1 John

Date Written: 85-90 AD

Author: John

Setting: John was an older man and perhaps the only surviving apostle at this time. He hadn’t been banished to the island of Patmos yet, where he would live in exile. As an eyewitness of Jesus, he wrote to give this new generation of believers assurance and confidence in God and in their faith.

Key People: John and Jesus

Purpose: To reassure Christians in their faith and to counter false teachings

Key Verses: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 4:8

I write theses things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 5:13

Chapter Outline:

1-2 God is Light

3-4 God is Love

5 God is Life

Importance of reading 1 John:

What we read: Chapter 2:1, John says his purpose in writing this letter is so that you may not sin. Some say that we sin every day because we are human. But John says that if we follow the leadership of God, we will find we don’t have to sin. But if you do, your sin needs God’s forgiveness and Jesus’ death provides it for us. When we sin we must go to God and ask Him to forgive us and then we must change our behavior. What we can learn: Sadly, many don’t strive to live a holy, godly life. Don’t take God’s grace as a ticket to sin. We must resist sin, yet when we do sin we must repent and receive God’s forgiveness.

What we read: Jesus commands us to love others as He loved us. This love is evidence that we are truly saved. What we can learn: Love means putting others first and being unselfish. Love is action – showing others we care – not just saying it. How we treat others shows who our Father is.

What we read: John talks about 2 false teachings in this letter. 1) They denied the reality of sin. John says that if we continue in sin, we can’t claim to belong to God. If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. 2) They denied that Jesus was the Messiah – God in the flesh. John said that if we believe that Jesus was God incarnate and trust Him for our salvation, we are children of God. What we can learn: God is truth and light, so the more we get to know Him the better we can keep focused on the truth and not be lead astray by lies. Know the Word of God so that you will recognize false teachings.

Things to think about as you read 1 John:

• Based on the criteria given in this book, how can you know whether or not you have eternal life?
• What have you learned about sin from 1 John? Do you practice sin or righteousness?
• Do you love the things of the world? Are you caught up in the pride of life, in boasting or in desiring whatever your eyes see?
• According to chapter 3, what are you to do when your heart condemns you?
• Does what you believe about Jesus match what this book teaches about Him?

2 John

Date Written: 85-90 AD, around the same time as 1 John

Author: John

Setting: Evidently this woman and her family were involved in one of the churches that John was overseeing. He was warning her of the false teachers who were becoming prevalent in some of the churches.

Key People: John, the lady, and her children

Purpose: To warn against heresy and false teachers

Key Verses: And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. Verse 6

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Verse 8

Chapter Outline:

1-11 Watch Out for False Teachers

12-13 John’s Final Words

Importance of reading 2 John:

What we read: False teachers were a dangerous problem for the church. John warned against showing these false teachers hospitality. That may sound harsh or unloving, but these men were teaching heresy that could have turned believers from the truth and cost them eternal salvation. What we can learn: Words that are twisted and taken out of context and then believed, can lead us away from eternity with God. Be on guard and don’t fall for any false teaching. God is truth and His truth is found in His Word. Read His Word, obey His Word, and apply His Word to your life.

Things to think about as you read 2 John:

• What does this book say about someone who isn’t teaching the truth and is a false teacher?
• How careful are you to walk in the truth? Do you believe everything you hear, or do you see if it lines up with the Word of God?
• What does it mean to walk in love? Are you doing this?

3 John

Date Written: 85-90 AD

Author: John

Setting: Church leaders traveled from town to town helping to start new congregations. They depended on the hospitality of fellow believers. Gaius was one who welcomed these leaders into his home.

Key People: John, Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius

Purpose: To praise Gaius for his hospitality and to encourage him in his Christian life and to criticize Diotrephes for his pride.

Key Verses: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Verse 4

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. Verse 5

Chapter Outline:

1-12 God’s Children Live by the Standards of the Gospel

13-15 John’s Final Words

Importance of reading 3 John:

What we read: John praised Gaius, who was taking care of traveling teachers and missionaries. What we can learn: We need to find ways to support pastors, Christian workers, and missionaries today. We should all work together to support God’s work.

What we read: Diotrephes refused to offer hospitality. He set himself up as a church boss. Pride disqualified him from being a real leader. What we can learn: God hates pride. He is opposed to the proud.

Things to think about as you read 3 John:

• What is your testimony before others? Are you known for your love for others or for your love for yourself? Do you share what you have with others? Do you listen to others? Do you have to be first?
• According to this book, what does the way you live have to do with your relationship to God?
• Are you quick to love? To stand for truth?

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/latMvEWs1es?si=4-eiB5V1-GBUmLK4

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry