These three books are often referred to as letters, though only 1 and 2 john. Some of the dominant themes in these letters are combatting false teachers, following the truth, and hospitality. Furthermore, 3 john 11 clearly displays john s manner of expressing himself as he did in his first and second letters. In a world that hates jesus, we are called to love him and his people with a fierce love. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the gospel of john. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle, john son of zebedee, who also was understood to be the author of the gospel of john and revelation. First john is the fourth of the general epistles or catholic letters, the writings of apostles to the church at large. Tony evans challenges christians who have grown comfortable and complacent in their faith.
Book of first john overview insight for living ministries. John the son of zebedee probably wrote his three nt letters no later than the 90s a. Check out our bible answers page for more information on a variety of topics. Linguistically there is evidence that 2 and 3 john are similar to the other johannine works by the apostle john. Is the book of john, john 1,2,3 and revelation all. Thus, at the end of the 19th century scholar ernest dewitt burton wrote that there could be no reasonable doubt that 1 john and the gospel were written by the same author. The briefest book of the new testament is 3 john, but its message is an important one.
The author of 1, 2 and 3 john is the same as the author of the gospel, its john of peter, james and john. Similarly, 2 john emphasizes the serious nature of false teachings and encourages readers to be on their guard. Second john is the second shortest book of the biblethird john is the shortest by word count. In a world that hates jesus, we are called to love him and his. John gives us the reasons he wrote these books of the bible but scatters them throughout 1, 2 and 3. He wrote from ephesus in presentday western turkey, perhaps to churches like those mentioned in rev. Watch our overview video on the letters of john, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The books also address deceivers who spread false teachings and fear rather. Packer for hundreds of years christendom has been blessed with bible commentaries written by great men of god highly respected. John also wrote the gospel of john and the book of revelation.
Packer for hundreds of years christendom has been blessed with bible commentaries written by great men of god highly respected for their godly walk and their insight into spiritual truth. John also wrote the fourth gospel and the book of revelation theme of 1 john. Whoever remains in his teaching has both the father and the son. Overview in this section you will study the three books of 1, 2 and 3 john. Gods breath publications why john wrote 1,2,3, john part 1. In addition to this one, john is commonly credited with writing two other new testament letters, a gospel, and possibly the prophetic book of revelation. Book of third john overview insight for living ministries. John calls followers of jesus to share in gods own life and love by. The book of 3 john would most likely have been written at about the same time as john s other letters, 1 and 2 john, between a. An exegetical and theological exposition of holy scripture the new american commentary akin, dr.
This spirit of antichrist will one day find its ultimate fulfillment in the antichrist, who will lead humanity in an endtimes rebellion against god. The epistle is traditionally held to have been composed by john the evangelist, at ephesus, when the writer was in advanced age. John also wrote the fourth gospel and the book of revelation. John s next two letters, however, are written to specific audiences. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the fatherjesus christ, the righteous one. John s purpose in writing this third epistle is threefold. Finally, while there is little to commend the notion that a shadowy figure named john the elder wrote the book of revelation, there is ample evidence that it was written by john the apostle. All of these books were written by john, the son of zebedee matthew 4. For more information about john s authorship, see the overview on the book of 1 john in the book of 1 john and the overview on the book of 2 john in the book of 2 john. The epistles content, language and conceptual style are very similar to the gospel of john, 2 john, and 3 john, indicating that they were written by the same author. This summary of the book of 3 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 3 john. He was a leader in the early church, and he probably wrote his documents after most of the other new testament books were already written. Roberts walks his readers through the epistles of john, taking particular care to explain the stylistic features they have in common.
Hindi the books of 2 and 3 john are believed to be written by the same author and most scholars believe the author is john the evangelist linguistically there is evidence that 2 and 3 john are similar to the other johannine works by the apostle john. A number of reasons were involved in writing 1 john. This evidence is not as strong as that for 2 john, 1 yet its brevity of the letter and the unlikelihood of it being quoted may account for some of this as with 2 john 2 1. John newton has 227 books on goodreads with 3218 ratings.
Paul exposed troubling false teachers in the book of galatians. The epistles content, language and conceptual style are very similar to the gospel of john, 2 john, and 3 john. It is usually accepted that john wrote them late in his life. Written by john the elder to house church believers, 1 john, 2 john, 3 john. Let me say some things by way of introduction about the letters.
