“Look at the Book” is Bible Gateway’s series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. The first letter of John (commonly believed to be the same apostle John who wrote the gospel bearing his name) is all about modeling God’s love in community.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
In John’s first letter, he writes to assure believers of the certainty of their salvation and to refute heretical teachings that Jesus was not fully human and fully divine.
- Category: Epistle
- Theme: Fellowship
- Timeline: Written around AD 90-95
Key Verse
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” — 1 John 5:13 (NIV)
(Almost) All You Need Is Love
The love of the church models the love of God. The trinitarian God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — exists in loving harmony. God’s people are to love one another in a way that models the love of the Trinity.
Genuine love is an indication of authenticity of our relationship with God and provides believers with assurance that their salvation is indeed genuine.
7 Day Reading Guide
Here’s a handy 7-day guide to the “catholic” epistles. (See 30-day reading guide below.)
The Battle Begins
Gnosticism was the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries. Most likely, John was combating the beginnings of this virulent heresy that threatened to destroy the fundamentals of the faith and the churches.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
Chris Fann is the Senior Digital Marketing Manager for Harper Christian Resources. He loves the smell ofa baseball glove, coffee, and old books. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, 2 teenage boys, and their dog, Freya.
