WRITER, The Apostle John.
PLACE AND DATE UNCERTAIN. Probably written from Ephesus near the end of the first century.
TO WHOM ADDRESSED. Apparently to the church at large, as it has no greetings, farewells or other personal allusions; hence it belongs to the “general epistles.”
It calls believers by affectionate titles, as “LITTLE CHILDREN,” # 1Jo 2:1,18,28 3:7,18 4:4 5:21 and “BELOVED.” # 1Jo 3:2,21 4:1,7,11
PURPOSES. The writer mentions four reasons for writing this epistle to Believers.
Viz: To add to their joy # 1Jo 1:4 to guard them against sin # 1Jo 2:1 to warn them against false teachers # 1Jo 2:26 to strengthen their faith in Christ and assure them of eternal life # 1Jo 5:13
KEY WORDS, “Fellowship,” “Know,” “Love.”
CENTRAL THEME, God is Life, Light, and Righteous Love. His character calls for holy living and brotherly love on the part of believers.
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS.
This may be entitled, “The Epistle of Certainties.”
It opens with a positive statement of experimental knowledge of Christ # 1Jo 1:1-3
It lays great stress upon the spiritual knowledge obtainable by believers. The word “Know,” or its equivalent, appears over thirty times. We have selected seven important instances where the words “We know,” appear.
“We Know”
(1) That a righteous life indicates regeneration # 1Jo 2:29 5:18
(2) That we shall be like Christ at his coming # 1Jo 3:2
(3) That Christ came to take away our sins # 1Jo 3:5
(4) That brotherly love indicates that we have passed from death unto life # 1Jo 3:14
(5) That he abideth in us by the witness of the Spirit # 1Jo 3:24
(6) That we have eternal life # 1Jo 5:13
(7) That our prayers are answered # 1Jo 5:15
SYNOPSIS.
PART I. God is Life and Light.
Ch. 1.
(1) Manifested in Christ # 1Jo 1:1,2
(2) The purpose of the epistle # 1Jo 1:3,4
(3) Conditions of divine fellowship.
(a) Walking in the light # 1Jo 1:5-7
(b) Confession of sin # 1Jo 1:8-10
Ch. 2.
(c) Acceptance of Christ as advocate and propitiatory sacrifice # 1Jo 2:1,2
(4) Obedience the test of fellowship.
(a) Following Christ’s example # 1Jo 2:3-6
(b) Obedience to the new commandment of love, is abiding in the light # 1Jo 2:7-11
(5) A message to different classes of believers concerning spiritual knowledge and overcoming the wicked one # 1Jo 2:12-14
(6) A warning against the love of the world # 1Jo 2:15-17
(7) The rise of antichrists, their apostasy, and denial of Christ, is a sign of the last time
# 1Jo 2:18-23
(8) An exhortation to abide in the truth, with the assurance that the divine anointing will give all needed instruction # 1Jo 2:24-27
(9) Abiding gives confidence, and righteousness is a mark of the new birth # 1Jo 2:28,29
PART II. God is Righteous Love.
Ch. 3.
(1) His love manifested in the exaltation of believers to sonship # 1Jo 3:1,2
(2) The test of sonship is righteous living # 1Jo 3:10
(3) Brotherly love the distinguishing mark of spiritual life # 1Jo 3:11-15
(4) Love manifests itself in sacrifice, not in words only # 1Jo 3:16-18
(5) The outcome of love is assurance and answered prayer # 1Jo 3:19-22
(6) Faith and brotherly love essential to fellowship with God # 1Jo 3:23,24
Ch. 4.
(7) Parenthesis. The spirits of truth and error in the world and the methods of testing them
(a) Their attitude toward the incarnation of Christ determines their origin and character
# 1Jo 4:1-3
(b) The world-marks of antichrists # 1Jo 3:4-6
(8) The divine love.
(a) In the human heart indicates regeneration # 1Jo 4:7
(b) Manifested in the incarnation and sacrificial work of Christ # 1Jo 4:8-10
(c) Indwelling in believers begets brotherly love, and inspires testimony concerning Christ as Saviour of mankind # 1Jo 4:11-16
(d) When perfected gives assurance and casts out fear # 1Jo 4:17,18
(e) Kindles love to God and brotherly love # 1Jo 4:19-21
PART III. Faith and Love the Overcoming Principles in the Conflict with the World and All Evil Powers.
Ch. 5.
(1) The love-life of obedience # 1Jo 5:1-3
(2) The victory of faith # 1Jo 5:4,5
(3) The divine witnesses in earth and heaven # 1Jo 5:6-9
(4) The witness of the Spirit # 1Jo 5:10
(5) The gift of eternal life through the Son of God # 1Jo 5:11-13
(6) The certainty of answered prayer # 1Jo 5:14,15
(7) Dealing with the sinful brother # 1Jo 5:16
(8) The believer’s four-fold knowledge # 1Jo 5:18-20