Bible Commentaries
1 John

The epistle of First John, though it is small, is one of the most important books in the whole Bible. It tells us clearly how we can know God and have a saving relationship with him. This is the key to real religion – having a personal relationship with God through his Son Jesus. John tells us how we can know God through Jesus Christ and also, how we can know that we do know him. All the rest of religion is mere commentary on this one central and extremely important theme.

This little book is without introduction or salutation. It is different in style from other New Testament letters. Indeed, it begins much like the Fourth Gospel, which is also from the hand of John. It does not speak of particular persons or places, as do most of the other epistles.^(F1) In this respect, it is difficult for us to know precisely to whom it was written or exactly when it was written. "It is clear from the internal evidence of First John that a developing schism within the Christian community led to its writing."^(F2) The reason for this schism seems to point to an incipient Gnosticism. This belief might be described as an overemphasis upon some supposed secret knowledge.^(F3) This "knowledge" was in addition to the knowledge of Christ, of course. It was based on human pride and thus promoted sects and divisions within the early Christian community.

It is pretty well accepted among scholars that the aged Apostle John wrote this letter, and the two other short epistles that bear his name. He also wrote the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John. This John is one and the same as the disciple, who was brother of James and a son of Zebedee. He, like his brother, was apparently born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) and was a fisherman by trade. We know from historical records that in his old age John migrated from Israel to Asia Minor and settled in Ephesus. This was likely brought on by the rising expectation of war between Rome and Israel, and no doubt John made this move prior to AD 70.^(F4) There seems to have been a migration of other eminent Jewish believers to the area at this time. These included the evangelist Philip with his daughters.^(F5)

Thus, we can assume that the works of John were probably written from Ephesus. This city was the seat of government of the Roman province of Asia. The Roman proconsul resided in Ephesus, since it was a city of great importance. It was also a wealthy city and a sinful city, that most likely because it was a center for the worship of the goddess Diana.

Christian tradition and ecclesiastical history seem to be almost unanimous as to John's authorship. The epistle was likely written around AD 90.^(F6) Early writers who make reference to First John are Clement of Rome (b. AD 35; Polycarp of Smyrna (c. 110-140); Justin Martyr (c. 150-160). Many other writers make allusion to it, including Ignatius of Antioch, Papias of Hierapolis and Irenaeus of Lyons.^(F7) The Muratorian Canon (c. 200) also presents John as the author and states that the little book has a common origin with John's Gospel.^(F8) Leading Scottish scholar, F. F. Bruce says, "John lived to a great age, until the time came when he was the sole survivor of those who had been in close contact with Jesus…It needs little imagination to understand how eagerly he would be sought out and listened to…."^(F9)