This week, we shall be studying the
book of I John in the New Testament.
1 John
1 John, together with 2 John and 3 John, are believed to be written by the Apostle John who wrote the Gospel of John. The similarities in emphases and the usage of words especially between 1 John and the Gospel provide strong evidence that the Apostle did write both documents. Early church fathers who attested to John’s authorship include Papias of Hierapolis, Irenaeus of Lyon, and Clement of Alexandria of the early to mid-2nd century. It is also believed that John wrote these three epistles toward the end of the 1st century (ca. A.D. 90). While the recipients of 1 John were unstated, it is believed that John wrote the epistle to the members of the churches in Asia Minor, and perhaps with Ephesus in mind. As we reflect on the contents of this epistle, we shall discover that John wrote it to combat at least the following in mind:
- The heresy that denies Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
- The heresy that encourages believers to continue to sin
- The “lovelessness” that marks the lives of believers
1:1-4—The Person of the Apostolic Proclamation
(1) The beliefs of the believers living at the end of the 1st century were based on the witnesses of the Apostles.a. How does John emphasize the kind of testimony he and the other Apostles have given? (1:1)
b. How reliable is their testimony? Why?
(2) Who is the “Word of Life” which was “from the beginning”? (Jn. 1:1)
a. Where has He come from? (1:2)
b. What does John call this life? (1:2) Why?
(3) What is the basis on which believers can have true fellowship with one another? (1:3)
(4) Why does John emphasize that their fellowship is with both “the Father and with His son, Jesus Christ”?
(5) What is the purpose of writing this epistle? (1:4) How so?
1:5-10—The Message of the Apostolic Proclamation
(6) According to John, what is the message that they have heard from Jesus Christ and that is now proclaimed to us? (1:5)
(7) What is the important implication of this message?
(8) It appears that John is using this message to deal with the heresies prevalent at the time and which concern sins that the believers are engaged in:
a. What do the heretics claim in v. 6?
- Why is it a lie?
- What is meant by walking in the light?
- Does it mean that we do not sin anymore?
- Does it mean that because we walk in the light, when we sin we are not hiding our sin but are acknowledging it?
- What might be the motive or reasoning behind such a heresy?
b. What do the heretics claim in v. 8?
- What might be the motive or reasoning behind such a heresy?
- Will the commission of sin by a believer jeopardize one’s relationship with God or just the continued fellowship with God? What is the difference?
- What should a believer do when he has sinned?
c. What do the heretics claim in v. 10?
- How different is this claim from v. 8?
- What might be the motive or reasoning behind such a claim?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
2:1-2—Concern for their sinful lifestyle: Verses 1-2 conclude John’s dealing with the heresies about sin for now.
(1) Since the denying of sin is such a serious matter, why does John call them “dear children”?
(2) What is another reason given by John for the purpose of his writing? (v. 1)
(3) How does John encourage them, the believers, to confess their sins, even sins of heresies such as those mentioned in the previous chapter?
(4) In what way(s) does Jesus Christ act as our advocate?
2:3-11—Lovelessness
(5) The Proof of “knowing Jesus Christ” (2:3-6)
a. What is the proof that we have come to know Jesus Christ? (v. 3)
b. Why is it the proof? (vv. 4-5)
c. What has the “love for God” to do with knowing Christ? (v. 5)
d. Why does John associate “knowing” (v.3) with “living in Him” (vv. 5-6)?
e. How then would you define “knowing Christ”?
(6) “The” Command to Keep (2:7-11)
a. Who gave this command to love in the first place? (Jn. 13:35; 15:12, 17)
b. Why then does John also say it is a new command? (v. 8)
- How is the truth of this command seen in (not just taught by) Jesus? I.e. what is His supreme act of love? (4:10)
- How is this truth also seen in us? (v.8)
- What does our hatred toward another believer signify? (2:9; 1:6)
- What is the effect of loving one another? (v. 10)
- What kind of stumbling is John referring to?
- What is the effect of hating another believer? (v. 11)
- Do you find this to be true? Why or why not?
- Does “not loving” necessarily mean “hating”? Why or why not?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
2:12-14—Reasons for Writing to Them: While there are many opinions as to the meaning of the terms children, fathers and young men, I would suggest that we simply take them as referring to the new, the young and the older believers.
(1) To the “dear children”
a. What status does John remind them of? (v. 12)
b. As children, what is their relationship to God? (v. 14)
c. If the above isn’t true, is there any point for John to write to them?
d. Since it is true, how should they treat the reminders by John in the letter?
(2) To the “fathers”
a. Who is the one “from the beginning” that John refers to? (1:1)
b. What status does John remind them of?
c. Since it is true, how should they treat the reminders by John in the letter?
(3) To the “young men”
a. What status does John remind them of? (v. 13)
b. What reasons are given by John for their overcoming of the evil one? (v. 14)
c. Since it is true, how should they treat the reminders by John in the letter?
2:15-17—Immediate Application of their Status in Christ
(4) What are the three marks of the world listed by John? (v. 16)
(5) How are these three marks expressed in the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? (Gen. 3:6)
(6) Why are the love of the world and the love of the Father mutually exclusive? (see Jas.4:4; 2 Cor. 6:14ff)
(7) What is another reason that John gives to encourage us to desire God and not the world? (v. 17)
(8) How then can we overcome our desire to love the world? (v. 14c)
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
2:18-27—Antichrists
(1) The “last hour” can mean the time between Jesus’ first and second coming, or the time immediately preceding Jesus’ second coming. Based on the contents (or perhaps, even the tone) of John’s words, which is John referring to?
(2) John uses both singular and plural forms to talk about “antichrists”. Why is it the case?
(3) Obviously, John is not indicating the “identity” of antichrist, but he is telling us the “marks” of these antichrists:
a. Who are they according to v. 19?
- “They went out from us”: What does it mean?
b. What is the lie that they are spreading? (v. 22)
(4) One of the heresies of Gnosticism is their claim of special enlightenment (or anointing):
a. How does John refute their claim that only they have the anointing? (v. 20)
b. How are all believers anointed? (2 Cor. 1:21-22)
c. And by whom? (v. 20. See also Mk. 1:24; Jn. 6:69; cf. Acts 3:14 about the “Holy One”)
(5) The importance of acknowledging that Jesus is the Christ:
a. Why would the “antichrists” deny Jesus is the Christ? (v. 22)
b. Why does denying Jesus as the Christ amount to denying the Father? (vv. 22-23)
c. How does John define “eternal life” in this context? (vv. 24-25)
2:26-29—Remain in Him
(6) Who is our real teacher according to v. 27? (See the work of the Holy Spirit also in Jn. 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
(7) How do the teachings from vv. 20-29 point to the truth of Trinity?
(8) Can someone who denies that Jesus is the Christ “remain in Him”? (v. 28)
(9) How then can we who believe “remain in Him”?
(10) Since John is not teaching salvation by work, what does v. 29 mean?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
3:1-3—Christ’s Return: John appears to have a sudden change of thought, bursting into a song of praise for God’s love. However, the thought is already expressed in 2:28 when he reminds us of Jesus’ second coming.
(1) Why is being called God’s children such a reflection of God’s great love lavished upon us? Is this how you feel? Why or why not?
(2) Why does John add that we are not only being called children of God by name, but that’s who we really are? (v. 1)
(3) What might have caused us to doubt if we really are God’s children? (3:1, 13; Jn. 15:18ff)
(4) What do we know and experience as children of God now?
(5) How much better will we be upon Christ’s return? (v. 2; see also 2 Cor. 3:18)
(6) Do you long to see Christ face to face? Why or why not?
(7) If so, what does John admonish us to do? Why? (v. 3)
3:4-10—Proof of the Children of God: They do not keep on sinning.
(8) How does John define sin? (v. 4) What does he mean?
(9) What was the purpose of Jesus’ first coming? (v. 5)
(10) Why was He the only one who could take away our sins?
(11) What was the other reason He came? (v. 8b)
(12) How did He do it? (Heb. 2:14-15)
(13) Why will no believer keep on sinning? (v. 6)
(14) Obviously there are those who seek to lead believers away in this respect (v. 7).
a. What might these false teachers teach to encourage themselves and others to sin?
b. How does John refute such teachings? (vv. 7, 9,10)
c. How does it echo the teaching of Jesus in Matt. 7:17?
(15) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
a. Why does he single out the sin of “lovelessness”? (3:10)
b. Is this a sin prevalent in the church?
c. Is this a sin that you have to deal with?
(2) Why does John say the message of love is one that we have heard from the beginning? (Jn. 13:34-35; 15:12, 17)
(3) Of all examples in the Bible, why does John use Cain as an example (Gen. 4)?
a. What caused Cain to murder his brother? (v. 12)
b. Would we commit the same sin within the church? Why or why not? (v. 15 and Matt. 5:21ff)
c. How then will you define “hatred”? (see Note below)
(4) Hatred is the mark of the world, especially toward God’s children. Why? (v. 13)
(5) How then should we distinguish ourselves from the world and why? (v. 14)
(6) While Cain is the example of hatred, Jesus Christ is the opposite example: Do you agree that Jesus Christ is the supreme example of love? Why or why not? (v. 16)
(7) Most of us will not have the need or opportunity to lay down our lives for others. How then can we follow Christ’s example of love? (vv. 17-18)
a. Where should we start in showing our love for others? (v. 17)
b. Is having a sense of pity enough? Why or why not? (v. 18)
(8) Do you have anyone that you still harbor hatred toward? (Remember the definition of hatred.)
(9) Do you have compassion on the needy?
(10) Is there someone you need to show love to and how might you put love in action today?
Note:
Howard Marshall defines hatred as “the wish that the other person was not there; it is the refusal to recognize his rights as a person, the longing that he might be dead” (Marshall, 191). Food for thought.
3:19-24—The Test of Love
(1) What is the test of love according to John?
(2) But our heart (or conscience) is not the most reliable gauge of our sin:
a. For Christians, “who” resides in our heart? (v. 24)
b. And “what” should also reside in our heart? (v. 19)
(3) When our hearts are at rest in His presence (i.e. we have confidence before God), what will happen to our prayers? (v. 22a)
(4) If our hearts are not at rest in His presence, what should we do?
(5) And now, John reduces all the commands in the Bible into one (singular) command.
a. What is it? (v. 23)
b. Why is this single command composed of two parts?
c. Can one exist without the other? Why or why not?
(6) Ultimately, how do we know that God lives in us (i.e. we have eternal life), both objectively and subjectively? (v. 24)
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?