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A STUDY IN 1 JOHN (3)

Introduction (3):

Recipients, Date, and Occasion of Writing

Victor M. Eskew

 

            We have embarked on a study of 1 John.  Before delving into the text, it is essential to do a background study of the book.  We have looked at the authorship of the book.  John, an apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote this brief epistle.  We have also examined the biography of John.  Now, let’s turn our attention to some of the other details of our introduction.

            It is difficult to accurately identify the first recipients of the book because they are not named.  Most believe John was writing to Gentile converts.  There are three main reasons for this assertion.  First, there are no quotes from the Old Testament.  When writing to Jews who were familiar with the Law of Moses, inspired writers would quote passages, allude to passages, and discuss characters and events from the Law.  Since the Gentiles were not under the Old Covenant, they would not have been as familiar with its teachings.  Therefore, those who wrote to the Gentiles would not use it very much in their writings.  Second, one of the key elements of this epistle involves what some call the “Gnostic Heresy.”  This teaching infiltrated many of the Gentile churches in the late first century and developed more fully in the second century.  The word Gnosticism comes from the Greek word “gnosis.”  It is translated “to know.”  The Gnostics believed they had superior knowledge given to them.  They would often boast of their knowledge in order to intimidate their hearers.  John uses the Greek verb 25 times in this epistle.  We will discuss Gnosticism more in another article.  Third, John ends the epistle with these words:  “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen” (1 John 5:21).  The Babylonian captivity flushed idolatry from the lives of the Jews.  The Gentiles, however, had come out of an idolatrous background (See 1 Thess. 1:9).  They would sometimes be under temptation to return to that lifestyle.  Thus, John exhorts them to abstain from idols.  

            John was very close to the individuals to whom he wrote.  He addresses them with two terms of deep affection.  One of the terms was “little children.”  Seven times these words are found in 1 John.  “My little children, these things write I under you that ye sin not…” (1 John 2:1).  “Little children, it is the last time…” (1 John 2:18).  “And now, little children, abide in him…” (1 John 2:28).  John writes to these individuals as if he is their father.  He views them as his children.  They are under his care and his protection.  Another term John uses often is the word “beloved.”  We find it five times in the book.  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God…” (1 John 3:2).  “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (1 John 3:21).  “Beloved, believe not every spirit…” (1 John 4:1).  John saw his readers as his children, and he loved them very, very much. 

            Dating the book is as difficult as determining the recipients.  There are some who believe that John completed all of his writings prior to A.D. 70.  Others believe that John wrote most of his books toward the close of the first century.  Most commentators take the later date for 1 John.  One reason they take the later date is because it took time for the theory of Gnosticism to develop.  Prior to the fall of Jerusalem, Judaism, not Gnosticism, was the main problem facing the churches.  Thus, A.D. 90 to A.D. 95 is the most common date selected for the writing of 1 John.

            The occasion of writing answers this question:  “Why did John pick up his pen and write this letter to these Gentile converts?”  The answer lies in the false teachers who had infiltrated the churches with the doctrines of Gnosticism.  In 1 John 4:1-3, John writes:  “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Herby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already it is in the world.”  John refers to false prophets and antichrists.  He reveals that there are some who confess that Jesus Christ is not come in the flesh.  He declares that the “spirit of antichrist” is now already in the world. 

False teachers are extremely dangerous to the Lord’s church.  They can deceive the hearts of the brethren.  They can lead them away from the truth.  They can destroy their souls.  They can make enemies of those who used to be friends.   They can split churches.  Thus, John wastes no time warning his readers about these evil individuals.  Listen to John’s contrast in 1 John 4:5-6.  “They are of the world:  therefore they speak of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God:  he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.  Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”  When confronting false teaching, the battle is always between truth and error.  When error appears to prevail, it is a sad time for those who advocate for the truth.  When false teachers entered into the churches of Galatia, Paul marveled (Gal. 1:6-9).  We feel his hurt in these words:  “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:7-9).  Just a pinch of leaven from the false teachers can leaven one or more congregations.  Even Jesus warned against such leaven (Matt. 16:6).

In our next article, we will deal with some of the teaching of the Gnostics.  It was a teaching that centered in the idea that spirit is all good and flesh is all bad.  After that article, we will look at the theme of 1 John.  A theme is “the golden thread” that runs through the entire book.  John’s theme will confront the Gnostics head-on.