First Epistle of John C. 1 - Introduction

[MatthewG]

Author: The author of 1, 2, 3 John is John the son of Zebedee. John was an apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, and the author of the gospel of John and Revelation. John was one of the three disciples in Jesus' inner circles, and was called the "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23). In 2 and 3 John, he calls himself "the elder" (2 John 1:1; 3 John 1). Although some scholars think the name refers to a different John , the title of 'elder' was common in the early church, even for the apostles (see 1 Peter 5:1 "To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder'.)

Most scholars agree that the apostle John penned all three letters: 1,2 and 3 John. The style within each letter has numerous similarities to the Gospel of John. They are all written in simple Greek and present contrasting terms such as light/darkness, love/hate, life/death, good/evil, truth/lies.

Date: Most scholars agree that 1, 2, and 3 John were written at the same time as the Gospel of John, from Ad 85 to 95. The late date is based on evidence from early church witnesses (Irenaus and clement of Alexandria, and the early stage of the Gnostic heresy.)

Audience: Johns first letter was a circulate letter intended for several churches in Asia Minor -- perhaps including, but not limited to, the seven churches of Revelation: Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Sardis, Pergamum, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Johns second letter was addressed to "The chosen lady" who is unidentified. Some think that the expression stands for the church. The letter was probably sent to a house church in Asia minor.

Johns third letter was address to "Gaius," a Christian in one of the churches in Asia Minor. Gaius was a common Roman name, at the time so it is difficult to identify who he was.

Setting: An early form of what became Gnosticism is an important background. It was a philosophy were all physical matter __ including the human body __ was considered evil and all spirit was good. According to early Gnostic beliefs, salvation was a way to escape this evil flesh and was attained through a special knowledge of (gnosis) and not by faith in Jesus death and resurrection. Gnostics had two problematic views of Jesus. (1) Docetism - Jesus was 100% spirit and only appeared to have flesh. and (2) Cerinthianism - ~~ Jesus spiritual divinity joined him at his baptism and left him before he died.

Since Gnosticism thought that matter was evil, extreme asceticism (abstaining from all pleasure - and also hedonism, (indulging in pleasure). Often developed because of all the things being taught, that were not of the ways of God. In their way of thinking if the flesh has noo consequence then one can treat their body by mistreatment, or act immoraly.

It was common practice for early believers to welcome itinerant missionaries and teachers into their homes. False teachers were taking advantage of this hospitatlity and spreading false beliefs among Christians.

(Source - Hendericksonrose publishers : Bible OverView Hardback edition 2019)
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[MatthewG]

1 John 1
Young's Literal Translation

1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we did behold, and our hands did handle, concerning the Word of the Life --
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Verse 1: That which was from the beginning - the Word of God was with God from the beginning and was apart of God by being the word of God.

That was heard - the Word was made manifest in flesh, and dwelt among the Children of Israel, His twelve disciples, and they learned from the Word who was named Jesus Christ, where God also was in Christ by the holy spirit that was given from God the Father, as Yeshua the Son of God was anointed with the Holy Spirit ~ Which is now also given to us today.

John is describing that He had seen Christ with his own eyes, and touched, and cast out demons, and taught and shared the gospel to many people by Christ help by the spirit with them afterwards of Christ going back to the Father, and the holy spirit drops down at Pentacost.

John is also saying ; Concerning the Word of the Life -- This is talking about knowing the about the truth of knowing who the Lord Jesus Christ is, and accepting the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom that He came to explain about, the promises, pray, and ask God to help you understand these things. The Gospel of the Life, Death, Burial, and Resurrection, all are found in the 4 Gospels; Matthew; Mark; Luke; John.

2 and the Life was manifested, and we have seen, and do testify, and declare to you the Life, the age-during, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us --
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Verse 2: And the Life was manifest and we have seen, and do testify - that Holy spirit resides with-in us, and Christ Jesus Yeshua gives life, during this age we live in, Which is with the Father when we turn toward Him, and His Son, the Son of God. And Life will be manifested to us - spiritual life eternal life - walking with God - relationship with the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ

3 that which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ;
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Verse 3: That which we have seen and heard - of the Gospel of Christ of Jesus Christ who is the truth, the life, and the way. That you may

You may, - You today right now here reading this -> May have fellowship with us, and our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4 and these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.
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Verse 4: John is writing to be encourage the believers to have joy, and be full in Christ.

5 And this is the message that we have heard from Him, and announce to you, that God is light, and darkness in Him is not at all;
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Verse 5: And this is the message that we have heard from Yeshua, saying to you that God is light.

And there is no Darkness in God - He has no darkness residing with in Him.

6 if we may say -- `we have fellowship with Him,' and in the darkness may walk -- we lie, and do not the truth;
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Verse 6: If we may say ~ We have fellowship with God ~

Yet in the darkness may you walk, we lie, and do not the truth ~

7 and if in the light we may walk, as He is in the light -- we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son doth cleanse us from every sin;
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Verse 7 And if in the light we may walk -no longer in darkness - as a believer should know that because of the holy spirit, indwelling us, Christ Jesus is the light who shines with in us by the spirit of christ/holy spirit when and if you are walking by the spirit trusting and having faith.

8 if we may say -- `we have not sin,' ourselves we lead astray, and the truth is not in us;
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Verse 8: if we may say ~ We have no sin

We are not being honest and lead ourselves astray, and truth leaves us as we move father away from the truth ~ We have all fallen short of the Glory of God ~ The Son of God and that is why we need him in our lives to help us and remind us it is okay, and as human beings we can be forgiven of our mistakes, and that we are to die with Christ to sin, and walk in newness of life by the spirit and not in the spirit of darkness that causes unbelief, hatred, jealously, envy and things like that.

9 if we may confess our sins, stedfast He is and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness;
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Verse 9: If we may confess our sins ( our missing the mark) and enduring - Yeshua is righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may be cleansed from unrighteousness (Darkness and unbelief)

10 if we may say -- `we have not sinned,' a liar we make Him, and His word is not in us.
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Verse 10 if we may say - We have not sinned ~ A liar we make Yeshua ~ And his word is not in us.