The key personalities of this book are jesus christ, his twelve disciples, mary magdalene, john the baptist, lazarus, his sisters mary and martha, jewish religious leaders. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. These letters are so called because they are addressed to the universal church in general, and not to a specific community, as, for example, the philippians. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as john the apostle. It may well have been written after the gospel of john. He was a leader in the early church, and he probably wrote his documents after most of the other new testament books were already written. John the apostle was the writer of the second book of john, although he does not give his name he refers to himself as the elder. Intro to 1 john biblica the international bible society. When was the book of revelation written by the apostle. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. He was one of jesus 12 disciples, and therefore was an eyewitness to the events he recorded.
The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. This short work was written before john was exiled to the island of patmos, and before he wrote the book of revelation. New testament papyrus 46, one of the oldest new testament papyri, showing 2 cor 11. In addition to this one, john wrote two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of revelation. The gospel of john is supposed to have been written by john the apostle. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the father, and was manifested unto us. The first epistle of peter, usually referred to simply as first peter and often written 1 peter, is a book of the new testament. It was written from the city of ephesus, where john spent the latter years of his life. Aug 27, 2011 the gospel according to john, which is markedly different than the other gospels, probably was written in the last decade of the first century a.
The majority of scholars see four sections in john s gospel. The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter. The book is written anonymously, although it identifies an unnamed disciple whom jesus loved as the source of its traditions, and reached its final form around ad 90110. Jun 25, 2019 he had ministered to the church in ephesus. John was a companion of simon peter, and was a fisherman by trade before jesus called him. We see therefore that there exists multiple reasons for dating john early, and certainly prior to the destruction of jerusalem in 70. Most critical biblical scholars have concluded peter is not the author, considering the epistle pseudepigraphical. At the center of the doctrinal controversy are people who do. Letters of john, three new testament writings, all composed sometime around.
Euangelion kata ioannen is the fourth of the canonical gospels. Polycarp, a secondcentury christian martyr who knew john personally, told irenaeus that john had written the book during the apostles time serving the church in ephesus. Johns next two letters, however, are written to specific audiences. The book of 1 st john is a general epistle apostolic letter. All books of the new testament refer to events that happened in the first century, such as the life of jesus. The john rylands papyrus fragment 52 of john s gospel dated from 1178 a. It undoubtedly comes from near the close of the first century, perhaps even the year 100 a. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true john 21.
Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. Many contemporary biblical scholars believe that the writer of the letters was not the author of the gospel. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of john, and the gospel of john though this is disputed. According to the notes in my version of the bible they were written by john, son of zebedee, disciple of jesus. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle, john son of zebedee, who also was understood to be the author of the gospel of john and revelation. The author presents himself as peter the apostle, and, following catholic tradition, the epistle has been held to have been written during his time as bishop of rome or bishop of antioch, though neither title is used in the epistle. John the baptist wasnt the author of the gospel of john. The book of john is a gospel that contains narrative history, sermons, parables, and a few prophetic oracles. Kindle edition by gillon, steven m download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This summary of the book of 3 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 3 john. John s next two letters, however, are written to specific audiences.
The gospels, the first four books of the new testament, tell the story of the life of jesus. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life. While paul wrote to specific congregations and individuals, peter, james, john, and jude wrote to broader audiences scattered across the roman empire. Tradition tells us that john was the longest living disciple and that his gospel was probably written last.
By the time of irenaeus, acts was also linked with luke, the companion of paul. In places, believe it or not it drags but, all together it is john in his own write. Studies from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd john bible study guide. Wasnt the new testament written hundreds of years after. John encourages believers that jesus was jehovah god who had come in the flesh, that god is light and he encourages christians to walk in the light by keeping his commandments, and the main commandment was to love god and love one another. Who was the intended audience of johns gospel answers. The book of 2 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as johns other letters, 1 and 3 john, between a. Norman perrin presents a solution that connects the redactor of john with the author of the letter the new testament.
John is also traditionally credited with writing 1, 2, and 3rd john as well as the book of revelation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading americas reluctant prince. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it twere the 60s. In christian tradition, johns gospel has always been referred to as the fourth gospel, meaning it was composed after the other three.
