1 John 1
editing
NT
1 John 1:1-10
esv
The purpose of the Son of God coming to this earth: for us to have incredible fellowship with Him
That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard,
which we have seen
with our eyes,
Manner
which we looked upon
and our hands have touched,
concerning the word
Content of 3c following
of life—
Epexegetical
the life was made manifest,
and we have seen it,
Results 1-3
and testify to it
and proclaim ... the eternal life,
to you
Purpose Advantage
which was with the Father
and was made manifest
to us—
that which we have seen
and heard
we proclaim also
to you,
Purpose Advantage
so that you too may have fellowship
Purpose of 3c
with us;
and indeed our fellowship is with the Father
Explanation 1-2
and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And we are writing these things
Explanation
so that our joy may be complete.
Purpose
Who the Father (and the Son) are: Light, and that has implications for our daily lives
This is the message
we have heard
from him
Source
and proclaim
to you,
Purpose Advantage
that God is light,
Content
and in him
Locative Sphere
is no darkness at all.
Inference
If we say we have fellowship
Conditional (non-gram)
with him
Reference
while we walk in darkness,
Concessive
we lie
Explanation 1/Content 1
and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light,
Conditional
as he is in the light,
Comparison
we have fellowship
Explanation 2/Content 2
with one another,
and the blood ... cleanses us
of Jesus
Possessive
his Son
from all sin.
Separation
If we say we have no sin,
Conditional (non-gram)
we deceive ourselves,
Explanation 1
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins,
Conditional (non-gram)
he is faithful
Explanation 102
and just
to forgive us our sins
Results 1-2
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned,
Conditional (non-gram)
we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
Observation notes 1. What is the logical connection between 1:4 and 1:5? The argument is this: that verses 5-10 are the content of the proclamation of 1:3. In essence, 1:3 is not just a message about Jesus, b ut also a message about what are lifestyle in Jesus should look like. 2. Why suddenly does " the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us" appear somewhat out of blue in 1:7 I am still not sure of this statement in the context of the chapter, although it is a great truth, no doubt.
phrasing
1 John 2
1 John 2:1-27
1 John: a letter to keep people from sin (and a powerful backup if they do!)
My little children,
I am writing these things
to you
Destination
so that you may not sin.
Purpose Advantage
But ... we have an advocate
Concessive (non-gram)
if anyone does sin,
Condition
with the Father,
Destination/reference
Jesus Christ
the righteous.
He is the propitiation
Explanation 2 (non-gram)
for our sins,
Purpose Advantage 1
and not for ours only
Negative
but also for the sins
Purpose Advantage 2
of the whole world.
Evidence of a True Knowledge of Jesus: Walking in Commandments
And ... we know
by this
Means
that we have come to know him,
if we keep his commandments.
Whoever ... is a liar,
Expl 1 (non-gram)
says
“I know him”
but does not keep his commandments
and the truth is not in him,
Explanation 2
but whoever ... in him truly the love ... is perfected.
Expl 2 (non-gram)
keeps his word,
of God
Objective
By this
we may know
that we are in him:
whoever ... ought to walk
he abides
in him
Locative sphere
in the same way
in which he walked.
Standard
The Old Commandment is the Message of Chapter 1: to walk in the light, since God himself is light
Beloved,
I am writing you ... but an old commandment
no new commandment,
that you had
from the beginning.
Temporal
The old commandment is the word
that you have heard.
At the same time, it is a new commandment
Concession
that I am writing
to you,
which is true
in him
Locative Spheres 1-2
and in you,
because the darkness is passing away
Grounds 1-2
and the true light is already shining.
2 Different Ways of Walking, Illustrated
Whoever ... is still in darkness.
says he is in the light
and hates his brother
Whoever ... abides in the light,
loves his brother
and in him
there is no cause for stumbling.
Result
But whoever ... is in the darkness
hates his brother
Explanations 1-3
and walks in the darkness,
and does not know
where he is going,
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Ground
1 John: a letter to those who know God, to those forgiven, to those with victory over Satan
I am writing
to you,
little children,
because your sins are forgiven
for his name’s sake.
Deep Ground
I am writing
to you,
fathers,
because you know him
who is from the beginning.
I am writing
to you,
young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write
to you,
children,
because you know the Father.
I write
to you,
fathers,
because you know him
who is from the beginning.
I write
to you,
young men,
because you are strong,
Ground 1
of God
Producer
and the word ... abides
Ground 2
in you,
Locative
and you have overcome the evil one.
