Purpose of the book of 1 john

However, there are unmistakable similarities in vocabulary, thought pattern, and writing style between these letters and john s gospel. By using this website, i acknowledge that i am 16 years of age or older. I118, the writers statement of his purpose in writing 20. The purpose of the letter was probably to help the church avoid error in its teaching. Purpose of first john sermon by frank lay, 1 john 5. Written nearly 30 years after matthew, mark and luke, the purpose of john is dramatically evangelistic.

Although 1 john had its origins during a period of false teaching, the authors main purpose is not to confront heresy, but to reassure those who remain that they do indeed know the truth about jesus, and consequently do have eternal life. He calls himself the elder see 2 john 1, which seems to have been johns self designation in the final years of his ministry. Purpose in terms of a positive stated purpose, john gives us reasons why he wrote these epistles. The book of 1 john is not an essay or dissertation, but a teaching of gods word in letterform. The book of john is an eyewitness account of jesus ministry ad 2933 enriched by the authors understanding of jewish traditions and accurate geographical knowledge of palestine. Consequently, john wrote this letter with two basic purposes in mind. The book of 1 john is a letter although it contains no opening address or greeting typically found in a letter, which identifies the writer and the recipients to whom it was written. The book of john was written after the destruction of jerusalem, in a. The authors purpose is clearly expressed in what must have been the original ending of the gospel at the end of jn 20. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that were not recorded in this book. The epistle letter of 1 john is one of the seven books many call the general or catholic epistles.

Jul 25, 2016 verses 1 18 are the prologue to the gospel of john. May 26, 2006 his purpose was to induce his readers or those with whom his readers came into contact to believe in jesus and thus have life in him. It is significant that for the author of 1 john it is the presence of gods. Now jesus did many other signs in the presence of his. The book of 1stjohn is a general epistle apostolic letter. False teachers had gone out from the church and had begun to teach another doctrine. Purpose and audience john specifically states his purpose in 20. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. The most logical reason is john wanted to focus his message primarily on christs deity, not on his kingship and kingdom. John refers to these false teachers as antichrist and false prophets. God is light, and love is the supreme commandment 1 john 1. But these are written that you may believe that jesus is the messiah, the son of god, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

In this remarkable letter, john tells us the truth about relationships and shows us how to have relationships that are real, for both now and eternity. Overview of the book of 1 john third millennium ministries. The purpose of this gospel, as stated by john himself, is to show that jesus of nazareth was christ, the son of god, and that believers in him might have eternal life. John likely wrote 1 john from ephesus, where apparently he had relocated near the time of the fall of jerusalem to the romans in a. The whole gospel of john is a progressive revelation of the glory of gods only son, who comes to reveal the father and then returns in glory to the father. The book of 1 john may be one of the most difficult books within the bible for the christian to understand, particularly in light of the plethora of scriptural passages. The apostle johns purpose for writing 1 john think theology. It is possession of gods spirit that assures believers that they are believers. Therefore the purpose of johns gospel is to confirm and secure christians in the faith. Main theme and purpose of 1 john 1 john reads more like an encouraging speech or sermon rather than an instructional letter. The book of 1 johnmay be one of the most difficult books within the bible for the christian to understand, particularly in light of the plethora of scriptural passages in the new testament that clearly teach that eternal.

This fourth gospel supplements the synoptics, focusing on details about christs work and words that reveal a longer span of ministry at least three years as. The occasion and purpose of 1 john essay freebooksummary. Stott understands the audience to be mixed believers and unbelievers, therefore, his stated purpose for the book is to destroy the false assurance of the counterfeit as well as to confirm the right assurance of the. John recognized that love comes from god, and he encouraged the believers to love one another 1 john 4. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and love in jesus christ. And yet, since he came in physical form, he was subject to all of the physical struggles of a human man john 1. Of the eight miracles recorded in this book, six are unique, among the gospels, to john, as is the upper room discourse john 1417.

This purpose was one that john had in common with the men who wrote the synoptic gospels, but his method for achieving it distinguishes his gospel from the earlier ones. Although their order in the bible has varied, the three letters of john typically are the 23rd, 24th, and 25th books of the new testament. Book of 1 john explained discover books of the bible. That we might be sure to live the sort of life god offers through his son jesus christ, a careful study of the first epistle of john is. The book of 1 john seems to be a summary that assumes the readers knowledge of the gospel as written by john and offers certainty for their faith in christ. Faith creates confidence and understanding 1 john 5. Book of john the evangelistic gospel the book of john stands apart from the other three gospels.

Read the book of 1 john from the bible with full chapters, summary and outline, bible commentary, and our favorite verses to help you study and understand. The deity of christ sounds the keynote of the gospel. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. Jul 28, 2004 in the words of the author of 1 john, i have written these things to you who believe in the name of the son of god so that you may know that you have eternal life. As far as we know, no one else was suggested by the early church. Walk in truth 1 4 love others and obey god 56 beware false teachers 711 look forward to a visit 12 more pages related to 2 john. The central theme in the synoptic gospels is the coming of the kingdom of god, and it was in relation to this event that the accounts were given of the life and teachings of jesus.

