Gnosticism, influenced by such philosophers as Plato, advocated a dualism asserting that matter was inherently evil and spirit was good. As a result of this presupposition, these false teachers, although attributing some form of deity to Christ, denied His true humanity to preserve Him from evil. It also claimed elevated knowledge, a higher truth known only to those in on the deep things. Only the initiated had the mystical knowledge of truth that was higher even than the Scripture.
Instead of divine revelation standing as judge over man’s ideas, man’s ideas judged God’s revelation (2:15-17). The heresy featured two basic forms. First, some asserted that Jesus’ physical body was not real but only “seemed” to be physical (known as “Docetism” from a Gr. word that means “to appear”). John forcefully affirmed the physical reality of Jesus by reminding his readers that he was an eyewitness to Him (“heard,” “seen,” “ handled,” “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh”—1:1-4; 4:2, 3). According to early tradition (Irenaeus), another form of this heresy which John may have attacked was led by a man named Cerinthus, who contended that the Christ’s “spirit” descended on the human Jesus at his baptism but left him just before his crucifixion. John wrote that the Jesus who was baptized at the beginning of His ministry was the same person who was crucified on the cross (5:6).
Such heretical views destroy not only the true humanity of Jesus, but also the atonement, for Jesus must not only have been truly God, but also the truly human (and physically real) man who actually suffered and died upon the cross in order to be the acceptable substitutionary sacrifice for sin (cf. Heb. 2:14-17). The biblical view of Jesus affirms His complete humanity as well as His full deity.
The gnostic idea that matter was evil and only spirit was good led to the idea that either the body should be treated harshly, a form of asceticism (e.g., Col. 2:21-23), or sin committed in the body had no connection or effect on one’s spirit. This led some, especially John’s opponents, to conclude that sin committed in the physical body did not matter; absolute indulgence in immorality was permissible; one could deny sin even existed (1:8-10) and disregard God’s law (3:4). John emphasized the need for obedience to God’s laws, for he defined the true love of God as obedience to His commandments (5:3).
A lack of love for fellow believers characterizes false teachers, especially as they react against anyone rejecting their new way of thinking (3:10-18). They separated their deceived followers from the fellowship of those who remained faithful to apostolic teaching, leading John to reply that such separation outwardly manifested that those who followed false teachers lacked genuine salvation (2:19). Their departure left the other believers, who remained faithful to apostolic doctrine, shaken. Responding to this crisis, the aged apostle wrote to reassure those remaining faithful and to combat this grave threat to the church. Since the heresy was so acutely dangerous and the time period was so critical for the church in danger of being overwhelmed by false teaching, John gently, lovingly, but with unquestionable apostolic authority, sent this letter to churches in his sphere of influence to stem this spreading plague of false doctrine.
Historical and Theological Themes
In light of the circumstances of the epistle, the overall theme of 1 John is “a recall to the fundamentals of the faith” or “back to the basics of Christianity.” The apostle deals with certainties, not opinions or conjecture. He expresses the absolute character of Christianity in very simple terms; terms that are clear and unmistakable, leaving no doubt as to the fundamental nature of those truths. A warm, conversational, and above all, loving tone occurs, like a father having a tender, intimate conversation with his children.
First John also is pastoral, written from the heart of a pastor who has concern for his people. As a shepherd, John communicated to his flock some very basic, but vitally essential, principles reassuring them regarding the basics of the faith. He desired them to have joy regarding the certainty of their faith rather than being upset by the false teaching and current defections of some (1:4).
The book’s viewpoint, however, is not only pastoral but also polemical; not only positive but also negative. John refutes the defectors with sound doctrine, exhibiting no tolerance for those who pervert divine truth. He labels those departing from the truth as “false prophets” (4:1), “those who try to deceive” (2:26; 3:7), and “antichrists” (2:18). He pointedly identifies the ultimate source of all such defection from sound doctrine as demonic (4:1-7).
The constant repetition of 3 sub-themes reinforces the overall theme regarding faithfulness to the basics of Christianity: happiness (1:4), holiness (2:1), and security (5:13). By faithfulness to the basics, his readers will experience these 3 results continually in their lives. These 3 factors also reveal the key cycle of true spirituality in 1 John: a proper belief in Jesus produces obedience to His commands; obedience issues in love for God and fellow believers (e.g., 3:23, 24). When these 3 (sound faith, obedience, love) operate in concert together, they result in happiness, holiness and assurance. They constitute the evidence, the litmus test, of a true Christian.
Interpretive Challenges
Theologians debate the precise nature of the false teachers’ beliefs in 1 John, because John does not directly specify their beliefs, but rather combats the heretics mainly through a positive restatement of the fundamentals of the faith. The main feature of the heresy, as noted above, seems to be a denial of the incarnation, i.e., Christ had not come in the flesh. This was most likely an incipient or beginning form of Gnosticism, as was pointed out.
The interpreter is also challenged by the rigidity of John’s theology. John presents the basics or fundamentals of the Christian life in absolute, not relative, terms. Unlike Paul, who presented exceptions, and dealt so often with believers’ failures to meet the divine standard, John does not deal with the “what if I fail” issues. Only in 2:1, 2 does he give some relief from the absolutes. The rest of the book presents truths in black and white rather than shades of gray, often through a stark contrast, e.g., “light” vs. “darkness” (1:5, 7; 2:8-11); truth vs. lies (2:21, 22; 4:1); children of God vs. children of the devil (3:10). Those who claim to be Christians must absolutely display the characteristics of genuine Christians: sound doctrine, obedience, and love. Those who are truly born again have been given a new nature, which gives evidence of itself. Those who do not display characteristics of the new nature don’t have it, so were never truly born again. The issues do not center (as much of Paul’s writing does) in maintaining temporal or daily fellowship with God but the application of basic tests in one’s life to confirm that salvation has truly occurred. Such absolute distinctions were also characteristic of John’s gospel.