Ground 3
2 different ways of walking (just new terms, that’s it)
Do not love the world
or the things
in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love ... is not in him.
Ground (non-gramm)
of the Father
Objective (mainly)
For all that is in the world—
the desires
Content 1
of the flesh
Attributive (source?)
and the desires
Content 2
of the eyes
Attributive (poss, subj)
and pride
Content 3
of life —
Source (producer?)
is not from the Father
but is from the world.
And the world is passing away
along with its desires,
Accompaniment
but whoever ... abides forever.
does the will
of God
The time of false professors and your True Discernment I
Children,
it is the last hour,
and as you have heard
that antichrist is coming,
so now many antichrists have come.
Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
They went out
from us,
but they were not of us;
for ... they would have continued
if they had been of us,
with us.
But they went out,
that it might become plain
that they all are not of us.
But you have been anointed
by the Holy One,
Agency
and you all have knowledge.
Content/Resu
I write
to you,
not because you do not know the truth,
but because you know it,
Grounds 1-2
and because no lie is of the truth.
False Professors and your True Discernment (Abiding) II
Who is the liar
but he
Answer
who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
This is the antichrist,
Explanation (non-gram)
he
who denies the Father
and the Son.
No one ... has the Father.
who denies the Son
Whoever ... has the Father also.
confesses the Son
Let what you heard ... abide
from the beginning
in you.
Locative sphere
from the beginning
If what you heard ... abides
in you,
Locative sphere
then you too will abide
in the Son
Locative spheres 1-2
and in the Father.
And this is the promise
that he made
to us —
Purpose advantage
eternal life.
I write these things
to you
about those
who are trying to deceive you.
But the anointing ... abides
that you received
from him
in you,
Locative sphere
and you have no need
that anyone should teach you.
But as his anointing teaches you
about everything,
Content 1
and is true,
Explanation 1-2
and is no lie—
just as it has taught you,
abide in him.
Content 2 (Main)
My own personal translation of "Whoever" in this chapter "This is the man who..."
Old : because they had heard this command countless times since becoming a Christian New : because before coming to Jesus, they had never heard it
2:16 translation all the things that are in the world, they are sourced in the “world system at a large”
Observations for commentary searching 1. Why sudden introduction of Antichrists? It is about the “Doctrine test”, which he will now introduce 2. What is verse 20ff connection of Anointing to Antichrist protection? It is showing that the Holy Spirit himself will lead us to internally know what is True Doctrine
General Overview of 1 John 2 *Emphasis of the Nature of the Christian’s walk *Purpose of the letter given 2 times: to not sin, to be re-assured that they do know god *Discernment of Doctrine: given to us as to who are or are not False Christians
1John 2:28-3:10
1 John 2:28-3:10
Meditations on the amazing realities of being a Child of God
And now, little children,
abide
in him,
Locative Sphere
so that ... we may have confidence
Purpose (advantage)
when he appears
and not shrink ... at his coming.
Negative Purpose
from him
in shame
If you know that he is righteous,
you may be sure
that everyone ... has been born of him.
who practices righteousness
See what kind (what quality) ... the Father has given
of love
Attributed (an "amazing quality" of love)
to us,
Purpose Advantage
that we should be called children
Content (poss. result)
of God;
Subjective (Possessive)
and so we are.
why the world does not know us
The reason ... is
that it did not know him.
Beloved,
we are God’s children now,
and ... has not yet appeared;
what we will be
but we know
that ... we shall be like him,
when he appears
because we shall see him
as he is.
Manner (his pure self)
who thus hopes
in him
Locative sphere (destination)
And everyone ... purifies himself
as he is pure.
Comparison/Manner/Standard
The practical characteristic of God’s child: his non-sinning, told 3 times
First statement: non-sin in relationship to Christ having come
Everyone ... also practices lawlessness;
who makes a practice
of sinning
(and) sin is lawlessness.
You know that
he appeared
Content 1
in order to take away sins,
and ... there is no sin.
Content 2
in him
No one ... keeps on sinning;
who abides
in him
Locative Sphere
no one ... has either seen him
who keeps on sinning
or known him.
2nd statement: non-sin related to destroying Satan
Little children,
let no one deceive you.
Whoever ... is righteous,
Content 1(non-gram)
practices righteousness
as he is righteous.
Whoever ... is of the devil,
Content 2 (non-gram)
makes a practice of sinning
for the devil has been sinning
from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was
to destroy the works
Purpose Disadvantage
of the devil.
