159 lines
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HTML
159 lines
12 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
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<html><head>
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<script src="../../../js/basepath.js"></script>
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<script src="./js/nav.js"></script>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js"></script>
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<style> li, p {line-height:150%;} </style>
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<div class="head">Executable Outlines</div>
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<div class="subhead">Introduction to Matthew</div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad30">
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN</div>
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<p>When Jesus to earth, He came not only to live a life, but to give life:</p>
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<blockquote>
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<b>"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." - <a id="si_1" onclick="return mV('Jhn',10,10);">Jhn 10:10</a></b>
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</blockquote>
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<p><b>The Gospel of John</b> was designed to produce faith so that we might have life (<a id="si_2" onclick="return mV('Jhn',20,30,31);">Jhn 20:30-31</a>). However, it is <b>The First Epistle of John</b> which describes the nature of that life in greater detail (e.g., <a id="si_3" onclick="return mV('1Jo',3,14);">1Jo 3:14</a>). That we might be sure to live the sort of life God offers through His Son Jesus Christ, a careful study of The First Epistle of John is in order.</p>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">AUTHOR</div>
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<p>It is assumed in this study that the author is John, the beloved disciple of Jesus (<a id="si_4" onclick="return mV('Jhn',13,23);">Jhn 13:23</a>; <a id="si_5" onclick="return mV('Jhn',19,26,27);">Jhn 19:26-27</a>; <a id="si_6" onclick="return mV('Jhn',20,2);">Jhn 20:2</a>; <a id="si_7" onclick="return mV('Jhn',21,7,20);">Jhn 21:7, 20</a>). Similarities in style, vocabulary, and themes in both this epistle and the Gospel of John certainly offer <b>internal evidence</b> for this conclusion.</p>
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<p>There is also <b>external evidence</b> that John is the author. Polycarp, a close associate of John, appears to make reference to this epistle in a letter to the Philippians at the beginning of the second century. Irenaeus, a student of Polycarp, quoted from the epistle and attributed it to John.</p>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">RECIPIENTS</div>
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<p>No one is specifically mentioned by name. John may have been in <b>Ephesus</b> at the time, and some think this was a <b>general epistle</b> to Christians throughout Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Comments in <a id="si_9" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,20,27);">1Jo 2:20, 27</a> could imply that John was addressing a specific group of Christians that possessed certain spiritual (miraculous) gifts.</p>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">DATE</div>
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<p>Estimates range from 60 A.D. to 100 A.D. Most modern scholarship places it around <b>95 A.D.</b>, but there are also good reasons for believing it was written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (<em>Re-dating The New Testament</em>, John A. T. Robinson).</p>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">PURPOSE AND THEME</div>
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<p>In his epistle John frequently states why he was writing:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>"these things we write to you that your joy may be full" - <a id="si_11" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,4);">1Jo 1:4</a></li>
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<li>"these things I write to you, that you may not sin" - <a id="si_12" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,1);">1Jo 2:1</a></li>
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<li>"these things I have written to you…that you may know that you have eternal life" - <a id="si_13" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,13);">1Jo 5:13</a></li>
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<li>"these things I have written to you…that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" - <a id="si_14" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,13);">1Jo 5:13</a></li>
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</ul>
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<p>While these reasons may state the positive purpose for John's letter, it appears he was also responding to errors prevalent at the time ("these things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you" - <a id="si_15" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,26);">1Jo 2:26</a>). If not fully developed in John's day, there was at least a precursor to <b>Gnosticism</b>.</p>
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<p>Those who later came to be called <b>Gnostics</b> claimed to have a superior knowledge (the Greek word for knowledge is <b>gnosis</b>). A fundamental presupposition was that all matter was evil. Therefore they believed that God did not create or have anything to do with the material universe (rather, it was created by a demi-god). Also, that Christ could not have come in the flesh (cf. <a id="si_16" onclick="return mV('1Jo',4,'1-3');">1Jo 4:1-3</a>).</p>
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<p>One branch of Gnosticism, <b>Docetism</b> (<b>dokein</b>, "to seem"), taught that Jesus only seemed to be physical (contrast that with John's statement in <a id="si_17" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,1);">1Jo 1:1</a>). Cerinthus, a contemporary of John, taught that "Jesus" was physical, but that the "Christ" came upon Him at his baptism, and then left before His death, so that the "Christ-spirit" never suffered (cf. <a id="si_18" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,6);">1Jo 5:6</a>).</p>
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<p>The Gnostics' application to everyday living took two different directions. Since all matter was considered evil, some taught one should abstain altogether from anything that would satisfy the flesh. Others claimed it did not matter what one did in the flesh (it was evil anyway), and to have "full knowledge" it was proper to explore everything.</p>
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<p>John's <b>purpose</b> therefore appears to be two-fold:</p>
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<ul>
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<li>Assure Christians that they have eternal life (<a id="si_19" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,13);">1Jo 5:13</a>)</li>
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<li>Counter those who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh (<a id="si_20" onclick="return mV('1Jo',4,'1-6');">1Jo 4:1-6</a>)</li>
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</ul>
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<p>As the <b>theme</b> of this epistle, may I suggest:</p>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center">Eternal life is in Jesus Christ, who has come in the flesh
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<br /><br />
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</div>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">OUTLINE</div>
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<p>Here is an outline of the book, from the <b>Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary…</b></p>
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<ul type="none">
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<li><b>Prologue: The Word of Life (<a id="si_21" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,'1-4');">1Jo 1:1-4</a>)</b></li>
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<li>1. <b>God Is Light (<span class="noTag">1Jo 1:5-3:10</span>)</b>
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<ol type="a">
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<li>Walk in the Light (1Jo 1:5-10; 1Jo 2:1-2)
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<ol type="1">
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<li>God is Light (<a id="si_25" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,'5-7');">1Jo 1:5-7</a>)</li>
