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1 John
1 John
One of the best synopsis of 1 John that I have read comes from Gordon Fee’s little book “How To Read The Bible Book By Book”. Note, in this quote he gives us the number of times a word / theme appears by denoting it in parenthesis such as (10x). Some things are just worth repeating!
"The wonder of this little treatise is how much John can say, and say so profoundly, while using a notably limited vocabulary. But it is the very repetition of words, plus the use of stark contrasts, that is so effective. His special vocabulary tells the whole story: To remain/continue/abide (24x) in the truth (9x) means to believe in (9x) or confess (5x) the Son (22x), to whom the Father (14x) and Spirit (8x) bear witness (12x); it means further to be born of God (10x), so as to walk (5x) in the light (6x), to hear (14x) and to know (40x) God, to keep (7x) the commandment (14x) to love (46x) the brothers and sisters (15x), and thus to have life (13x), which is from the beginning (8x), and finally to overcome (6x) the world. All of this is in contrast to the lie (7x), deceit (4x), denying Christ (3x), having a false spirit (4x), thus being antichrist (4x), walking in darkness (6x), hating (5x) one’s brothers and sisters but loving the world (23x), thus being in sin (27x), which leads to death (6x)."
Even in the life time of John the church was facing major theological difficulties with many false teachers completely changing the inspired teaching of the Apostles. John thus begins his little book by laying down the foundation of his eyewitness testimony. He would have been among the last of the such eyewitnesses yet alive. He was an apostle. He had known and taught the truth about Jesus and the life of disciples for many years. He reminds us of what was originally taught and believed among the followers of Jesus. Enjoy your reading of 1 John :-) Hugh DeLong