3rd statement: 2 kinds of children, those born of God or of Satan
No one ... makes a practice of sinning,
born of God
for God’s seed abides
Ground 1
in him,
and he cannot keep on sinning
Ground 2
because he has been born
of God.
Subjective
By this
it is evident
who are the children
Content 1
of God,
Subjective (Possessive)
and who are the children
Content 2
of the devil:
Subjective (Possessive)
whoever ... is not of God,
Content 3
does not practice righteousness
nor is the one
Content 4
who does not love his brother.
My own translation of "Whoever" and "Everyone" "This is the man who (is)...
Some meditations on being a "child of God" (3:1-3) In 3:1-3, John is just exulting over how amazing it is to be a child of God. He is stunned at the reality of it! 1. He pauses, slows down, and tastes, to see the " amazing, stunning essential quality in God's to us " (its overflowing sweet graciousness towards us). He is shocked with joy that he is now a child of God (oh my!). (3:1) And s o we too (like John does) should slow down, taste, and contemplate the amazing reality, the unexpected reality of having becoming a child! 2. He does not even know what a child of God is (will be in its totality yet), but he is so, so excited by it , which is that a child of God will one day see Jesus in his perfect natural (spiritual) state. (3:2) 3. He ends by looking at the essential quality of a child of God: his purity (which is what, in its perfected state that is, he shared with Jesus). (3:3)
Meditations on Children of God and Non-Sinning As much as John: lingers so sweetly and lengthily upon the beauty and amazing love that produced us as God’s children he now equally hammers home forcefully the other reality, 3 times, that such sweetness leads absolutely to non-sinning, and he is forceful about it! Yes, there are sweet meditations in 1 John, but there are also forceful exhortations in John as well, and both are needed.
The Overview of this Section (2:28-3:10) From Stott: From 2:28 onwards is the second layering of the same 3 tests outlined previously, and the first test taken up again is the Obedience-Righteousness to God Test (2:28-3:10) The connection of 3:1-3 and 3:4-10: The amazing love poured out to birth us as children (who will be fully purified in the end, being able to see Jesus purely) (3:1-3), is the stunning ground that makes a practice of sinning so unthinkable (3:4-10). __________________ The Prolegomena : Believing Jesus has practical results in Daily Life (1:1-2:2) 1:1-4: The Son in this world, believed 1:5-2:2: Belief leading to right living The First Layer of the 3 Tests (2:3-27) (the tests do overlap though) 1. Obedience-Righteousness Test (2:3-6) 2. The Loving Others Test (2:7-11) Two digressions: 2:12-17 (The Church and the World 3. Believing (Doctrine) Test (2:18-2:27)
1 John 3:11-4:6
1 John 3:11-4:6
Loving brothers as a sign of life (hating brothers thus a sign of death)
The General 2 Ways
For this is the message
that you have heard
from the beginning,
that we should love one another.
We should not be like Cain,
who was of the evil one
and murdered his brother.
And why did he murder him?
Because his own deeds were evil
Answers 1-2
and his brother’s righteous.
Do not be surprised,
brothers,
that the world hates you.
We know
that we have passed ... into life,
out of death
because we love the brothers.
Whoever ... abides
in death.
Locative Sphere
does not love
Everyone ... is a murderer,
who hates his brother
and you know
Explanation 2
that no murderer has eternal life abiding
in him.
Loving Brothers explained: actual actions (Physical, though spiritual also there)
By this
we know love,
that he laid down his life
for us,
Purpose Advantage
and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brothers.
Purpose Advantage
if anyone ... yet closes his heart
against him,
Purpose Disadvantage
has the world’s goods
and sees his brother
in need,
But ... how does God’s love abide
in him?
Little children,
let us (love) ...
but in deed
Manner 1-2
and in truth.
not love in word
Negative 1-2
or talk
Confidence before God based on loving; help from him when we have forgotten
To the weaker Christian, less love, feels guilt
By this
we shall know
that we are of the truth
Content 1-2
and reassure our heart
before him;
that if our heart condemns us,
Temporal (condition)
that God....and knows everything
is greater
than our heart,
To the stronger Christian, who is loving
Beloved,
if our heart does not condemn us,
we have confidence
before God;
whatever we ask
and ... we receive
from him,
because we keep his commandments
and do what pleases him.
Summary of the love command and encouragement
And this is his commandment,
that we believe
Content 1
in the name
of his Son
Jesus Christ
and love one another,
Content 2
just as he has commanded us.
Whoever ... abides
in God,
Locative Sphere
keeps his commandments
and God (abides)
in him.