In a unique fashion, John challenges the interpreter by his repetition of similar themes over and over to emphasize the basic truths about genuine Christianity. Some have likened John’s repetition to a spiral that moves outward, becoming larger and larger, each time spreading the same truth over a wider area and encompassing more territory. Others have seen the spiral as moving inward, penetrating deeper and deeper into the same themes while expanding on his thoughts. However one views the spiraling pattern, John uses repetition of basic truths as a means to accentuate their importance and to help his readers understand and remember them.
Outline
I. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL I (1:1-2:17)
A. The Fundamental Tests of Doctrine (1:1-2:2)
1. A biblical view of Christ (1:1–4)
2. A biblical view of sin (1:5—2:2)
B. The Fundamental Tests of Morals (2:3-17)
1. A biblical view of obedience (2:3–6)
2. A biblical view of love (2:7–17)
a. The love that God requires (2:7-11)
b. The love that God hates (2:12-17)
II. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL II (2:18-3:24)
A. Part 2 of the Doctrinal Test (2:18–27)
1. Antichrists depart from Christian fellowship (2:18–2
1)
2. Antichrists deny the Christian faith (2:22–25)
3. Antichrists deceive the Christian faithful (2:26, 27)
B. Part 2 of the Moral Test (2:28—3:24)
1. The purifying hope of the Lord’s return (2:28—3:3)
2. The Christian’s incompatibility with sin (3:4–24)
a. The requirement of righteousness (3:4-10)
b. The requirement of love (3:11-24)
III. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL III (4:1-21)
A. Part 3 of the Doctrinal Test (4:1–6)
1. The demonic source of false doctrine (4:1–3)
2. The need for sound doctrine (4:4–6)
B. Part 3 of the Moral Test (4:7–21)
1. God’s character of love (4:7–10)
2. God’s requirement of love (4:11–21)
IV. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL IV (5:1-21)
A. The Victorious Life in Christ (5:1-5)
B. The Witness of God for Christ (5:6-12)
C. Christian Certainties Because of Christ (5:13-21)
1. The certainty of eternal life (5:13)
2. The certainty of answered prayer (5:14–17)
3. The certainty of victory over sin and Satan (5:18–21)
The First Epistle of
JOHN
1 John 1
What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched
(John 1:1–5)
1That awhich was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have bseen with our eyes, cwhich we have looked upon, and dour hands have handled, concerning the eWord of life—
2fthe life gwas manifested, and we have seen, hand bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was iwith the Father and was manifested to us—
3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is jwith the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4And these things we write to you kthat 1your joy may be full.
Fellowship with Him and One Another
5lThis is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that mGod is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6nIf we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7But if we owalk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and pthe blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we qconfess our sins, He is rfaithful and just to forgive us our sins and to scleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10If we say that we have not sinned, we tmake Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 2
The Test of Knowing Christ
1My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, awe have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2And bHe Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but calso for the whole world.
The Test of Knowing Him
3Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a dliar, and the truth is not in him.
5But ewhoever keeps His word, truly the love of God 1is perfected fin him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6gHe who says he abides in Him hought himself also to walk just as He walked.
72Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ifrom the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard 3from the beginning.
8Again, ja new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, kbecause the darkness is passing away, and lthe true light is already shining.
9mHe who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10nHe who loves his brother abides in the light, and othere is no cause for stumbling in him.
11But he who phates his brother is in darkness and qwalks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Their Spiritual State
12I write to you, little children,
Because ryour sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is sfrom the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have tknown the Father.
14I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because uyou are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15vDo not love the world or the things in the world. wIf anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, xthe lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17And ythe world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Deceptions of the Last Hour
18zLittle children, ait is the last hour; and as you have heard that bthe4 Antichrist is coming, ceven now many antichrists have come, by which we know dthat it is the last hour.
19eThey went out from us, but they were not of us; for fif they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out gthat they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20But hyou have an anointing ifrom the Holy One, and jyou5 know all things.
21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22kWho is a liar but he who denies that lJesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23mWhoever denies the Son does not have the nFather either; ohe who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Let Truth Abide in You
24Therefore let that abide in you pwhich you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, qyou also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25rAnd this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
26These things I have written to you concerning those who try to 6deceive you.
27But the sanointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and tyou do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing uteaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you 7will abide in Him.
The Children of God
28And now, little children, abide in Him, that 8when He appears, we may have vconfidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
29wIf you know that He is righteous, you know that xeveryone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1 John 3
The Command to Love
1Behold awhat manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that bwe should be called children of 1God! Therefore the world does not know 2us, cbecause it did not know Him.
2Beloved, dnow we are children of God; and eit has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, fwe shall be like Him, for gwe shall see Him as He is.
3hAnd everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Sin and the Child of God
4Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and isin is lawlessness.
5And you know jthat He was manifested kto take away our sins, and lin Him there is no sin.
6Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, ju
st as He is righteous.
8mHe who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, nthat He might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whoever has been oborn of God does not sin, for pHis seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
The Imperative of Love
(Matt. 22:39)
10In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
11For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, qthat we should love one another,
12not as rCain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
13Do not marvel, my brethren, if sthe world hates you.
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love 3his brother abides in death.
15tWhoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that uno murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
The Outworking of Love
16vBy this we know love, wbecause He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17But xwhoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18My little children, ylet us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
19And by this we 4know zthat we are of the truth, and shall 5assure our hearts before Him.
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 660