Lecture Notes on the Letters of John

Overview of the Letters

• First John: Anonymous, often attributed to the disciple Jesus loved.
• Second and Third John: Written by someone referred to as "The Elder."
• Language and style are identical across all three works and to John's Gospel.
• Possible authors: John, son of Zebedee, or another John known as "The Elder."

Context of the Letters

• Written in old age by John, overseeing house church communities around ancient Ephesus.
• Communities primarily consist of Jewish followers of Jesus.
• Recent crisis: a group has broken off that denies Jesus as Israel's Messiah and stirs hostility.

Purpose of the Letters

• Second John: Warning to a specific church about deceivers denying Jesus.
• Third John: Written to Gaius, encouraging him to welcome legitimate missionaries despite conflict with church leader Deotrephes.
• First John: A response to the crisis, aimed at damage control and reassurance for believers.

Themes in First John

• Nature of the Work: Not a letter but a poetic sermon, reminiscent of Gospel of John.
• Key Ideas: Life, truth, love - presented through amplification (cycling around core ideas).
• Literary Structure: Clear introduction and conclusion, with flowing cycles between major sections.
  • Divided into two sections marked by "This is the message":
    • God is light.
    • God is love.

Core Messages

God is Light

• Revelation of God through Jesus as light.
• Participation in God's life requires walking in the light = keeping Jesus's commands.
• Atonement: Jesus's death covers sins, encouraging believers to obey teachings.
• New Command: Love one another as Jesus loved.
• Warning against loving the world, specifically pride and sexual corruption.

God is Love

• Call for Christians to love one another and avoid hatred (reference to Cain's murder of Abel).
• Love defined by self-sacrifice for others' well-being (modelled by Jesus).
• Warning against deceivers (false prophets) who misrepresent God by denying Jesus.
• True children of God center lives on the crucified and risen Jesus.

Conclusion of the Sermon

• Acknowledgment of knowing the Son of God and being in the truth of God through Jesus.
• Distinction between who is true (God and Jesus intertwined).
• Final exhortation: avoid idols and resist remaking God in our image; recognize God as a being of self-giving love.

Significance

• The letters of John emphasize the relationship between God, Jesus, and believers, highlighting themes of love, light, and truth.