For information concerning him see lesson twenty-eight.
The Readers. It was doubtless written primarily to the churches of Asia Minor in which John by reason of his work at Ephesus had a special interest. It is evident that those addressed were of all ages and were hated of the world. They were inclined to worldliness and to the danger of looking too lightly upon sin. They were also in danger of being led into doubt by those who denied the deity of Jesus.
The Style. It is more in the form of a sermon or pastoral address than of an epistle. It is written with a tone of conscious authority. The thought is profound and mystical, but the language is simple both in words and in sentences. The arguments are by immediate inference.
Their are many contrasts, parallelisms and repet.i.tions with no figures of speech except perhaps the words light and darkness.
The Purpose. The chief purpose was to tell them how they might know that they had eternal life, 5:13. The accomplishment of this purpose would also a.s.sure the fulfillment of the secondary purpose stated in 1:3, 4.
Theme. The evidence of eternal life.
a.n.a.lysis
Introduction, 1:1-4.
I. How Those Who Possess Eternal Life will Live, 1:5-5:12.
1. They will dwell in the light, 1:5-2:28.
2. They will do righteousness, 2:29-4:6.
3. They will live a life of love, 4:7-5:3.
4. They will walk by faith, 5:4-12.
II. What Those who Live such Lives may Know, 5:13-20.
1. That they have eternal life. 13.
2. That their prayers are answered, 14-17.
3. That G.o.d"s people do not live in sin, 18.
4. Their true relation to G.o.d and to Christ, 19-20.
Conclusion, 5:21.
The following a.n.a.lysis made with the idea of the theme being "Fellowship with G.o.d" (1:3-4) is very suggestive.
Introduction, 1:1-4.
I. G.o.d is Light and our fellowship with him depends upon our walking in the light, 1:5-2:28.
II. G.o.d la Righteous and our fellowship with him depends upon our doing righteousness, 2-29, 4:6.
III. G.o.d is Love and our fellowship with him depends upon our having and manifesting a spirit of love, 4:7-5:3.
IV. G.o.d Is Faithful and our fellowship with him depends upon our exercising faith in him, 5:4-12.
Conclusion. 5:13-21 end.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The different things we may know and how we may know them. Make a list giving reference, as, "know Him if we keep His commandments" (2:3). (2) Make a list of the things defined in the following scriptures, and give the definition in each case: 1:5; 2:25; 3:11, 3:23; 5:3; 5:4; 5:11; 5:14. (3) The several figures and attributes of G.o.d, as light, righteousness and love. (4) The requirements of deeds of righteousness, 1:6, 7; 2:9-11; 3:17-23. (5) G.o.d"s love for his children, 3:1-2; 4:8-11, 16, 19. (6) Christians"
duty to love one another, 2:10; 3:10-24; 4:7-21; 5:1-2. (7) The propitiatory death of Jesus Christ, 1:7; 2:1-2; 4:10. (8) Difference between Christians and non-Christians, 3:4-10. How many times do each of the following words occur? Love, light, life, know, darkness, hate, righteousness, sin, liar and lie, true and truth.
Second John.
It is a friendly, personal letter, written some time after the first letter, to the "elect lady" who, as I think, was John"s friend, and not a church or some nation as has sometimes been argued. The aim is evidently to warn his friend against certain false teachers.
a.n.a.lysis.
1. Greeting, 1-3.
2. Thanksgiving, 4.
3. Exhortation to obedience. 5-6.
4. Warning against anti-Christs, 7-9.
5. How to deal with false teachers, 10-11.
6. Conclusion, 12-13.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The character of the children of the elect lady. (2) Evidence of real discipleship. (3) How to deal with false teachers.
This also is a private letter written, some time after First John, to his personal friend, Gaius. There was some confusion about receiving certain evangelists. Gaius had received them while Diotrephes had opposed their reception. He commends Gaius for his Christian hospitality and character.
a.n.a.lysis.
1. Greeting, 1.
2. Prayer for his posterity, 2.
3. Commends his G.o.dly walk, 3-4.
4. Commends his hospitality, 5-8.
5. Complaint against Diotrephes, 9-10.
6. Test of relation to G.o.d, and worth of Demetrius, 11-12.
7. Conclusion, 13-14.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The character of Gaius and Diotrephes.
(2) Christian hospitality. (3) Such words as truth, sincerity and reality.
Jude.
The author is named as Jude, the brother of James. He probably means the James wrote the epistle of that name and is, therefore, the Lord"s brother.
Purpose. False teachers were boldly teaching their heresies in the meetings of the congregation. These men were also very immoral in conduct and the epistle is written to expose their errors and to exhort his readers to contend for the true faith and to live worthy lives. In many points it is very similar to the second letter of Peter.