Considering such factors, a reasonable date for 1 John (is ca. 95, it may have been written before that began. Since no mention is made of the persecution under Domitian, which began about A.D. Furthermore, the heresy John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of Gnosticism (see Background and Setting), which was in its early stages during the latter third of the first century when John was actively writing. Since many date the gospel during the latter part of the first century, they also prefer a similar date for the epistles. Such similarity causes many to date the writing of John’s epistles as occurring soon after he composed his gospel. The epistle and John’s gospel reflect similar vocabulary and manner of expression (see Historical and Theological Themes). The tone of the epistle supports this evidence since the writer gives the strong impression that he is much older than his readers (e.g., “my little children” 2:1, 18, 28).
This letter brings special teaching on Jesus as the Light, Life, and Love.Ĭhurch tradition consistently identifies John in his advanced age as living and actively writing during this time at Ephesus in Asia Minor. The exact date of the writing was uncertain, as well. 1:1).ĭate: The letter was probably written from Ephesus, but is uncertain. He also wrote the book of Revelation (Rev. In addition to the 3 epistles, John also authored the fourth gospel, in which he identified himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved”, and as the one who reclined on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper (John 13:23 19:26 20:2 21:7, 20). 17:1 26:37), being an eyewitness to and participant in Jesus’ earthly ministry (1:1-4). John was one of the 3 most intimate associates of Jesus (along with Peter and James compare Matt. 10:2-4), whom Jesus gave the name “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). John and James, his older brother (Acts 12:2), were known as “the sons of Zebedee” (Matt. The purpose of the letter was probably to help the church avoid error in its teaching. He calls himself “the elder” (see 2 John 1), which seems to have been John’s self designation in the final years of his ministry. The apostle John, who wrote the Gospel of John and Revelation, is without doubt the author. It is as current for our church today, as it was for then. This letter could probably be classified as a general letter.
He was well known to the readers so he didn’t need to mention his name. This anonymity strongly affirms the early church’s identification of the epistle with John the apostle, for only someone of John’s well known and preeminent status as an apostle would be able to write with such unmistakable authority, expecting complete obedience from his readers, without clearly identifying himself (e.g., 4:6). Although 1 John does not exhibit some of the general characteristics of an epistle common to that time (e.g., no introduction, greeting, or concluding salutation), its intimate tone and content indicate that the term “epistle” still applies to it.Īuthorship: The epistle does not identify the author, but the strong, consistent and earliest testimony of the church ascribes it to John the disciple and apostle (compare Luke 6:13-14). Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a “general epistle”.
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It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the Apostle John’s name.
Title: The epistle’s title has always been “1 John”.
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