And by this
we know
that he abides
in us,
by the Spirit
Means 2 (Expl of Means 1)
whom he has given us.
Testing the spirits for truth
The command to do it
Beloved,
do ... but test the spirits
not believe every spirit,
to see
whether they are from God,
for many false prophets have gone out
into the world.
How to test: Way 1
By this
you know the Spirit
of God:
every spirit ... is from God,
that confesses that Jesus Christ has come
in the flesh
and every spirit ... is not from God.
that does not confess Jesus
This is the spirit
of the antichrist,
which you heard was coming
and now is in the world already.
Encouragement in the testing
Little children,
you are from God
and have overcome them,
for he ... is greater
who is in you
than he
who is in the world.
How to test: Way 2
They are from the world;
therefore they speak from the world,
and the world listens
to them.
Purpose advantage
We are from God.
knows God
Whoever ... listens
to us;
Purpose advantage (destination)
is not from God
whoever ... does not listen
to us.
Purpose advantage (destination)
By this
we know the Spirit
of truth
attributive
and the spirit
of error.
Attributive
Questions to answer 1. Why does John give a specific illustration of Scripture here, when he hasn't really up until now? (And why Cain as that example?) (3:12) Cain is the Prototype of the World (the world does not love) 2. Why the sudden talk of "the world hates you" in 3:13? The world is basically like Cain: they hate righteousness and love evil like Cain 2. Why the talk of spirits in 4:1, suddenly? (Just like the start of the talk of antichrists in 2:18). What is it that brings about this new section, for John? This is looping back to layer 2:18-2:27 (the Doctrine-Belief Test)
The Overview of this Section 2 ( 2:28-4:6 ) From Stott: From 2:28 onwards is the second layering of the same 3 tests outlined previously, and the first test taken up again is the Obedience-Righteousness to God Test ( 2:28- 3:10 ) The connection of 3:1-3 and 3:4-10: The amazing love poured out to birth us as children (who will be fully purified in the end, being able to see Jesus purely) ( 3:1-3 ), is the stunning ground that makes a practice of sinning so unthinkable ( 3:4-10 ). ** Then in 3:11-18 is the second layering of the Loving Others Test *3:19-24 is a digression to give assurance **Then in 4:1-6 is the second layering of the Believing-Doctrine Test __________________ The Prolegomena : Believing Jesus has practical results in Daily Life ( 1:1- 2:2 ) 1:1-4: The Son in this world, believed 1:5-2:2: Belief leading to right living The First Layer of the 3 Tests ( 2:3-27 ) (the tests do overlap though) 1. Obedience-Righteousness Test ( 2:3-6 ) 2. The Loving Others Test ( 2:7-11 ) Two digressions: 2:12-17 (The Church and the World 3. Believing (Doctrine) Test ( 2:18- 2:27 )
Outline of 1 John so far (1:1-4:6) The Prolegomena : Believing Jesus has practical results in Daily Life ( 1:1- 2:2 ) 1:1-4: The Son in this world, believed 1:5-2:2: Belief leading to right living ______________ The First Layering of the 3 Tests ( 2:3-27 ) (the tests themselves do overlap with each other a bit though) 1. Obedience-Righteousness Test ( 2:3-6 ) 2. The Loving Others Test ( 2:7-11 ) Two digressions: 2:12-17 (The Church and the World 3. Believing (Doctrine) Test ( 2:18- 2:27 ) _______________ The Second Layering of the 3 Tests (2:28-4:6) 1. The Obedience-Righteousness Test again (with a New focus on the Father's birthing us as providing stunning grounds for obedience) 2:28-3:10 2. The Loving Others Test again (with a New focus on Love as a sign of life, love as being practical physical actions) 3:11-18 A digression: Assurance while you are going about loving (sometimes failing) 3:19-24 3. The Believing (Doctrine) Test (with a new focus on false spirits/words/Christ as the Incarnation) 4:1-6
1 John 4:7-21
1 John 4:7-21
Those Born of God love one another
The General State
Beloved,
let us love one another,
for love is from God,
and whoever ... has been born
of God
loves
and knows God.
Result or Explanation
Anyone ... does not know God,
who does not love
because God is love.
The Sending of his Son to enable our loving
In this
the love ... was made manifest
of God
among us,
Locative sphere
that God sent his only Son
Content of 4:9a means
into the world,
so that we might live
through him.
Means/Agency
In this
is love,
not that we have loved God
but that ... and sent his Son
Content of 4:10a means
he loved us
to be the propitiation
for our sins.
