I JOHN
Theme: Love
Author: Apostle John
Time: Late 1st Century AD
First of three books written by John. Peter James and John were in Jesus circle. But within the inner three, there was John, a very loving friendship. He’s the only one that didn’t die by martyrdom
He wrote a gospel, general epistle, and wrote revelation
Key Words:
Love 46
Know 42
Sin 28
World 23
Life 15
Abide 12
Key Scripture:
1 John 4:7-8 ESV
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The essence of this book… love is the highest virtue in the universe to the point where it says God is love.
Love is not God.
Love comes from God, it’s a Christian revelation of who God is.
Structure:
Chapter 1-2: God is light
Chapter 3-4: God is Love
Goes through a theology of love
Chapter 5: God is life
He is the source of all things
Purpose of the Book:
1. To refute the heresy of Gnosticism born out of apostate Judaism and corrupt Paganism
Dealing with false ideas of who God is. There is a gnostic dualism
2. Exhort the believer concerning their relationship to God, the brethren, the world, and sin
3. To show that true knowledge of God involves a personal relationship with Him
Message of the Book:
1. If we truly know God and are in fellowship with him, then we will not love the world
John contrasts the love for the world and love for God
2. If the believer abides in life he will not live in sin
To live in sin is to condone the behavior and to continue the practice of sin