1, 2, 3 John Blog 1

The authorship was attributed to the author of the Gospel of John until the twentieth century (Keener 734). Some scholars believe that 1, 2, 3 John were written by a disciple of John (Keener 734). Robert Kyser says that some people calls these “general letters” but look like sermons (Kyser, 2195). Keener says that often when the books were compiled, the greetings were taken off which may be why 1 John does not have a greeting (Keener 735). Second John “has the classical form of an ancient letter, with a salutation, a thanksgiving, and a farewell...soon connected with 1 John ” (Kysar, 2203). Third John is a letter of recommendation for Demetrius, who was a traveling missionary (Keener 750). Kyser says that these letters were probably written between 90-110 AD (Kysar 2203). The purpose of 1 and 2 John were probably for defense against false teachers. Other ideas are that “if the setting of 1 John is the same as that of the Fourth Gospel, it is mean to encourage Christians expelled from the synagogues”...”tempted with heresy of compromise elsewhere, including compromise with idolatry advocated by false prophets...” (Keener, 735).
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10
God is in light because he is light and there is no darkness. That was a fun thing for me to think about as I read this verse. If we are in Christ, then we should not continue in darkness. I really enjoyed the logic of these verses. Also, at the same time we cannot be arrogant thinking that we have not sinned, rather we should confess that we have sinned and confess those sins. God will forgive.
“Be on guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward.” 2 John 8
The Christian life is not easy and it is not supposed to be easy right now. Faith is something that we have to keep along with the hope that we have in Christ.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4
I thought of my pastor back in Idaho when I read this verse. I can see people like him, who are teaching Christians, feel such a closeness to the people they are teaching that they rejoice when they see that people are following Christ and walking in the truth.

WORKS CITED

Keener, Craig S. “1 John,” Pages 734-746 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

--------. “2 John,” Pages 747-749 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

--------. “3 John,” Pages 750-74551 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Kyser, Robert. “The First Letter of John.” Pages 2195-2196 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.

--------. “The Second Letter of John.” Pages 2203 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.

--------. “The Third Letter of John.” Pages 2205 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.