simply believe that God is the creator of love and light, but that God Himself is love and light. 1 John 1:5 states that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Light brings clarity, peace, and comfort - all qualities that God provides for His people.
God showed His love for humanity by sacrificing Jesus, His only son. 1 John 3:16 says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” God demonstrated His perfect love and provided believers with an example of how to show love to one another.
God’s perfect love and light were ultimately victorious over sin and darkness. The darkness is passing away, and the light is already shining (1 John 2:8). God promises that there will be trouble in the world, but through His love and light, God has overcome the world (John 16:33).
JESUS IN 1, 2, + 3 JOHN: THE MANIFEST WORD OF GOD
The author began 1 John by reflecting on the divine nature of Jesus. As a disciple of Jesus, the author had seen Jesus in the flesh with his own eyes, touched Him with his own hands, and heard Him speak. Similar to the first words of the gospel of John, the author stated that Christ was “the word of life, and the life was made manifest” (1 John 1:1-2). Jesus is the physical manifestation of God’s love and absolute truth.
The author addressed false teachers and those who deceive. In order to test what is true, the author taught followers of Jesus to discern God’s people by their belief in Jesus as the Savior. 1 John 4:2 says, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” To recognize the true messengers of the gospel, believers are to listen to those who declare that Jesus is God’s son, the Savior.