Beloved,
if God ... loved us,
in this manner so
we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God;
if we love one another,
God abides in us
and his love is perfected
Explanation or Result
in us.
Faith in Christ (Doctrine) and the Spirit enable our loving
By this
we know
that we abide in him
and he
in us,
because that he has given us of his Spirit.
Content of 13a means
And we have seen
and testify
that the Father has sent his Son
to be the Savior
of the world.
Whoever confesses ... God abides in him,
that Jesus is the Son of God,
and he
in God.
Locative sphere
So And we have come to know ... the love
and to believe
that God has
for us.
Purpose advantage
God is love,
abides
in love
Locative Sphere
and whoever ... abides in God,
and God abides in him.
Explanation or Result
The Essential Goal of our Love
By this
is love perfected
with us,
Reference/Explanation
so that we may have confidence
for in the day of judgment,
because that ... so also are we in this world.
Content of Means in 17a
as he is
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear.
For fear has to do with punishment,
fears
and whoever ... has not been perfected
in love.
General statement, one more time
We love
because he himself first loved us.
If anyone ... he is a liar;
(who) ... and hates his brother,
says, “I love God,”
for he ... cannot love God
who does not love his brother
whom he has seen
whom he has not seen.
And this commandment we have
from him:
whoever ... must also love his brother.
loves God
Questions to answer 1. In 4, 17 what is "also in the this world, as he is"? I think it means our end point in our holiness, at the very end, when we have been purified completely. 2. In 4:18 Why the sudden talk about fear, and then after that, about punishment? What is its connection to perfection (also 4:12)? Why does John introduce that topic here? I think it is “perfected love” now, at the second coming of Jesus . The fear is the fear one would have in the final judgement, of not confident of his justification
1 John 5:1-12
1 John 5:1-12
The result of being birthed by the Father: loving others
The General statement
Everyone ... has been born
who believes
that Jesus is the Christ
of God,
and everyone ... loves whoever has been born
who loves the Father
of him.
How this works out (how we love others )
By this
we know
Means of 5:1e
that we love the children
of God,
Relationship
when we love God
Content of 5:2 means
and obey his commandments.
For this is the love
of God,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome.
For everyone ... overcomes the world.
Means of 5:3d
who has been born of God
And this is the victory
that has overcome the world—
our faith.
5:1 re-summary
Who is it that overcomes the world
except the one who believes
that Jesus is the Son
of God?
Doctrine’s Final Testimony
The true nature of the testimony about Jesus
This is he ... Jesus Christ;
who came by water
and blood—
not ... but by the water
by the water only
and the blood.
And the Spirit is the one who testifies,
because the Spirit is the truth.
For there are three that testify:
the Spirit
Explanation 1-3
and the water
and the blood;
and these three agree.
Explanation 2
The Doctrine test: the testimony which is believed
If we receive the testimony of men,
the testimony of God is greater,
for this is the testimony
of God
Source or Possessive or Subjective
that he has borne
concerning his Son.
Whoever ... has the testimony
Explanation of 9b
believes
in the Son
of God
in himself.
Explanation 2
Whoever ... has made him a liar,
does not believe God
because he has not believed
in the testimony
that God has borne
concerning his Son.
And this is the testimony,
that God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever ... has life;
has the Son
whoever ... does not have life.
does not have the Son
of God
5:1-5 as the Culmination of the Whole Letter; this section as “Pauline-style John” ALL the 3 Tests-Signs brought together into one integrated truth, with logical links like Paul (only here does John for once write like Paul, and it is grand!) And 5:6-12 too I believe carry on this “Pauline manner”, with more explicit (in my mind) logical links than before.
1 John 5:13-21
1 John 5:13-21
The purpose of 1 John
I write these things
to you
Purpose advantage
who believe
in the name
Purpose Advantage
of the Son
of God
that you may know
that you have eternal life.
The child of God's privelege (who has the 3 signs): answered prayers
The General Statement
And this is the confidence
that we have
toward him,
that ... he hears us.
if we ask anything
according to his will
And ... we know
that we have the requests
if we know
that he hears us
in whatever we ask,
that we have asked
of him.
The kinds of prayers he usually gives: for others
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin
not leading to death,
he shall ask,
and God will give him life—
to those
Purpose Advantage
who commit sins
that do not lead to death.
There is sin
that leads to death;
I do not say that one should pray
for that.
Purpose Advantage
All wrongdoing is sin,
and but there is sin
that does not lead to death.
