Johannine Epistles
Bible Study at Day's
Dr. Robert C. Newman
FIRSTJOHN
(outlinemodified from Burdick, NIVSB)
I. Introduction: The Reality of the Incarnation (1:1-4)
He(Word of Life) existed from the beginning, with the Father
He(the Eternal Life) was manifested to us
Weexperienced Him
Weproclaim Him to you
Mayyour joy be complete
II. The Christian Life as Fellowship with the Father and Son (1:5-2:28)
A. Ethical Tests of Fellowship (1:5-2:11)
1. Moral Likeness (1:5-7)
Ourmessage from Him
Godis light, no darkness at all
Wecannot walk in darkness & have fellowship with Him
Withfellowship we have cleansing by His blood
2. Confession of Sin (1:8-2:2)
Weare not sinless yet
Hewill forgive if we confess
Denialof sin is denial of Him
Purposeof letter is to avoid sin
Butall need Christ's advocacy, payment
3. Obedience (2:3-6)
Howwe know we have come to know Him
Claimwithout obedience marks liar
Obediencecompletes love
Wemust follow Jesus' example
4. Love for Fellow Believers (2:7-11)
Nota new command (goes back to OT)
Yetnew as manifested in Him and believers
Hatredfor brothers belies claims
Lovemotivates lifestyle, avoids causing sin
Hatredis blindness
B. Two Digressions (2:12-17)
1.Writing to Family (2:12-14)
children,fathers, young men
forgiveness,knowledge, victory
2.Don't Love the World (2:15-17)
Inconsistentwith love for Father
Doesnot find its source in Father:
Lustof flesh (sensuality)
Lustof eyes (covetousness)
Prideof life (boasting)
Worldwill not last
C. Christological Test of Fellowship (2:18-28)
1. Contrast: Apostates vs Believers (2:18-21)
Alreadythe last hour
Manyantichrists on scene
showthey are not Xns by their departure
Truebelievers have Holy Spirit
(showthey are Xns) by knowing truth
2. Person of Christ: Crux of the Test (2:22-23)
Antichristis liar
deniesJesus is the Christ
deniesboth Father and Son
Confessionof Son is key to having Father
3. Persistent Belief: Key to Continuing Fellowship (2:24-28)
Abiding(remaining) in original Gospel message
linkedto abiding in Father & Son
thisis eternal life
don'tbe deceived
Anointingremains in you
teachesthe truth
keepsthe believer
Abidein Him
inview of judgment
III. The Christian Life as Divine Sonship (2:29-4:6)
A. Ethical Tests of Sonship (2:29-3:24)
1. Righteousness (2:29-3:10a)
Anattribute of God and all His children
God'slove demonstrated:
callsus His children
ismaking us so
Soworld misunderstands us as it does Him
Ourlikeness to God will be perfected when we see Him
Meanwhilewe seek to be pure just as He is
Sin,by contrast, is law-breaking
Christcame to rescue us from this
HeHimself is sinless
Thosewho are His don't keep on sinning
Contrastwith children of Satan
Sinan attribute of Satan & all his children
Christcame to destroy Satan's work
God'sseed in us keeps us from sinning
Thisis how we distinguish God's children from Satan's
2. Love (3:10b-24)
Alsoa test for God's chidren vs Satan's
Originalmessage
ContrastCain (Genesis 4)
belongedto (child of) Satan
murderedbrother Abel
hatedAbel's righteous lifestyle
don'tbe surprised if world hates you
Testof eternal life
lovefor brothers
Exampleof true love: Jesus died for us
sowe ought to die for brothers
lovelinked to compassion
loveresults in action
Activelove is test of truth
providesassurance
Godknows more than we
givesus confidence
supportof God
Butthis confidence linked to obedience:
trustin who Jesus is
lovefor one another
Andobedience linked to abiding
B. Christological Tests of Sonship (4:1-6)
Notall spirits from God
Testthe spirits
Confession:
Jesusis the Christ
Christhas come in the flesh
Spiritof antichrist already in world
Contrastchildren of God and of Satan
Childrenof God overcome world
Childrenof Satan heard by world
Childrenof God not heard by world,
butby other children of God
IV. The Christian Life as an Integration of Ethical &Christological (4:7-5:12)
A. The Ethical Test: Love (4:7-5:5)
1. The Source of Love (4:7-16)
comesfrom God
characterizesall & only regenerate
manifestedin Son's redemptive work
God'slove, not ours, was first
Hislove should motivate us to love
noone has seen God, but he can be seen in us
ifwe love one another
ifwe confess Jesus as Son
abidingin love = abiding in God
2. The Fruit of Love (4:17-19)
byabiding in God's love, love is perfected in us
thisgives us confidence in day of judgment
thiscasts out fear
3. The Relation between Godward andManward Love (4:20-5:1)
cannotlove God and hate brother
