Bible Commentaries
1 John

1Jo THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN. THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPISTLE AS A WHOLE. 1 John 1:1 - 1 John 2:17 . CHRIST. 1 John 2:18-29 . ANTICHRIST. 1 John 3:1-24 . LOVE. 1 John 4:1-6 . ANTICHRIST. 1 John 4:7-21 . LOVE. 1 John 5:1-21 . CHRIST. NOTES. 1 . WRITTEN BY the apostle John, as proved no less by its character than by external testimony. The similarity in tone and language to the Fourth Gospel shows both to be the work of that disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:7 ). 2 . WRITTEN, as generally understood, to the "circle of Asiatic churches". But it is suggested that this First Epistle of John may be reckoned among the Diaspora and earlier epistles, for the following reasons:- ( a ) The occurrences of the word parousia (1 John 2:28 ). See Matthew 24:3 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 , &c. ( b ) The significance of the possessive pronoun hemeteros (1 John 1:3 ; 1 John 2:2 , see Notes), and ( c ) Paul''s statement that John was one of the "pillars", i.e. teachers of the Law, and therefore a minister of the circumcision (see Galatians 2:9 ). The position that the epistle occupies canonically among the Diaspora writings strengthens the argument that it also is to be reckoned among them. 3 . THE CONTENTS are practical teaching in the light of the love of God. God is Life, is Light, is Truth, is Righteous, is Love, and we have fellowship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. "We know that He abideth in us by the spirit which He hath given us" (1 John 3:24 ). The apostle sets in vivid contrast the death, darkness, falsehood, hate, which are the characteristics of the devil who "sinneth from the beginning" (1 John 3:8 ), and those who are led by the spirit of error (1 John 4:6 ), with the work of the Holy Spirit in believers. But the dominant conception running throughout the epistle is that of the love which constraineth, as it constrained Paul (2 Corinthians 5:14 ). 4 . WRITTEN FROM Ephesus according to tradition, but no definite statement can be made as to either place or time of writing. The character of the contents indicates a much earlier date than is usually supposed (see Appdx-180). 1 John 1:1 - 1 John 2:17 . CONCERNING CHRIST. 1 John 1:1-5 . Cause of writing. 11 Joh 6-10:6-10 . Test of fellowship. 1 John 2:1-2 . Cause of writing. 1 John 2:3-6 . Test of knowing God. 1 John 2:7-8 . Cause of writing. 1 John 2:9-11 . Test of being in the Light. 1 John 2:12-14 . Cause of writing. 1 John 2:15-17 . Test of loving God. 1 John 2:18-29 . ANTICHRIST.. 1 John 2:18-23 . Antichrist. Definition. 1 John 2:24-29 . Antichrist. Protection against. 1 John 2:18-23 . ANTICHRIST. DEFINITION. 1 John 2:18 . Antichrist. 1 John 2:19 . Rejection of the truth. 1 John 2:20 . Unction. 1 John 2:21 . Rejection of the lie. 1 John 2:22-23 . Antichrist. 1 John 2:24-29 . ANTICHRIST. PROTECTION AGAINST. 1 John 2:24 . The word heard:abiding in them. 1 John 2:25 . His promise:eternal life. 1 John 2:26-27 -. The anointing:abiding in them. - 1 John 2:27 . His teaching:truth. 1 John 2:28 . Confidence through abiding in Him. 1 John 2:29 . His righteousness:they born of Him. 1 John 3:1-24 . LOVE. 1 John 3:1-2 . The Father''s love to us. 1 John 3:3-15 . Effect upon us. 1 John 3:16 -. The Son''s love to us. - 1 John 3:16-24 . Effect upon us. 1 John 3:3-15 . EFFECT UPON US. 1 John 3:3-9 . Inward purity. 1 John 3:10-15 . Outward manifestation. 1 John 3:3-9 . INWARD PURITY. 1 John 3:3 . Purity. 1 John 3:4 . Sin''s character. Lawless. 1 John 3:5 . Christ manifested. Reason. 1 John 3:6 . Test of abiding. 1 John 3:7 -. Warning against deceivers. - 1 John 3:7 . Righteousness. 1 John 3:8 -. Sin''s origin. The devil. - 1 John 3:8 . Christ manifested. Reason. 1 John 3:9 . Test of being begotten of God. 1 John 3:10-15 . OUTWARD MANIFESTATION. 1 John 3:10-11 . Character of the two classes. 1 John 3:12 . The origin of Cain. 1 John 3:13 . The world''s choice. 1 John 3:14 . Test of the two states. 1 John 3:15 . Cain''s followers. 1 John 3:16-24 . EFFECTS UPON US. - 1 John 3:16-18 . Love manifested to the brethren. 1 John 3:19-22 . Proof of our state before God. 1 John 3:23 . Commandment of God. 1 John 3:24 . Proof of His abiding in us. 1 John 4:1-6 . ANTICHRIST. 1 John 4:1 . Discrimination of spirits. 1 John 4:2-3 . Test of spirits. 1 John 4:4-5 . Discrimination of professors. 1 John 4:6 . Test of professors. 1 John 4:7-21 . LOVE. 1 John 4:7-8 . Call to love of the brethren. 1 John 4:9 . Proof of God''s love to us. 1 John 4:10 . God''s love first. 1 John 4:11-12 . Love perfected. 1 John 4:13-14 . Hereby ( en touto ) ... because. 1 John 4:15 . God''s indwelling. 1 John 4:16 . Dwelling in God. 1JJo 4:18. Perfected in love. 1 John 4:19 . God''s love first. 1 John 4:20 . Proof of our love to God. 1 John 4:21 . Command to love the brethren. 1 John 5:1-21 . CHRIST. 1 John 5:1-5 . Belief in Christ. 1 John 5:6-12 . Witnesses to us that He has come. 1 John 5:13-19 . Belief in Christ. 1 John 5:20-21 . Witnesses to us that He has come.