The Final Summary: A begotten child of God believes in the Son and keeps the commandments
who was born
of God
We know that ... but he ... protects him,
everyone ... does not keep on sinning,
who has been born
of God
and the evil one does not touch him.
We know
that we are from God,
Content 1 and 2
and the whole world lies in the power
of the evil one.
Possessive or Subjective
And we know
that the Son of God has come
and has given us understanding
so that we may know him
who is true;
and we are in him
who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ.
Reference or Explanation
This He is the true God
Reference or Explanation 1 and 2
and eternal life.
Little children,
keep yourselves from idols.
Observations 1. I am fairly sure that in 5:18, that it is Jesus who is protecting the believer from evil. 3 reasons for this: A. There are two different tenses used for begotten: aorist, and then the perfect, which differentiates the two. B. Does a Christian believer "protect" a fellow believer, or "ask for" a fellow believer. Moreover, is it the job of a Christian brother to protect another from Satan, or Jesus? Based on the language differences, I take this to be Jesus. C. I think the "everyone does not.." language refers again to Christians in general, and that there really is another section break here. The "evil one" in 19 argues more for a new section as well.
notes
Main point summary
The Son of God came to this earth to be believed upon. This shows itself in 3 fully integrated and inseparable ways: believing in the Son, walking in his commandments, and loving our brothers and sisters.
Book Arc
1 John 1:1-5:21
a The purpose of the Son of God coming to this earth: for us to have incredible fellowship with Him. (1:1-4)
l Who the Father (and the Son) are: Light, and that has implications for our daily lives. (1:5-10)
1 John: a letter to keep people from sin (and a powerful backup if they do!) (2:1-2)
ideaexplanation
actionresult
Sign 1: Evidence of a true knowledge of Jesus: walking in the commandments. (2:3-6)
Sign 2, Love: The Old Commandment is the Message of Chapter 1: to walk in the light, since God himself is light, with 2 ways illustrated (2:7-11).
1 John: a letter to those who know God, to those forgiven, to those with victory over Satan. (2:12-14)
v 2 different ways of walking (just new terms, that’s it) (2:15-17)
series
e Sign 3: Belief . The time of false professors and your True Discernment I (2:18-21)
False Professors and your True Discernment (Abiding) II 2:22-27)
It is so amazing to be a child born of God, and that child will purify himself over his life, and will see Jesus in his total purity at the very end. (2:28-3:3)
The practical characteristic of God’s child is his non-sinning, told 3 times (3:4-10)
Loving brothers is a sign of life (and non-loving is a sign of death), and loving is practical (3:11-18)
We have confidence before God because we are loving; we have help from him when we have forgotten to love well. (3:19-24)
Test the spirits to see if they really believe in the truth of Jesus, the Son of God. (4:1-6)
Let us love one another as all born of God do so (4:7-8).
We love because God first sent Jesus to this earth as a propitiation for our sins ( this is what love is) 4:9-12 GROUND of 4:7-8
Our faith in Christ and our having the Spirit enable us to be loving. 4:13-16 MANNER of 4:7-8
The goal of love: it will be perfected on the day of judgement. 4:17-18. END of 4:7-8
General statement on love once more: those born of God are loving others. 4:19-21
John combines now all 3 tests into one, to show how we love one another, using “Pauline” linkage to integrate the 3 signs together. (5:1-5)
John shows the other “peak test”: believing in the testimony of God about His Son, Jesus. (5:6-12)
The child of God's privilege (who has the 3 signs): his prayers (almost always for others) are answered. 5:13-17
The Final Summary: A begotten child of God believes in the Son and keeps the commandments 5:18-21
Outline of 1 John ———————- Overture of 1 John, “Belief always connected to life”: 1,1 to 2,2 ——————— The Groundwork: 2,3 to 4,6 The 3 tests (1st round, all 3, basic definitions) 2,3 to 2,27 Layer 2 of the 3 tests (2nd round, all 3: new birth linking to obedience; loving as having daily practical elements; belief about discernment again) 2,28 to 4,6 —————- Towards a Summation Layer 3 of the 3 tests: Just one, The PEAK test: Loving as the major sign (the Ground of Loving, the Manner of Loving, the Final Goal of Loving) 4,7 to 4,21 Layer 4 of the 3 tests: The Combination of all 3 tests into one integral statement 5,1 to 5,5 Layer 5 of the 3 tests: Just one, The “Other PEAK test”: the testimony of God about His Son, believed 5,6 to 5,12
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