Article Index

Names of the Book

ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST- Francesco Furini

English:  1 John
Greek:  1 Ιωάννης
Transliterated:  1 Iōannēs
Other names:  The first epistle of John

 

whoWho

Wrote the book:  the apostle John
Are the key people:  John, Yeshua
Is it written to:  Gentile believers

 

whatWhat

G-d is light (1 John 1:1-2:27)
G-d is love (1 John 2:28-4:21)
G-d is life (1 John 5:1-21)

 

whenWhen

Was it written:  c 80-85 CE
Did the events occur:  c 80-85 CE
Was it canonized:  c 120-170 CE
(see the Timeline of the First Century)

 

whereWhere

Was it written:  Ephesus
Did the events occur:  no place specifically

 

whyWhy

1 John was written to inform us that: 
Even believers sin and require forgiveness.
G-d commands believers to love one another.
Believers are part of G-d's family by faith.
False teachers often teach licentiousness.

 

whyIntroduction

As people from various religious backgrounds became believers, they brought with them the baggage of their prior beliefs. One of those false beliefs was that of "dualism" which taught that everything spiritual was "good" and everything physical was "bad". Because of this false belief, some were teaching that Messiah did not come in the flesh but was instead only a divine spirit. In his first letter to the believers in Asia Minor, the apostle John addresses this error and affirms to his readers both the divinity and humanity of Messiah. He exhorts believers to live their lives with love and obedience with are the hallmarks of true faith and provides these words of comfort and encouragement: "By this we know that we love the children of G-d, when we love G-d and observe His commandments. For this is the love of G-d, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:2-3)

 

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Sh'lishi, 9 Adar II, 5784

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.