Book of john overview insight for living ministries. Purpose john stated five explicit purposes for writing his first letter that are still relevant for believers today. The slender book of 1 john might seem simplistic on the surface, but its emphases on love, faith, and standing in gods promises of eternal salvation make it one of the more encouraging and helpful books of the new testament. This strongly suggests that a the author is writing to believers you who believe, and b his purpose is to assure them that they do indeed possess eternal life.

First, he wanted believers to have fellowship see 1 john 1. The purpose of the first book of john was to encourage christians to love one another because god is love. The apostle john is concerned about the church having a full assurance of their salvation but more than that, the apostle john. First, he writes to commend and encourage his beloved coworker, gaius, in his ministry of hospitality to the itinerant messengers who were going from place to place to preach the gospel of christ. Aug 04, 20 first johns role in the bible is closely related to the gospel of john. The chief purpose of the gospel many other signs therefore did jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. The gospel of john was designed to produce faith so that we might have life jhn 20. It is filled with inspiration and reassurance about the core truths of the gospel, offering simple yet morally critical parallelisms that underscore the message of the cross.

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21. The believers goal is to walk in the light, as god is in the light, in order to have fellowship with him 1 john 1. The son is coequal with the father and holy spirit. In the words of the author of 1 john, i have written these things to you who believe in the name of the son of god so that you may know that you have eternal life. Beyond this, 1 johns specific purpose was to warn and instruct its readers against a false teaching denying that jesus christ had come in the flesh 1 john 4. False teachers were trying to mislead the firstcentury christians by denying, among many things, the true humanity of jesus christ.

The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first. I john was written to combat false teaching concerning the person and work of jesus. The gospel of john is written to persuade nonchristians to believe in jesus and find eternal life in his name jn 20. There are two main approaches to understanding the overall purpose of the letter, tests of life. The key personalities are the apostles peter and paul. The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. In general terms, 1 john was written to hand down the fruits of a lifes work to the next generation. Therefore the purpose of john s gospel is to confirm and secure christians in the faith. The purpose the apostle john is concerned about the church having a full assurance of their salvation but more than that, the apostle john wrote 1st john for the purpose of proving who was and who. There are different views as to the purpose of 1 john in view of ones understanding of the audience of the book. Introduction to the gospel of john study resources. The author advises christians on how to discern true teachers.

The majority of scholars see four sections in john s gospel. To help them attain that goal, john focused on three issues. However, it is the first epistle of john which describes the nature of that life in greater detail e. The gospel of john, the three epistles, and the book of revelation were. Conversely, the first letter of john is written so that those who believe in jesus would know they have indeed found life in him. John wrote this letter to set the record straight on some important issues, particularly concerning the identity of jesus christ.

Apostle johns first letter written from ephesus in early 90s. It is written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. Jun 11, 2011 the apostle john wrote a historical narrative the gospel according to john, an apocalyptic vision the revelation of jesus christ, and three epistles 1 through 3 john. Mar 01, 2016 the most logical reason is john wanted to focus his message primarily on christs deity, not on his kingship and kingdom.

The letter was probably intended to be read by the church in ephesus and perhaps also by other churches in the surrounding cities. But the greatest error, by far, is in the idea that the book of james is written to unbelievers, and that it presents to them the way of salvation. The book of 1 johnmay be one of the most difficult books within the bible for the christian to understand, particularly in light of the plethora of scriptural passages in. John explained that although jesus has already paid the penalty. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society.

Although ancient traditions attributed to the apostle john the fourth gospel, the book of revelation, and the three epistles of john. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. Beyond this, 1 john s specific purpose was to warn and instruct its readers against a false teaching denying that jesus christ had come in the flesh 1 john 4. The view that jesus was not truly human was a belief of false teachers called gnostics. Words such as believe, life, love, truth, eternal and grace are used. Yet only onethe gospel of john claims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. John lived to a great age and was the last living apostles of the lord.

The other purpose was to combat various forms of heresies which had crept into the church. The epistles of john show jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Johns readers were confronted with an early, first century, form of gnostic teaching. Studies from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd john bible study guide. John states clearly his purpose for writing this gospel in john 20. Confess the son and listen to the apostles 1 john 2. During the 2nd and 3rd centuries, only 1 john and 1 peter were universally recognized. The first epistle indicates that the readers were confronted with the error of gnosticism, which became a more serious problem in the second century.

The books also address deceivers who spread false teachings and fear rather than love. John s language and tone emphasizes the focus of his book. Despite the fact that there is no direct internal evidence that the apostle john wrote the three epistles called 1, 2 and 3 john, the conclusion of most church historians from the second century onwards is that the author was the apostle john. Each of his contributions to the new testament had their specific function and purpose, and one should consult each piece of literature to find the internal reason for john. He was a fisherman, one of jesus inner circle together with james and peter, and the disciple whom jesus loved jn. This epistle was probably written in ephesus between 95 and 110 ad. This is not an autobiography, or even a biography a life of jesus. When he mentioned his kingship, it was to emphasize the fact his own people, the jews, were the ones primarily guilty of murdering their messiah and rejecting their king and his kingdom. John s purpose john has a clear statement of purpose near the end of his gospel.