Book of 1 John - Bible Survey
Answered from the commentary of Hamilton Smith, J. N. Darby, Arno Clemens Gaebelein and 13 others
The First Epistle of John presents eternal life, manifested in Jesus Christ and given to believers, and shows that this life is known in fellowship with the Father and the Son. It was written so that believers may know they have eternal life and that their joy may be full. This fellowship is the shared enjoyment of the Father and the Son, and believers share it with one another in the light of God’s full revelation.
Because God is light, those who have fellowship with Him cannot walk in darkness; the blood of Jesus cleanses them from all sin. Believers still have sin in them and may fail, but sin interrupts their communion with the Father, not their standing as His children. When they confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse them, restoring them to communion on the ground of Christ’s sacrifice; this is not a fresh application of the blood. In Christ’s advocacy, the believer has provision for failure, and is called not to sin.
The epistle tests the reality of this life by obedience, righteousness, and love for the brethren. These are characteristic marks of those born of God, though their practice is not perfect. It warns against loving the world and its desires, for the world is passing away, while the one who does God’s will abides for ever. It also warns against false teachers who deny the Father and the Son or refuse the truth of Jesus Christ come in flesh; believers are to hold fast what was heard from the beginning and abide in Christ. The anointing of the Spirit helps them discern truth from error, while God-given teachers still serve to bring the Word before them. The hope of being like Christ when He appears calls believers to purify themselves even as He is pure. Finally, those who ask according to God’s will may have confidence that He hears them.
Verses: 1 John 1:1, 1 John 1:2, 1 John 1:3, 1 John 1:4, 1 John 1:5, 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 2:5, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 2:7, 1 John 2:8, 1 John 2:9, 1 John 2:10, 1 John 2:11, 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14, 1 John 2:15, 1 John 2:16, 1 John 2:17, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:19, 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:21, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 2:23, 1 John 2:24, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 2:26, 1 John 2:27, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:12, 1 John 3:13, 1 John 3:14, 1 John 3:15, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:17, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 3:19, 1 John 3:20, 1 John 3:21, 1 John 3:22, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:1, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:3, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 4:5, 1 John 4:6, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:11, 1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:13, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:17, 1 John 4:18, 1 John 4:19, 1 John 4:20, 1 John 4:21, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:2, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 5:6, 1 John 5:7, 1 John 5:8, 1 John 5:9, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 5:15, 1 John 5:16, 1 John 5:17, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 5:19, 1 John 5:20, 1 John 5:21
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
The great purpose of the First Epistle of John is to present the characteristics and blessedness of eternal life — that life “which was with the Father” in eternity, that has been perfectly set forth in Jesus, the Word of life, in time, and that has been imparted to believers.
The purpose of the Epistle is stated by the writer in two places; "These things write we unto you that your joy may be full" (1:4). "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (5:13). According to the Gospel of John (chapter 20:31), this also is the purpose of the Gospel. He writes to those who believe on the Son of God and who have that eternal life which was manifested in the Lord Jesus, and which is imparted to all who believe on the Son of God and which establishes fellowship with the Father and the Son. The Epistle has been rightly called a family letter, that is, believers are viewed as the family of God, hence the repeated use of the word teknia, children. The Gospel of John was written on account of the false teachings concerning the Person of Christ, which began in the second half of the first century. (See Introduction to John's Gospel.)
1 John 5:13. The things written in the Gospel of John were written that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life in His Name; the things written in the epistle of John were written to those who believe on the Name of the Son of God that they might know that they have eternal life. The Gospel was written that we might believe and receive life: the epistle, that the believer might have the knowledge of the things in which eternal life consists; that they might have the conscious knowledge of the life that God has given to them. The purpose was not to assure a young convert that he had salvation (many Scriptures would enable us to do this); but to instruct believers in the truth of eternal life; that they might have the knowledge of the things that belong to the life that they possess in the Son of God. In 1 John 1 the Apostle shows that the life was manifested in the Person of the Son; that it was with the Father before its manifestation in this world; in 1 John 2, it was the promise of God to us, and was the portion of every babe in the family of God; in 1 John 3, it does not abide in a murderer; in 1 John 5, that God has given it to us, and that we have witnesses to this in the Spirit, the water and the blood; that we possess it in the Son. And apart from the specific mentions of it, we learn that it is our life as the children of God; that it is manifested in obedience, love and righteousness, God abiding in us; and that we enter into its joys in communion with the Father and the Son as abiding in God.
The whole doctrine of the Epistle is set forth in 1 John 1, and 1 John 2:1-2. These three consecutive truths are found there; namely, divine life communicated to man, and our introduction into communion with the Father and the Son, in virtue of that life (1 John 1:1-4); the nature of the God with whom we are in communion (1 John 1:5-10); and the means ordered by God for maintaining us in communion. 1 John 2:1-2.
THE MOST CURSORY reading of the first Epistle of John is enough to show us that it bears a very strong likeness to the Gospel of John. The same themes are prominent in both. In the Gospel they are set forth, mainly but not exclusively, in the Lord's own words, and as illustrated in His life. In the Epistle they are still enforced, but the main point now is that they are to be demonstrated in the lives of the children of God. The Gospel shows us things that are true in Him. But the Epistle speaks of "a new commandment … which thing is true in Him and in you" (1 John 2:8). This brief sentence furnishes us with a key to the whole epistle.
