(NTS 21) 1, 2, & 3 John

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Several external evidences pointed to John as the author.

John wrote 5 books in the New Testament.

John

1-3 John

Revelation

Along with Peter and James, John was one of the three in the inner circle.

At this point it is believed that John was quite old.

He would have been the only surviving apostolic eye witness of Jesus

Audience: Unspecified Believers

There is no hint of the identity of the audience.

There is no hint of the location of the audience.

What we know…

The audience were Christians.

They seem to be well know by John and know him well.

John is believed to have ministered in Asia Minor in his later years.

The book has a pastoral tone.

As a pastor writing with concern for his people.

He writes with a certain authority.

Genre: general epistle

All three books are general epistles.

Place of writing: Ephesus

Maybe - reliable tradition supports this.

We know John was a leader of the church in Jerusalem, probably until Paul was martyred.

Galatians 2:9 ESV

and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

John then moved to Ephesus where he watched over the churches in that area.

This is supported by the churches he mentions in Revelation.

John lived out his days in Ephesus apart from his time on Patmos.

Reason for writing: false teachers.

1 John 2:18 ESV

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

1 John 4:1 ESV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

It appears that this is a current problem that John is addressing.

John takes a “we-they” stance.

This seems to indicate that the audience had not yet embraced the false teaching.

He is writing to strengthen and encourage them.

They were teaching gnosticism.

These false teachers were coming from the churches.

They were giving in to modern philosophical trends.

1 John 2:19 ESV

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

The teaching of gnosticism was extremely dangerous.

It believed that matter or the physical was evil.

Only the spiritual was good.

This then denied the deity of Christ.

It also taught that those with mystical knowledge had knowledge higher than scripture.

Instead of divine revelation being the final authority and judge, man’s ideas became a higher authority.

Theme: faithfulness and love

1 John 2:3–4 ESV

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1 John 2:9 ESV

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

1 John 5:2–3 ESV

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Key verse: 5:13

1 John 5:13 ESV

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

This could support John’s authorship.

John 20:30–31 ESV

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We could include 2 others.

1 John 1:4 ESV

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 John 2:1 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Outline for 1 John:

(Dr. J. Vernon McGee)

I. God is Light. (1-2:2)

II. God is Love. (2:3-4)

III. God is Life. (5)

2 John

The second shortest book in the New Testament.

One chapter = 13 verses.

One chapter books.

Philemon

2 John

Jude

This book appears to be addressed to a woman and her family.

2 John 1 ESV

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,

John seems to be pointing out his advanced age referring to himself as “the elder.”

“Elect” means chosen by God.

There are two categories of people who are “elect”

The Jews.

Christians.

We have no reason to believe the context is a Jew.

We don’t know who this person is.

This statement could be taken at face value and mean that John wrote to a faithful lady in the church.

There is a second elect lady mentioned.

2 John 13 ESV

The children of your elect sister greet you.

This statement could be taken figuratively and be understood that John was writing to the church.

We understand this through the context of the book.

The church was under persecution and it wasn’t unusual for code to be used when writing.

This interpretation is difficult to determine who her children would be.

However, it is not worth the argument of who John was writing to.

The intended application is still the same.

Theme: Obey by loving and love by obeying.

2 John 6–7 ESV

And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

2 John 10–11 ESV

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Purpose for writing: Exhort the church to protect it’s fellowship from false teachers.

2 John 10 ESV

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,

Key verse: 8-9

2 John 8–9 ESV

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Outline of the book:

I. Salutation (1-3)

A. Maintaining the Truth in love. (4-11)

B. Practicing the Truth

II. Protecting the Truth

III. Final Greetings (12-13)

3 John

Audience: Gaius

3 John 1 ESV

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Gaius was a friend of John.

Beloved.

Gaius is an unknown believer.

Gaius was a common name during that time.

There were three other men named Gaius in scripture.

Gaius of Macedonia who traveled with Paul.

Acts 19:29 ESV

So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.

Gaius of Corinth.

Romans 16:23 ESV

Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

1 Corinthians 1:14 ESV

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

Gaius of Derby

Acts 20:4 ESV

Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.

He could have been one of these men but we don’t know.

Seems to be a layman in the church.

Probably of some wealth.

Also known by others.

He was known as a host.

He would have had money.

Purpose for writing: To encourage Gaius in his hospitality.

Gaius was welcoming itinerant teachers.

John is encouraging him to continue to do good and not imitate evil.

He was commending him for walking in the truth.

He also speaks against Diotrephes a prideful leader in one of the churches.

3 John 9–10 ESV

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Diotrephes was a dictatorial leader.

His behavior was directly opposed to what John was teaching.

He is also opposed to the hospitality Gaius is showing.

John then is encouraging him as he faces adversity.

He speaks positively of Demetrius and his good testimony.

3 John 12 ESV

Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

Key Verse: 4

3 John 4 ESV

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Outline of the Book:

I. Greeting (3Jo 1:1-4)

II. The confirmation of Gaius (3Jo 1:5-8)

III. The condemnation of Diotrephes (3Jo 1:9-10)

IV. The commendation of Demetrius (3Jo 1:11-12)

V. Conclusion (3Jo 1:13-14)

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