THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN
Author:
John, one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is traditionally identified as the author of 1, 2, and 3 John. Although John’s name is never mentioned in these letters, there are three compelling clues that point to him as the author. First, early second-century writers referred to him as the author. Second, the letters include similar vocabulary and writing style to the Gospel of John. Third, the author wrote that he had seen and touched the body of Jesus, which was certainly true of the Apostle.
Audience:
The audience for 1 John is not indicated explicitly in the letter. However, the contents indicate that John wrote to believers. It is possible that it was addressed to Saints in several locations. The letter provides little or no evidence on which to fix a place or time of writing. If the tradition of John’s long residence in Ephesus is correct, the letter could have been written from there between A.D. 70–100.
Historical Background:
Deceivers arose among the early Saints. Their false doctrines are known to us as Gnosticism. John corrected the false teachings of the Gnostics by bearing powerful witness of the Savior’s physical existence.
Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge; Arabic: الغنوصية) is the dualistic belief that the material world should be shunned and the spiritual world should be embraced. Gnostic ideas influenced many ancient religions which teach that gnosis (variously interpreted as enlightenment, salvation, emancipation or 'oneness with God') may be reached by practicing philanthropy to the point of personal poverty, sexual abstinence (as far as possible for hearers, total for initiates) and diligently searching for wisdom by helping others.
Colossians 2:18, 19. What Does Paul Mean by the Worshiping of Angels?
The Gnostic philosophy held that God was not directly approachable by man but had to be contacted through a series of angelic mediators or less divine spirits. Paul is here denouncing this idea of worshiping angels, which led the saints away from allegiance to the true head (Christ), and only true mediator between man and God.
(see the commentary for Colossians 2:18, 19 and the “Introduction” to 1 John in The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, pp. 345, 429
Suppose you had lived in the days of Jesus and had actually spent time in his presence. Suppose that you had heard him teach, had seen the miracles he had performed, and had felt by the Spirit the power of the testimony he bore of himself - that he came into the world to do the will of the Father, which included giving his life. Further, suppose you were a witness to his resurrection and had been privileged a nd worthy enough to see and feel the wounds made during his sacrifice, in part, for your sins. How would you feel toward the Savior? How would you feel about a teaching spreading among some of your fellow Christians that Jesus didn't really suffer for anyone's sins but merely seemed to do so? Further, that he really wasn't a partaker of mortality but only appeared to be , and that the physical body the Lord displayed after the resurrection was an illusion?
This was the problem faced by the apostle John. It appears that some Christians had adopted an early form of Gnosticism and were teaching that Jesus could not have truly come in the flesh, for God is holy and could have nothing to do with contaminating matter. To explain the Savior's presence on earth, the Gnostics set forth two arguments: either Christ was only apparently human or else the spirit which inhabited Jesus' mortal body descended into the man Jesus at the time of his commitment to God in baptism and departed just prior to his suffering on the cross. Thus Christ did not really suffer for our sins; it was only the man Jesus who was crucified. The first of these philosophies was known as Docetism, so called from the Greek word dokeo, "to seem or appear," and the latter was known as Cerinthianism, named for Cerinthus, its primary proponent in the first century.
John wrote, among other reasons, to dispel such notions. Note his insistence that he had personally seen and "handled" the "Word of life", a strike at Docetism. Notice also his vehement statement that whoever "denieth that Jesus is the Christ" is a liar, a slap at Cerinthianism. Finally, notice his declaration that "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" is not of God but is anti-Christ.
As you turn your attention to the book of 1 John, consider the power of John's testimony as an eyewitness of Jesus Christ's appearance in the flesh. Consider also the meaning in your life as John teaches that you can come to know the true God and Christ and, more, have a fellowship with them. As you read, look for his instructions on how you can develop this fellowship and how you can know that another person has true fellowship with those members of the Godhead.
“Introduction” to 1 John in The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, pp. 345, 429
John wanted to protect the Saints from the destructive ideas of the Gnostics. He refuted Gnostic doctrine by encouraging the Saints to continue believing and living what they had previously been taught about the divine sonship of Jesus.
President Ezra Taft Benson taught:
“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities. “We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives”.
Chapter 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 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. 1 John 1:1–3
• To what had John been an eyewitness?
• What are some scripture mastery scriptures that speak of eyewitnesses to Christ?
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is alight, 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 … 1 John 1:5–6
• How do these two verses relate to Matthew 6:24?
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
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.