This epistle was amongst the last to be written. There were already "antichrists" about, as the second chapter states. These men laid claim to superior knowledge. They claimed that their teachings were a moving forward, an improvement on what had gone before. But under pretence of moving forward they moved clean away from the foundation which had been laid in Christ, and from the life which from the beginning had been manifested in Him, when He came amongst us in flesh. Hence the first thing needful was to make very plain that there had been a real, true, objective manifestation of the eternal life in Christ.
John contrasts these attacks of the Christian faith with the facts of salvation. He tells them that Christ the Eternal Son of God, the eternal life Himself, has come and that those who believe on Him receive eternal life and the sonship of God. At the same time he refers to the tests by which one can recognize whether someone has true life of God. The aim of the epistle is expressed in chapter 5:13: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
The Gospel of John describes the revelation of life eternal in Christ the incarnated Word. The First Epistle of John shows the revelation of this life in those who believe in the Son of God. It also shows the features of this life in its practical realisation in the believers: righteousness and brotherly love. Thus this epistle has rightly been called a continuation of the gospel of John (of chapters 1 to 19) especially. In contrast to the Apostle Paul, John does not describe the believer's position in Christ and the privileges of the church of God (ecclesia) but life eternal in the children of God and the relations among the family of God.
John wrote at a time when the person of our Lord was blasphemously assailed, when there were many antichrists, many false prophets gone out into the world; and of others he had to say, "They went out from us because they were not of us." And how does he begin his inspired letter? He begins by setting forth the divine and eternal excellence of the Son - "that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us." Who was the eternal life with the Father but the Son? He then asserts the precious truth, that true Christian fellowship is "with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." He repeatedly speaks of the Father, and of His love in bringing us into new relationships, and giving us eternal life in the Son, all founded on the work of the cross. He declares that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," and that if we sin, the Righteous One (Christ) is our Advocate with the Father, who is also the propitiation for our sins. He shows that those who are born of God do not practise sin; but, having eternal life, this life will be manifested in obedience, righteousness, and love.
The subject of this epistle is the communication of divine life. In the gospels we have the exhibition of it in the person and character of Jesus Christ: but in the epistles we have the communication of it, as also tests of divine life. These tests are given to assure us of the possession of life, as "hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."
John also shows tests for the practical life of the Christians who are distressed by false teachers. He often refers to the introductory words "If we say..." (chap. 1:6.8.10; 2:4.9; 4:20). For it is not sufficient to give a lip-service only. The practice of our lives of faith has to agree with our confession. Thus only will the genuineness of our confession be seen. With his epistle John wants to strengthen the simplest believer in his faith and to give him a divinely sure foundation and an effective weapon for the battle against false doctrine. Subject and contents of the epistle are summarized in the following words: "And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (chap. 5:11.12)
1 John 1:9. Having a sinful nature, the fruits of it manifest themselves, even in the Christian, when he is not walking in communion with God. But our sins are not to be covered up; they are to be confessed. Coming in confession to God, we learn that He is faithful and righteous to forgive. We can have the fullest confidence in God: His faithfulness is known in the forgiveness we receive. With each other, we may be very slow to forgive, and very grudgingly pardon those who confess to us their wrongdoings. But God is faithful in His forgiving; we can come to Him perfectly assured that He will forgive, if we confess our sins. Without the confession, the guilt lies upon the conscience, and the defilement on the spirit. Forgiveness on God's part is also a righteous thing, and this because of the work of the cross. God could not pardon the sinner in righteousness apart from the work of Christ; therefore His forgiving of sins magnifies the great work of propitiation accomplished by the Lord Jesus. Then there is the cleansing from all unrighteousness. Unrighteousness in the Christian calls for confession, not only that we might have the sense of Gods pardon, but also that the defilement produced on the spirit might be removed. This is not cleansing by a fresh application of the blood to the believer, but is produced through the action of the word of God on the defiled spirit. Our first coming to God as guilty sinners could not rightly be excluded from this verse; its abstract nature leaves room for this; but it is good for us as failing Christians at all times.
Verses
- 1 John 1:1–51That which was from [the] beginning, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life; 2(and the life has been manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and has been manifested to us) 3that which we have seen and heard we report to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship [is] indeed with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we to you that your joy may be full. 5And this is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
- 1 John 2:3–283And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5but whoever keeps his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him. 6He that says he abides in him ought, even as he walked, himself also [so] to walk. 7Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard. 8Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light already shines. 9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness until now. 10He that loves his brother abides in light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 12I write to you, children, because [your] sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked [one]. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written to you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked [one]. 15Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; 16because all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity. 18Little children, it is [the] last hour, and, according as ye have heard that antichrist comes, even now there have come many antichrists, whence we know that it is [the] last hour. 19They went out from among us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have surely remained with us, but that they might be made manifest that none are of us. 20And ye have [the] unction from the holy [one], and ye know all things. 21I have not written to you because ye do not know the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son has not the Father either; he who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24As for you let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you if what ye have heard from the beginning abides in you, ye also shall abide in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is the promise which he has promised us, life eternal. 26These things have I written to you concerning those who lead you astray 27and yourselves, the unction which ye have received from him abides in you, and ye have not need that any one should teach you; but as the same unction teaches you as to all things, and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28And now, children, abide in him, that if he be manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame from before him at his coming.