The apostle john begins with the purpose of writing this letter by stating, i am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. The necessity of keeping the commandment of christ, that he may dwell in us and we in him by his spirit, 1 john 3. This onesentence summary of the gospel is the most famous portion of christian scripture, and probably the most oftenmemorized and oftenquoted portion of any holy text in human history. In the final letter, the elder writes to his pal gaius to thank him for putting up some of the elders friends as houseguests.
They can be sure about eternal life with jesus 1 john 3. Surely we should love those whom god has loved, and so loved. Working preacher is a ministry brought to you by luther seminary. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal. Thats a lot better than this other dude, diotrephes, who shut the door right in their facesthat guy is in big time trouble. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that the apostle john is the author. Here we have three different letters, written at different times, to different people. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which. What is here related, doubtless, occurred while our lord was attending at jerusalem to keep the passover, as is mentioned in the latter part of the preceding chapter. The book of 3 john does not directly name its author.
This chapter contains the most recognizable verse in the entire bible, john 3. The working preacher team believes that god uses good biblical preaching to change lives. Todays gospel lection is a theological key that can unlock several aspects of this often puzzling gospel of john. Bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of 1 john. This summary of the book of 3 john provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 3 john. 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. Rolf jacobson, karoline lewis, david lose, and matt skinner for a conversation around preaching the lectionary texts for easter 3. Watch our overview video on the letters of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The elder, to the beloved gaius, whom i love in truth. And john is thought to be the disciple jesus loved. About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. It is the third in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. Commentary on the gospel of john chapter 1 by cooper abrams. Sin is the transgression of the law, and christ was manifested to take away our sins, 1 john 3.
There was a man of the pharisees belonging to the sect so called. In connection with johns gospel all of this points to the apostle john as author of the epistle compare with notes on johns gospel. The teaching on the bornagain doctrinefound primarily in john 3 but expanded by paul, peter, and john in later writingshas been prone to misunderstanding since jesus christ spoke to nicodemus about it nearly two thousand years ago. The children of god are known by the holiness of their lives, the children of the devil by the sinfulness of theirs, 1 john 3. Written by john the elder to house church believers, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john echo the gospel of john. In answering the question of his disciples, john declares the father, loves the son and has given all things into his hands. Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. In connection with john s gospel all of this points to the apostle john as author of the epistle compare with notes on john s gospel. At the last supper, he was the disciple sitting next to jesus. See what kind of love the father has given to us, that we should be called children of god. In 1 john chapter 3, john described how wonderful the love of god is for his people and how hope, as his loving children, should. John was one of the three disciples that jesus took with him to witness his transfiguration.
We will begin by examining the details, then step back to look at the overall thrust of the story. The new birth in john 3 is another way for us to understand our response to the gospel of grace, that delivers us from darkness and puts us into the kingdom of christ. They whose ways please god, have an answer to all their prayers, 1 john 3. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Sermon brainwave podcast brainwave 231 lectionary texts for april 22, 2012. The key personalities are the apostles peter and paul. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works.
The author calls himself an eyewitness of jesus life chapter 1. John begins with what appears to be a definition of sin when he writes, everyone who sins breaks the law. John wrote to churches full of people who had struggled with discouragementwhether due to their own sinful failures or the presence of false teachers in their midst. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition of. To answer your good question, lets begin by reading 1 john 1. 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. 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. Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. The extraordinary love of god towards mankind, and the effects of it, 1 john 3. John highlights this concept using the greek term ideate, meaning, look at this.
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the father, jesus christ the righteous. See how great a love the father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of god. John calls followers of jesus to share in gods own life and love by. Yet theyre all loosely tied together by the same ideas. The third epistle of john, often referred to as third john and written 3 john or iii john, is the thirdtolast book of the new testament and the christian bible as a whole, and attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the gospel of john and the other two epistles of john.
David guzik commentary on 1 john 3, in which john explains the love of god and. I truly like your explanation about verse 2in 3 john. In fact, nicodemus immediately misconstrued what christ meant, understanding his analogy on a purely physical level, as another literal birth. We should love one another, for he that hateth his brother is a. Its purpose was to warn about the increasing threat of false teachings and to reassure christians of their faith and love in jesus christ. In fact, he is describing people who practice sin like the devil practices sinthat is, they intentionally make it a settled habit. They emphasize that god is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate gods light and love. Each book also addresses deceivers, teachers who no longer acknowledge that jesus is the messiah or son of god. What claims are being made above about the word john 1. In the first letter, the elder encourages the christians in his community to stay together.
Study 1 john 3 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Happy those whose spirit and conduct commend them before god and men. The universe and all in it is sustained by him as colossians 1. Apparently, theyre missionaries traveling in the area, and gaius showed them the town. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a general epistle. Every spirit that confesses 7 jesus as the christ 8 who has come in the flesh is from god, 3 but 9 every spirit that does not confess 10 jesus 11 is not from god, and this is the spirit. Apr 22, 2012 sermon brainwave podcast brainwave 231 lectionary texts for april 22, 2012.
Johns gospel free bible commentary in easy english. James white this information sheet is divided into two sections the first explores the meaning of john 1. It is a name there used for an individual personage. How we may know that we are of the truth, 1 john 3. John 3 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Here is a summary and commentary on first john chapter two. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god. The holy spirit, grieved at selfishness, will leave the selfish heart without comfort, and full of darkness and. The book of 1 st john is a general epistle apostolic letter.
It is written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. It is the only one of the three johannine letters to be addressed to a named individual. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as john the apostle. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. These verses reveal the word, who became jesus christ, as the agent of creation, performing the work necessary to carry it out. It is slightly shorter than 2 john 219 greek words compared to 245 for 2 john, and is the shortest book of the greek new testament. As is typical of the gospel of john, chapter three begins with an abrupt. A name in the gospel, or a good report in the churches, is better than worldly honour. See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we. We have enlisted hundreds of friends biblical scholars, theologians, homileticians and pastors dedicated to the craft of biblical preaching to provide you timely, compelling and trustworthy content. Nicodemusin this member of the sanhedrim sincerity and timidity are seen struggling together 2. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if god were not with him. Behold, what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of god. In the douayrheims, king james, new international, and other versions of the bible, the verse reads.
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