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| 1 JOHN |
| page 2 |
| A Step Further John wrote his Gospel account of Jesus' life in order to bring readers to a belief in Christ (John 20:31). He directed this letter to people who were already Christians, outlining how that faith should affect a person's life. God is light, he says; so walk in the light. He is spirit; so worship him in the proper spirit. He is love; so demonstrate that love to others. At times John shows the tender concern of a pastor, calling his readers "my dear children" (2:1) and urging them to "love one another" (3:11). But in other places his stern language hints at why he once wore the nickname "son of thunder." John was probably the last surviving apostle when he wrote this book. He lived almost to the end of the first century. But he was not too old to fight vigorously against whatever might corrupt the faith that had inspired him for so many years. |
| How to read 1 John |
| First John is constructed like a piece of music. Its author states a few simple themes - light, truth, life, love - then builds variations on them. Relying on simple words and a rhymthic style, John writes in universal terms that apply to any time period. Yet the book is understood far better if you know something about the environment in which John was writing. Therefore, begin your reading with "Who Were the Gnostics?". As you read John, note the pattern. He defines a word, such as light, discusses its opposite, darkness, and then describes what a life in the light should look like. In every case, he shows God as the source of power in the Christian life. |