1 John

Traditionally thought to have been by the same author as John’s gospel; stylistically very similar, especially in terms of light and dark imagery.

This Epistle was written in Ephesus between the years 100-110. The work may have been written to counter the heresies that

·         Christ was not pre-existent (1:1-2)

·         Christ’s death was not an atonement for sin (1:7)

·         Christ did not come ‘in the flesh’, but only as a spirit (4:2)

The epistle also defined how Christians are to discern true teachers: by their ethics, their proclamation of Jesus in the flesh, and by their love.

Among the most controversial verses of the Bible is an explicit reference to what some people consider the trinity, the Comma Johanneum, (5:7-8). These verses do not appear in any version of the text prior to the ninth century, but do appear in the King James Bible. About the year 800, the Comma appeared in some texts of the Latin Vulgate, and was subsequently translated into Greek and added to later Greek manuscripts. According to Bart Ehrman (Misquoting Jesus, 2005), the King James Version would not have included the passage if Erasmus had not given in to pressure to include it in the Textus Receptus (Greek text of the New Testament), even though he doubted its authenticity. The majority of modern translations do not include the text.


1

We have witnessed the word of life, which was from the beginning. We declare it to you so that you may share our fellowship with the Father and His son Jesus Christ. These things we write to you that your joy may be full. God is light, and in Him in no darkness. We cannot say we have fellowship with Him if we walk in darkness. If we walk in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and are cleansed from our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.


2

My little children, I write these things so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father. He is the propitiation not just for our sins, but for those of the whole world. To know Christ is to keep his commandments. He who loves his brother walks in the light, and he who hates his brother walks in darkness. Your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. Father have known Him who is from the beginning, young men have overcome the wicked one, little children have known the Father. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. All that is of the world is not of the Father. The world is passing away, but the will of God abides forever. It is the last hour, and many antichrists have come. He is an antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either. Abide in what you have heard, and you will abide in the Father and the Son. A promise is made of eternal life. The anointing which you have received is your protection against deception. Make sure you are not ashamed before Christ at His coming. Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.


3

What love that we should be called the children of God! The world does not know us because we know Him. When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, and see Him as He is. This hope is purifying. Sin is lawlessness, blind to and unknowing of God. Whoever has been born of God does not sin; he who sins is of the devil, and does not love his brethren. The message you have heard from the beginning is that we should love one another. Cain was wicked, and murdered his brother. No murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Christ’s laying down his life for us shows us love; we ought to do the same for our brethren. Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Our heart will condemn us, or not condemn us. Whatever we ask we receive from Him. We should believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and love one another.


4

Do not believe every spirit – many false prophets have gone out into the world. All spirits who do not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh are not of God, but of the Antichrist. You, little children, have overcome the spirits of the Antichrist, who are of the world, and in error. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God revealed his love by sending his Son into the world, that we might live through him. If we love one another. And confess Jesus Christ, then God abides in us, and vice versa. We may be bold on the day of judgment – he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Jesus because he first loved us. He who loves God must love his brother also.


5

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. We demonstrate our love by keeping God’s commandments, which are not burdensome. Faith overcomes the world.

The Comma Johanneum (in italics):

There are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

·         Tertullian – water and blood = baptism and Jesus blood spilt on the cross

·         Augustine – water and blood = the water and blood that flowed from Jesus’ side on the cross in John 19:34

·         Luther and Calvin – water and blood = baptism and communion

The witness of God is greater than the witness of men. He who has the Son has eternal life. If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Pray for a brother who commits a sin that does not lead to death. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. The Son of God has given us an understanding. Keep yourself from idols. Amen.