thosewho love God commanded to love brother
ifyou love God then you must love His children
4. Obedience: Evidence of Love for God's Children (5:2-5)
testfor love of believers is love of God and obedience
testfor love of God is obedience
childof God is victorious over world thru faith
victorover world is one who trusts Jesus as Son
B. The Christological Test (5:6-12)
JesusChrist came by water and blood
waterapp incarnation (birth water; see Jn 3:5)
bloodapp atonement
Spiritbears witness to Christ
Threewitnesses:
Spirit:regeneration
Water:incarnation
Blood:atonement
Theseare divine witnesses, not merely human
believerhas witness in himself
thiswitness is eternal life
onlyone who has Son has this life
V. Conclusion: Great Christian Certainties (5:13-21)
Writtento believers to give assurance of life
Believersalso have assurance of answered prayer
Assuranceof answers to prayers of intercession
God'schildren kept from sin and Satan
Givenunderstanding to know God and live in Him
Guardyourselves from idols
SECONDJOHN
I. Introduction (1-3): lengthened form ofstandard letter introduction
Author:"the Elder"
somehave denied this is apostle John, as term elder seems like too low adesignation
thesehypothesize another "John the elder"
but"elder" may here mean:
--church officer: Peter uses of self (1Pet 5:1)
--old man: similar to Paul's use (Phm 9)
--one of 1st Xn generation: Papias' use
styleof letter and earliest tradition favor apostolic authorship
Recipients:"elect lady and her children"
seealso "lady" (5) and "children of your elect sister" (13)
twoproposals:
--literal: a Xn woman with grownchildren
(whohas a sister w/ grown children)
--figurative: a Xn church and individualmembers
(sisteris another church)
ifliteral, name of woman?
--unnamed
--"Kyria" - rare but notunknown name
--"Eklecte" - app ruled out by(13)
Greeting:similar to Paul's greeting style
Grace,mercy and peace
Willbe with us: note of confidence
II. Occasion for Letter (4)
contactwith some of lady's children
gladto see them walking in the truth
III. God's Commandment (5-6)
loveone another
notnew commandment
love= obedience to God's commands
IV. Warning against Deceivers (7-11)
manyout in world, like the deceiver, Antichrist
don'tacknowledge Jesus as Christ come in flesh
dangerto believers to lose reward
they"go beyond" the teaching of Christ
don'thave God
notto be aided in their work
lestwe share their ÔrewardÕ
V. Conclusion (12-13)
furthermatters postponed for personal visit
greetingsfrom sister's children
THIRDJOHN
Background
PeopleInvolved
Elder(1): apostle John, prob in neighborhood of Ephesus, overseeing a number ofchurches
Gaius(1): recipient of letter; mature Xn; prob wealthy; member (perhaps an elder) ofchurch in view
Demetrius(12): app carrier of letter, a travelling Xn worker, poss in charge of a groupof such, seekinghospitality from church in view
Diotrephes(9-10): app elder in same church, with considerable influence which he hasmisused to build himself up and to put down all signs of independence
Circumstancesof Early Church
ItinerantProphets:
cp2 John 10, Didache 11-13 and Paul's practice of sending associates
Responsibityof local churches to help Xns who have gone out as travelling workers
Dangerof misuse of hospitality by charlatans and heretics
MonarchicalBishops: cp Ignatius of Antioch, Rev 2-3?
Bishopbecomes an office distict from elder, above elders, one per church, withconsiderable powers
Clearestexamples in Ignatius: Eph 2:1; Mag 6:1; Trall 3:1; Smyr 8:1-9:1
Lettersof Recommendation:
Acommon practice, see 2 Cor 3:1-2
Samplesfrom NT:
Jerusch for Judas & Silas (Acts 15:24-27)
Paulfor Phoebe (Rom 16:1-2)
Paulfor Timothy et al (2 Cor 8:16-24)
Paulfor Tychichus (Eph 6:21-22) and Onesimus (Col 4:7-9)
Outline:
I. Introduction(1)
II. Gaius'Hospitality (2-8)
Evidenceof his spiritual maturity (2-3)
Sourceof joy for his spiritual father (4)
Encouragementto continue hosptality (5-8)
III. Diotrephes'Inhospitability (9-11)
IgnoredJohn's request (9)
Wantspreeminence (9)
Wickedactions (10)
unjustaccusations
refusalto receive travelling brethren
forbidsothers to receive them
excommunicatesthose who don't obey him
Abad example (11)
IV. John'sRequest (12)
Hisrecommendation of Demetrius
Requestfor showing hospitality implied in verses 3, 5, 6, 8, 10b
V. Conclusion(13-14)
Verymuch like that of 2 John
Johnprefers personal contact to letter writing
Greetingsfrom others