1 John 1:7
• How do we “walk in the light”?
• How will following Christ’s example “[cleanse] 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. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And [But] if any man sin [and repent], we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous …
1 John 1:8–2:1 [JST, 1 John 2:1]
• How does bringing our sins to light (confessing) prepare us to repent?
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3–4
• How do you feel about the Savior when you try hard to do what He asks?
• Do you feel any different about Him when you ignore His words? Why?
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:5–6
• How does keeping the Savior’s words reflect His example in our lives?
Chapters 2-4
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18–19
A statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, then a member of the Seventy:
“Life has its share of some fear and some failure. Sometimes things fall short, don’t quite measure up. Sometimes in both personal and public life, we are seemingly left without strength to go on. Sometimes people fail us, or economies and circumstance fail us, and life with its hardship and heartache can leave us feeling very alone.
“But when such difficult moments come to us, I testify that there is one thing which will never, ever fail us. One thing alone will stand the test of all time, of all tribulation, all trouble, and all transgression. One thing only never faileth—and that is the pure love of Christ.
“. . . Only the pure love of Christ will see us through. It is Christ’s love which suffereth long, and is kind. It is Christ’s love which is not puffed up nor easily provoked. Only his pure love enables him—and us—to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things”.
(in Conference Report, Oct. 1989, 32; or Ensign, Nov. 1989, 26)
Chapter 5
As our love for God increases, He will bless us with greater confidence and take away our fear.
THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN
Author:
John the Apostle is traditionally identified as the author of 2 John.
Audience:
This Epistle was written to “the elect lady and her children”. It is unknown whether John was addressing specific people or speaking to the Church community in figurative language.
Historical Background:
The background of 2 and 3 John is similar to that of John’s first letter. It is supposed that these two letters were written about A.D. 85–95 somewhere in the Roman Empire.
Theme:
The early Saints often housed and supported traveling Church leaders and teachers. False and apostate teachers advancing their Gnostic message also traveled and took advantage of the hospitality of Church members. John appealed to his readers to use discernment and avoid supporting these people, lest the Saints contribute to the promotion of heresy.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie believed that 2 and 3 John may have been personal letters written to members of John’s immediate family. These letters provide a view of John as one who was concerned with the Church membership as a whole but who also had personal concerns for individual members.
Chapter 1
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2 John 1:1, 4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
3 John 1:4
• How did John feel about his “children”?
• What did they do to bring him such joy?
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:13, 17
Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord. 1 Nephi 3:6–8
I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites. Alma 38:3
An epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying: My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work.
Moroni 8:1–2
Obedience to the gospel not only brings happiness to our lives but also blesses those around us.
THE THIRD EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN
Author:
John the Apostle is traditionally identified as the author of 3 John.
Audience:
This Epistle was written to Gaius, a faithful member of the Church. It was the custom of early Church members to take Christian missionaries into their homes and provide for their needs. John praised Gaius for his unselfish devotion to the cause of Christ in providing accommodations for God’s traveling servants.
Historical Background:
In addition to the problem of false teachers traveling around and deceiving the Saints, some Church leaders served for personal ambition rather than for the love of Christ or His Saints. Diotrephes was one such erring leader. He was guilty of trying to assert his authority over that of an Apostle.
Theme:
John wrote to compliment Gaius for his faithfulness and encourage him. John also wanted to indirectly warn Diotrephes.
Because the faithful Saints in John’s day suffered persecution from outside the Church, they watched out for one another. John complimented them for their support of their fellow Saints. Latter-day Saints of past years experienced similar conditions that served to strengthen them. Elder Harold B. Lee, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, explained: “During the early days of the Church we passed through a period of slander and misrepresentation, and we came through. It drove us together because of enemies from the outside. And we survived it. We passed through a period of mobbing and driving, when lives were taken and blood was shed, and somehow the place of the martyr gave us strength. We passed through poverty, and we gained strength from the test of it. Then we passed through an age of what we might call apostasy, or betrayal from the inside—one of the severest tests through which we have passed. We are now going through another test—a period of what we might call sophistication. This is a time when there are many clever people who are not willing to listen to the humble prophets of the Lord. And we have suffered from that. It is rather a severe test”.
(“Sweet Are the Uses of Adversity,” The Instructor, June 1965, 217)
Chapter 1
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2:17
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. D&C 121:37, 39
• How do these scriptures relate to Gaius and Diotrephes?
• Why do so many people “exercise unrighteous dominion”?