The Strand Study Bible

I JOHN

Author: John, The Beloved Theme: The Assurance of our Salvation

About the Author: John, whose name means “gift of God,” was a Jew from the city of Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He and his father (Zebedee) and older brother (James) (Mt 4:21) were fishermen. According to the Bible, they seemed to have made a good living at their trade (Mk 1:20 and Jn 19:27). His mother’s name was Salome. Immediately following the miracle of the draught of fishes, John and his brother James became apostles (Lk 5:9-10). He, along with Peter and James, became one of the three apostles closest to Christ. John was probably the youngest of the disciples and lived the longest (until c. AD 100). While on the cross, Christ personally asked John to care for his earthly mother (Jn 19:26-27). Twelve years later, in AD 44, after Christ’s resurrection, John lost his brother (James) to martyrdom (Acts 12:12). Six years later in AD 50, he and Peter, Paul and others took part in settling the controversy of circumcision in Jerusalem (Acts 15 and Gal 2:9). Tradition tells us that John spent many years as pastor of the church at Ephesus. Then, in the latter years of his life, he was banished by the Roman government on a deserted island called Patmos. Later, God used him to write The Revelation (Rev 1:9 – AD 96). About the Book: I John was written to assure Christians that “once saved, always saved.” According to Romans 8:16 and I John 3:24 & 4:13, it is the job of the HOLY SPIRIT to assure Christians that they are indeed the children of God. The reason that Christians fail to hear the voice of the HOLY SPIRIT reminding them of their salvation is because they violate one of three areas within the Christian life: I Jn 2:3 & 3:14-19 & 5:13. Because of these violations, many Christians repeatedly doubt the assurance of their salvation. John’s letter was written to address these three “problem” areas and to help Christians learn to deal with them. Once sin has been confessed (and God’s children will sin - I Jn 1:8-2:1), then fellowship is restored and the HOLY SPIRIT’S voice can, once again, be heard loud and clear (I Jn 1:9 & 3:24 & 4:13). I John was written from Ephesus in approximately AD 90. Notes of Interest:

1. There are no OT quotations found in I John. 2. Prophecies are referred to 8 times in I John . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 3 of those 8 times. 4. There are 2 OT characters referred to in the book of I John : Cain and Abel. 5. There are no inset maps used in the book of I John.

Outline of I John :

1. Fellowship (I Jn 1) 2. The assurance of our salvation (I Jn 2-5) I John 1 Joyful fellowship Date Written - c. AD 90

1. or, “Christ” 2. or, “was already in existence”- Mic 5:2 & Jn 1:1- 2 & 8:58 & 16:28

is with the Father, and with his 10 Son Jesus Christ. 4 And 11 these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Broken fellowship 6 12 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the 13 blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

3. Jn 5:24 4. Jn 1:14 5. Jn 20:27 6. Jn 1:4 7. Jn 21:24

1 1 THAT which 2 was from the begin- ning, which we have heard, which we have 3 seen with our eyes, which we have 4 looked upon, and our 5 hands have handled, of the WORD OF LIFE ; 2 (For the 6 LIFE was manifested, and we have seen it, 7 and bear witness, and shew unto you that 8 ETERNAL LIFE , which was 9 with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship

8. Jn 1:1,15,30 9. Jn 14:1-11 & 17:4-5 10. Isa 7:14 & 9:6 & Psa 2:7 11. Jn 15:11 12. II Cor 6:14 13. Acts 20:28 & Eph 1:7 & I Pet 1:18-19

1:5 There are three divine expressions that are used within Scripture to convey the intellectual, moral, and metaphysical (or, supernatural) essence of God: (1) light; (2) love ( I Jn 4:16 ); and (3) spirit ( Jn 4:24 ). The term “ light” expresses the intellectual part of the essence of God (His omniscience) and is used to describe the intellectual nature of all three persons of the Triune Godhead: * FATHER (Jms 1:17) * SON (Jn 1:6-9 & 8:12, Lk 2:30-32, Acts 13:47, I Tim 6:13-16, Rev 21:23, Isa 42:6 & 49:6 and Gen 1:3 b ) * HOLY SPIRIT ( Gen 1:2-3, Job 26:13, I Cor 2:9-12) 1:7a To walk in the light is to keep God’s commandments (His Word) (Psa 119:105). 1:7b People who say they are saved ( If we say that we have fellowship with him – vs 6), but don’t like church ( we have fellowship one with another ), need to recheck their walk, if not their salvation. 2114