New Testament

1. New Testament BCM 103Dr. Dave MathewsonGordon College/Denver Seminary

2. Introduction to 1 John • Catholic or General Epistles: Hebrew –3 John – more general audience, Christians scattered wide geographically, catholic=universal • Paul’s letters to specific churches and/or persons • Some of the letters 1-3rd John were addressed to some specific churches so may not be “general epistle”

3. 1 John: Author • No indication or authorship and doesn’t start like a letter • Jumps right in first verse: 1:1 • No indication of who wrote it and where it was going to • Church Fathers all claim 1-3 were written by John…several Johns though • 1:1 fits well only with one present with Christ could have written it: Apostle John

4. Readers of 1-3 John • Community left behind feel abused and got them to doubt whether they are the true people of God or not • They leave behind small group of embattled Christians

5. Johannine Community • John –against heresy [proto-gnosticism] secret knowledge only available to elite few, salvation an escape from physical world • 1 John –heretics had infiltrated the church and now are leaving it—succeeding from it • 2 John – heretics are attacking the church from outside • 3 John– church in danger of being taken over by heretics

6. 1 John: Main Purpose • 1 John 5.13 – John writes to assure readers who doubt their spiritual status that they have eternal life • He writes to assure them of their spiritual status

7. 3 Tests for the true people of God • 3 tests of spiritual status—cycled through the book • 1) Love– for each other • 2) Obedience– to the commands of Christ • 3) Confession– that Christ has come in the flesh contra proto-gnosticism cf. Docetism (denied Jesus humanity)

8. A Contradiction in 1 John? • Christians Don’t Sin! • 1:7; 3:6, 9, 10 • Christians Do Sin! • 1:8, 10 • Continuing in sin—persist in it; John’s statement stronger than that • Already (died with Christ to sin) but not yet reality (they do sin) –indicative / imperative

9. Different Message for different times • Hearing these at different times • When we use faith in Christ as an excuse to sin we need to hear –Christians don’t sin • Yet when frustrated and tempted to doubt our spiritual status that separates us from Christ’s love Christians do sin and have forgiveness

10. 2 John • Authorship: strong early testimony • Refers himself as “the elder” “to the elect lady and her children” • Possibly a woman leader of the church there • Possibly it refers to the church itself (bride) metaphorical for church • Small contingent of house church • Early tradition associates 1-3 John with Ephesus

11. 2 John • Background: False teachers are attempting to infiltrate the house church. • Verse 8-9: don’t let them in your house • “House” = house church • Itinerate preachers common, so warning about false teachers coming into church and teach • Message: John warns the congregation against accepting the false teachers into their midst.

12. 3 John • Background – Diotrophes is dividing the church by trying to build a power base and gather a following • Message– John writes to tell them how to deal with this troublemaker • Like listening to one half of a phone conversation