Kress Biblical Resources :: Introductory Matters

1 John Introductory Matters

Knowing you have fellowship with God and thus eternal life.

1. Introduction
   1. The author
      1. The human author
         1. He was an eyewitness of Christ and the events of the gospel (1Jo 1:1-3)
         2. He had definite, recognized authority among his audience (1Jo 2:1, 7, 8, 15; 1Jo 3:7, 18; 1Jo 4:1-6)
         3. He employed grammar, style and vocabulary which are very similar to those same elements used by the author of the Gospel of John (cf. 1Jo 1:4 with John 16:24; 1Jo 4:6 with John 8:47; 1Jo 5:12 with John 3:36)
      2. The divine author (cf. 2Ti 3:16-17)
   2. The audience
      1. The original recipients
         1. Professing believers of all different maturity levels (1Jo 2:1, 12-14)
         2. Perhaps a mainly non-Jewish audience, in that there are no direct quotations from the OT and very few allusions to it (1Jo 3:12; see also 1Jo 2:10-11; cf. Pro 4:18-19)
         3. Facing the threat of false teachers and questions about truly possessing eternal life (1Jo 2:26; cf. 1Jo 2:22-23; 1Jo 4:2; see 1Jo 5:13)
      2. The current recipients
   3. The aim
      1. To bring fellowship with God through the apostolic witness (1Jo 1:3)
      2. To complete joy (1Jo 1:4)
      3. To encourage holiness (1Jo 2:1)
      4. To give encouragement and hope (1Jo 2:12-14; cf. 1Jo 2:1-2; 1Jo 3:1-3; 1Jo 4:4; 1Jo 5:13)
      5. To promote the assurance of eternal life (1Jo 5:13)
   4. The argument
      1. Since true Christians have fellowship with God (1Jo 1:3), they manifest the character of God and His Son Jesus Christ. First John says:
         1. God is light (1Jo 1:5)
         2. God is righteous (1Jo 2:29)
         3. God is love (1Jo 4:7)
         4. God is truth and life (1Jo 5:1, 6, 11, 12, 20)
      2. Therefore, true Christians (possessors of eternal life) walk in the light, obey in righteousness and truth, live out love, and have eternal life. The reoccurring themes that depict genuine Christianity are faith in the truth, which produces obedience to God’s Word, which leads to the sacrificial love of the brethren.