Letters from John

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Reading Guide

1-2-3 John - January 12-18

Author: John son of Zebedee - the Apostle John. The Author is not named in the letters but he says he was an eyewitness to Jesus (1 John 1:1-4). In 2 and 3 John, he identifies himself as “the elder”. Many writings of church fathers (the next two generations) name John as the author.

Date: 90-95 AD. Occasion and purpose: 1 John is a circular letter to several house churches in the area around Ephesus. 2 John is a letter to a specific house church. 3 John is a letter to an individual in a house church. A group of people have left the church and have denied Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God (1 John 2:18-23; 4:1-3). They are stirring up hostility among those who remain in the church (1 John 3:4-10)

1 John

Note how all of the key ideas in this letter are also emphasized in the Gospel of John. John’s goal is to persuade these Christians to stay true to what they already say they believe. John has a few core ideas he wants to communicate about Life, Love, and Truth. He does this by cycling back and forth around and between these core values in a repetitive way. He uses cyclical repetition, hyperbole, and stark contrasts (example - light and darkness) to make his points.

Introduction (1:1-4)

“This is the message we have heard from Him…that God is Light.” (1:5)

Look for contrasts: light vs darkness; sin vs obedience; deception vs truth

“This is the message which you have heard…that we should love one another.” (3:11- 5:17) Compare the character and words of those who are in the Spirit with the character and words of the false prophets

Conclusion (5:18-21) “We are in him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.”

2 John - A warning to a specific house church (“the chosen lady and her children”): “The elder” warns them that people he describes as “deceivers” may come to their church, and that they should not listen to them or offer them support. What specifically is the false belief of the deceivers?

3 John - Written to a member of one of these house churches, Gaius. “The elder” compliments Gaius for welcoming his representatives but tells him to push back against Diotrephes, a church leader who has refused to welcome them and has opposed “the elder”. Compare the character of Gaius and Diotrephes.

Bonus: List the characteristics of the antichrists (1 John 2:18-25; 4:1-6) (2 John 1:7-11)

For discussion next week:

Give some thought to these statements regarding how we read and understand the Bible.

The bible was written for us but it was not written to us.

Walk a mile in my shoes.

History repeats itself.