I John

Author: the apostle John
Place of Writing: presumably, the city of Ephesus
Time of writing: approximately 85-90 A.D.

The first letter written by the Apostle John is unusual in that it is not addressed to any specific group of believers. This may indicate that John is addressing issues and confronting problems that concern all believers everywhere, not just believers in Ephesus, where he was probably writing. It certainly does not indicate that John does not have a personal concern for his audience: the letter bears a very personal character; in it, John, already an old man, affectionately refers to the readers as his “children,” giving them encouragement and instruction on how to overcome the obstacles to their faith, which by this time had arisen among believers.

The letter has two primary themes, which it repeats many times, and in many different ways. The first is the necessity for true faith to show itself in the life of the believer – especially in the matter of love for his brothers in the faith. The second theme is the necessity to believe the truth about Jesus the Messiah – especially that he existed from the beginning, but took on human flesh. These themes are of great importance because many false teachers had arisen, in the spirit of “antichrist” who opposed the truth that Jesus was truly human (4:3); and because of them, many insincere believers had left the truth, thereby demonstrating that their faith was not genuine (2:18-19). Because of this, John wants to teach his children the truth about Jesus, and to show them what genuine faith is like.

John opens the letter by giving sure testimony that Jesus, “the Word of Life,” truly became human, in order to bring believers to fellowship with God. Then, he teaches that, since God is Light, those who walk in the darkness cannot have fellowship with God. Instead, those who walk in the light and confess their sins have fellowship with God and with one another. John goes on to teach that everyone who is truly God’s child does not live in continual sin, but keeps God’s commandments; and the greatest of these commandments is to love. Those who love their brothers are walking in the light, for they are keeping God’s commandments. John then warns his children about the antichrists who had come, teaching that Jesus is not the Messiah. Anyone who denies Jesus the Messiah in this way has denied God; but everyone who knows Jesus also knows God. Throughout the rest of the letter, John continues to emphasize that all who believe in God will obey his commandments and will love the believers, even as God is love. Those who do love one another have a true faith, which is able to cast out fear, and overcome the world.

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