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<li>Resist sin (<a id="si_26" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,'8-10');">1Jo 1:8-10</a>; <a id="si_27" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,'1-2');">1Jo 2:1-2</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li>Obey the command to love (1Jo 2:3-11)
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<ol type="1">
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<li>Know God and keep His commands (<a id="si_29" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,'3-6');">1Jo 2:3-6</a>)</li>
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<li>Learn the new command and love others (<a id="si_30" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,'7-11');">1Jo 2:7-11</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li>Know your spiritual status (<a id="si_31" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,'12-14');">1Jo 2:12-14</a>)</li>
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<li>Be warned of enemies of the faith (1Jo 2:15-27)
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<ol type="1">
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<li>Beware of the world (<a id="si_33" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,'15-17');">1Jo 2:15-17</a>)</li>
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<li>Beware of the antichrists (<a id="si_34" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,'18-27');">1Jo 2:18-27</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li>Live like children of God (1Jo 2:28-29; 1Jo 3:1-10)
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<ol type="1">
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<li>Be confident and ready for His coming (<a id="si_37" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,28,29);">1Jo 2:28-29</a>; <a id="si_38" onclick="return mV('1Jo',3,'1-3');">1Jo 3:1-3</a>)</li>
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<li>Be righteous and do not sin (<a id="si_39" onclick="return mV('1Jo',3,'4-10');">1Jo 3:4-10</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li>2. <b>God Is Love (1Jo 3:11-5:12)</b>
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<ol type="a">
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<li>Love one another: part one (1Jo 3:11-24)
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<ol type="1">
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<li>Love in action (<a id="si_41" onclick="return mV('1Jo',3,'11-18');">1Jo 3:11-18</a>)</li>
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<li>Live in confidence (<a id="si_42" onclick="return mV('1Jo',3,'19-24');">1Jo 3:19-24</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li>Test the spirits (<a id="si_43" onclick="return mV('1Jo',4,'1-6');">1Jo 4:1-6</a>)</li>
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<li>Love one another: part two (1Jo 4:7-21)
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<ol type="1">
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<li>Love others because God loves you (<a id="si_45" onclick="return mV('1Jo',4,'7-10');">1Jo 4:7-10</a>)</li>
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<li>Love others because God lives in you (<a id="si_46" onclick="return mV('1Jo',4,'11-21');">1Jo 4:11-21</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li>Obey God and experience the victory of faith (<a id="si_47" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,'1-5');">1Jo 5:1-5</a>)</li>
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<li>Believe in the Son and enjoy eternal life (<a id="si_48" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,'6-12');">1Jo 5:6-12</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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<li><b>Conclusion: Confidence and Characteristics of the Child of God (1Jo 5:13-21)</b>
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<ol type="a">
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<li>Know you have eternal life (<a id="si_50" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,13);">1Jo 5:13</a>)</li>
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<li>Be confident in prayer (<a id="si_51" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,'14-17');">1Jo 5:14-17</a>)</li>
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<li>Do not continue in sin (<a id="si_52" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,'18-20');">1Jo 5:18-20</a>)</li>
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<li>Keep yourself from idols (<a id="si_53" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,21);">1Jo 5:21</a>)</li>
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</ol>
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</li>
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</ul>
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<div class="levI" style="color: 324395; font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: left">REVIEW QUESTIONS</div>
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<ol>
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<li><b>Who is author of The First Epistle of John?</b>
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<ul><li>John the apostle, the beloved disciple who also wrote The Gospel of John</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>Who were the original recipients of this epistle?</b>
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<ul><li>Christians in general, likely in Ephesus or scattered throughout Asia Minor (Turkey)</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>When was it written?</b>
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<ul><li>Most date it in 90s A.D.</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>List four reasons John stated for writing this epistle. (<a id="si_54" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,4);">1Jo 1:4</a>; <a id="si_55" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,1);">1Jo 2:1</a>; <a id="si_56" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,13);">1Jo 5:13</a>)</b>
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<ul>
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<li>"that your joy may be full"</li>
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<li>"that you may not sin"</li>
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<li>"that you may know that you have eternal life"</li>
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<li>"that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God"</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>List another reason John wrote this epistle. (<a id="si_57" onclick="return mV('1Jo',2,26);">1Jo 2:26</a>)</b>
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<ul><li>"Concerning those who try to deceive you"</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>What doctrine later found in Gnosticism is addressed in this epistle?</b>
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<ul><li>Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>What has been suggested as its two-fold purpose?</b>
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<ul>
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<li>Assure Christians that they have eternal life</li>
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<li>Counter those who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>What has been suggested as its theme?</b>
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<ul><li>Eternal life is in Jesus Christ, who has come in the flesh</li></ul>
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</li>
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<li><b>What are the main divisions of this epistle as outlined above?</b>
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<ul>
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<li>Prologue: The Word of Life (<a id="si_58" onclick="return mV('1Jo',1,'1-4');">1Jo 1:1-4</a>)</li>
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<li>God Is Light (<span class="noTag">1Jo 1:5-3:10</span>)</li>
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<li>God Is Love (<span class="noTag">1Jo 3:11-5:12</span>)</li>
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<li>Conclusion: Confidence and Characteristics of the Child of God (<a id="si_59" onclick="return mV('1Jo',5,'13-21');">1Jo 5:13-21</a>)</li>
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</ul>
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</li>
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</ol>
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<p style="font-size: 100%; margin-top: 25px; text-align: center">
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2003</p>
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</div></div>
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<a href="./study/eo/index.html">Return to Executable Outlines</a></div>
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