He proclaimed the good news about jesus to the recipients of this letter, saying so that you too may have fellowship with us. It is the only book of the new testament classified as apocalyptic literature rather than didactic or historical, indicating thereby its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, especially in connection with future events. Here we have three different letters, written at different times, to different people. By sister renee pittelli these books of the bible are believed to have been written by the apostle john, who also wrote the gospel of john. The very fact that the author of the apocalypse simply calls himself john is a dead giveaway that he was well known throughout the churches in asia minor. Obvious similarities to 1 john and the gospel of john suggest that the same person wrote all three books. Many contemporary biblical scholars believe that the writer of the letters was not the author of the gospel. This is the holy book of 1 john, known as the first epistle general of john. Letters of john, three new testament writings, all composed sometime. According to the notes in my version of the bible they were written by john, son of zebedee, disciple of jesus. Revelation to john, last book of the new testament. Studies from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd john bible study guide.
It compares the warmth and generosity offered by two different leaders of that religious community. All books of the new testament refer to events that happened in the first century, such as the life of jesus. Johns next two letters, however, are written to specific audiences. Comfortable christianity often means a weak christianity. By sister renee pittelli these books of the bible are believed to have been written by the apostle john, who also wrote the gospel of john and revelation. The book of 1 john is not an essay or dissertation, but a teaching of gods word in letterform. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of john in the bible king james version. John bible book with full chapters king james version. If you dont have your bibles, the pew bible is available to you, and 1 john is towards the end of the new testament right before the book of revelation and before the book of jude and, of course, 2 nd and 3 rd john. Paul dealt with the lack of unity and contention among brethren at corinth see 1 and 2 corinthians. Second and third john, however, are written to specific audiences. I looked up book of john and halfway down the first chapter i saw philip. At the writing of this, his final epistle, john was nearing the end of his life, a life that had changed dramatically some six decades before, when jesus had called john and his brother james out from their fishing boat.
This summary of the book of 2 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 john. The holy bible book 62 1 john kjv dramatized audio. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen god 3 john 11. This is the disciple whom jesus loved as he is called in. So it is not surprising that right away in 1 john, we read that john has seen, heard and touched jesus christ 1. They are those who not only oppose jesus, but also offer a substitute christ. Aug 15, 2011 next in the who authored the new testament series bart ehrman gets another hot experience. Contained in the new testament are the epistles of 1, 2 and 3 john written by the apostle john. John 1 john 2 john 3 john revelation only paul authored more new testament books than john. Biblical students that john wrote these letters from ephesus, the place believed to be where he died. For example, in the new international version 2 john is the shortest book with only 302 words but in the king james version authorized version 3 john is the shortest with only 295 words. In the first letter, the elder encourages the christians in his community to stay together. Aoci bible training institute abti new testament survey. This outline of 1 john is intended to help you study gods word.
Therefore, the evidence of the similarities of the context points that the author of the books of 2 and 3 john is john the beloved disciple who also wrote the gospel of john. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. Irenaeus says that john, the disciple of the lord who was with jesus in the upper room, wrote the gospel of john while living in ephesus haer. The second epistle of john, often referred to as second john and often written 2 john or ii john, is a book of the new testament attributed to john the evangelist, traditionally thought to be the author of the other two epistles of john, and the gospel of john though this is disputed. However, second john has the fewest verses in the bible with only 1 chapter made up of only verses. An introduction to the book of 3 john related media a. The letter was probably written about the same time as 1 and 2 john a. The books of 2 and 3 john are believed to be written by the same author and most scholars believe the author is john the evangelist. In these epistles john the apostle of love will share his concerns about those things that would threaten the welfare of the church at the end of the first century. The book of 1 john is a letter although it contains no opening address or greeting typically found in a letter, which identifies the writer and the recipients to whom it was written. It is interesting to study why john wrote these epistles because this has much to do with their content and how they apply to us today as christians. Believers are challenged to look at contrasting themes such as walking in the light instead of darkness, truth versus lies and deception, loving god more than loving the world, and the meaning of true fellowship and community rather than shallowness.
While paul wrote to specific congregations and individuals, peter, james, john, and jude wrote to broader audiences scattered across the roman empire. John warned us against these antichrists in his first letter 1 john 2. Of course john, the author of 1, 2 and 3 john, is also and many people dont realise this, believe it or not the author of john s gospel, and indeed the last book in the bible, the apocalypse, the book of the revelation. Turn with me to 1 john, and look at chapter 1 before we begin to look at chapter 2. The purpose of the book, i am certain, is found in 1 john 1. Irenaeus ad 175195, bishop of lyon, was born in asia minor and as a child personally knew polycarp, who is said to have been appointed bishop of smyrna by eyewitnesses of the lord jesus. Traditionally, the authorship of 1, 2, and 3 john has been ascribed to the apostle. This summary of the book of 1 john provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 john. Yet theyre all loosely tied together by the same ideas. Johns purpose in writing this third epistle is threefold. John, however, with eusebius listing it and 2 john as disputed books. An exegetical and theological exposition of holy scripture the new american commentary. For more information about johns authorship, see the overview on the book of 1 john in the book of 1 john and the overview on the book of 2 john in the book of 2 john.