He was prolific and proud and not afraid to take risks. In the first verses of both 2 john and 3 john the author identifies himself as the elder. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. Book of john overview insight for living ministries. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also. Irenaeus and clement of alexandria suggest the letter was written after john s gospel circa a. The relationship of 1 john to the fourth gospel has been the subject of much scholarly debate. The sophisticated christian theology detailed in the text strongly argues for a later date than the other gospels. The gospel of john was written in greek koine and was therefore intended for an audience that spoke this language, which was spoken in egypt and. Introduction to 1 john the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Apparently this epistle, together with second and third john, was written in the later part of the first century while john was in ephesus. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of first john in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. In this epistle the apostle john addressed the dangerous spread of apostate influences in the.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. They may have been written to the churches in asia minor, over which john apparently took oversight. The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter authoritative, believing it was written by john the apostle. The book is essentially a lesson on distinguishing true christians from those who were not christians.
Saint john the apostle, on patmos, writing the book of revelation, detail of a. The author of the first letter is not identified, but the writer of the second and third. John 1 niv the word became flesh in the bible gateway. On the other hand, john shows evidence of being written after the synoptic gospels. Most modern scholars believe this is not john the apostle, but in general there is no consensus as to. The terminus ad quem for i john is provided by polycarp, who presupposes i john 4. The first letter of john is the fourth of seven catholic or universal letters of the new testament of the bible, along with the james, the first and second letters of peter, the second and third letters of john, and jude. It was written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. In one of his letters he wrote, we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard 1 john 1. Rather, the letters are the work of a later community. Early christian writers recognized john as the author, and there are clear similarities with the first epistle. The word became flesh in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god.
The last two letters were personal notes written to specific individuals with whom john was acquainted. The book of 1stjohn is a general epistle apostolic letter. Yet only onethe gospel of johnclaims to be an eyewitness account, the testimony of the unnamed disciple whom jesus loved. In ii john, the apostle, wrote to warn believers about false teachers.
Clement of alexandria place the apostle john in ephesus during most of his later years. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and love in jesus christ. The key personalities are the apostles peter and paul. To whom was the first letter of john written answers.
If they were written by the disciples, then their reliability, authenticity, and accuracy are better substantiated. The fact that the gospel of john feels a need to address it points to an early date for the book. The first commentary on the book of revelation to be preserved, written by victorinus, regards john the apostle as the author. It is written from the perspective of a first hand witness of the events of christs life. The epistle of 2 john addresses the elect lady, and. The john rylands papyrus fragment 52 of johns gospel dated from 1178 a. Traditionally, the book of revelation has been dated near the end of the first century, around a. First john is the fourth of the general epistles or catholic letters, the writings of apostles to the church at large. Although some have proposed a reverse sequence, most contemporary commentators assume that i john was written after the fourth gospel. In the introduction to 1 john in the niv study bible, donald w. It has no traditional introduction from whom, to whom. Using the space provided record your insight to why he sent the letter. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist from a latin word meaning that which is past view, contending that the apocalypse was penned around a.
Kummel argues that the gospel and the letter are from the same author introduction to the new testament, pp. Irenaeus and clement of alexandria suggest the letter was written after johns gospel circa a. How could john the baptist have written the gospel of john. The gospel of john was written in greek koine and was therefore intended for an audience that spoke this language, which was spoken in egypt and most of the near east, except the palestinian jews. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The book of 1 john is not a personal letter nor a letter written to one church as much as it is an impassioned office memo from headquarters corporate letter 1.
The earliest confirmed use of 1 john was in the roman province of asia in modern turkey where ephesus was located. He was a fisherman, one of jesus inner circle together with james and peter, and the disciple whom jesus loved jn. It is perhaps, therefore, the last word we have from the apostles. The second epistle of peter, often referred to as second peter and written 2 peter or in roman numerals ii peter especially in older references, is a book of the new testament of the bible, traditionally held to have been written by saint peter. Note every place that john uses the word writewrittenwrote. He may have been a first cousin of jesus his mother may have been salome, possibly a. Since the author of 1 john seems to build on concepts and themes found in the fourth gospel, it is reasonable to date the letter somewhere between a. In the third letter, john wrote to commend, encourage, and instruct his good friend gaius. The book of 1 john is not a personal letter nor a letter written to one church as much as it is an impassioned office memo from headquarters corporate letter. The gospel according to john, which is markedly different than the other gospels, probably was written in the last decade of the first century a.
I john was written to combat false teaching concerning the person and work of jesus christ. Unlike most nt letters, 1 john does not tell us who the author is. If it can be established that the gospels were written early, say before the year a. The book of 2 john is an urgent plea that the readers of johns letter should show their love for god and his son jesus by obeying the commandment to love each other. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first.
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