1 JOHN 2 JOHN 3 JOHN

1 John - The Tests of Eternal Life

I. Author:• A. Anonymous• B. Eyewitness• C. Wrote Gospel, 2 and 3 John• D. Apostle John• E. Acknowledged

II. Recipients:• A. Circular Letter• B. Ephesus area• C. Gentile Believers

III. Date: 90-95 AD

IV. Heresy • A. Perfectionism: Deny sin

• B. Antinomianism: Deny standards

• C. Docetism: Deny body of Christ

• D. Cerinthianism: Deny deity of Jesus

V. Purpose

• A. Practical• 1. Joy

• 2. Holiness

• 3. Assurance

B. Doctrinal• 1. Humanity of Christ

• 2. Deity of Jesus

• Theme - Tests of Salvation

Gnostic Doctrines vs John’s Tests of Eternal Life

perfectionism vs

confess sin

antinomianism vskeep the

commandmentsand love

Gnostic Doctrines vs John’s Tests of Eternal Life

docetism vs

belief in Christ’sfull humanity

cerinthinism vs belief in Jesus’deity throughout life

1 John - The Tests of Eternal Life

IntroductionReality of Incarnation

1:1-4

Cycle 1Fellowship with God

1:5-2:28Cycle 2

Divine Sonship2:29-4:6

Cycle 3Loving Relationship

4:7-5:12

Conclusion 5:13-21Certainties of Christian Life

1 John - The Tests of Eternal Life

Keeping God’sCommandments

Loving OneAnother

Believing in Jesusas the God-man

1:5-2:6

2:7-17

2:18-27

Cycle 1

2:28-3:10

3:11-24

4:1-6

Cycle 2

5:16-21

4:7-21

5:1-15

Cycle 3

Each test entails the other two 3:23-24

AUTHOR of 2 and 3 John

2 John 3 John

• The Elder• Same as 1 & 3 John• Apostle John• Antilegomena

• The Elder• Same as 1 & 2 John• Apostle John• Antilegomena

Also, if ever a person came my way who had been a Companionof the elders, I would inquire about the sayings of the ELDERS--what was SAID by Andrew, or by Peter, or by Philip, or by Thomasor James, or by JOHN or Matthew or any other of the Lord’sdisciples; and what things Aristion and the ELDER JOHN, thedisciples of the Lord, SAY. For I did not suppose that what I couldget from books was of such great value to me as the utterances of aliving and abiding voice. Papias Statement 110AD

2 John

I. Recipients:Chosen lady and children = Church

II. Date: 90-95 AD

III. Heresy:A. Denial of humanity of Christ

B. Indiscriminate fellowship with heretics

2 John

IV. Purpose:

A. Commend love

B. Detect heresy

C. Don’t fellowship with heretics

V. Theme: Truth

3 John

I. Recipients: Gaius

II. Date: 90-95 AD

III. Heresy:

A. Diotrophes opposing traveling teachers

B. Excommunication of others who welcome traveling teachers

3 John

IV. Purpose:

A. To urge fellowship with true believers

B. To recommend Demetrius

V. Theme: Hospitality

1 John – OUTLINE

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3

I. Keeping God’s Commandments 1:5-2:6 2:28-3:10 5:16

II. Loving one another 2:7-17 3:11-24 4:7-21

III. Believing in Jesus as the 2:18-27 4:1-6 5:1-15 God-man

Each test entails the other two (3:23-24)

1, 2 and 3 John - Outlines

2 John - OUTLINE

• Greetings 2-3• I. Commendation for Faithfulness 4• II. Warnings against deceivers denying

humanity of Jesus Christ 5-9• III. Exhortation to the discriminate

exercise of love 10-11• Closing 12-13

3 John - OUTLINE

• Greetings 1-2• I. Commendation of Gaius 3-8• II. Condemnation of Diotrephes 9-10• III. Exhortation to Gaius 11• IV. Recommendation of Demetrius 12• Closing 13-14

Early Church Ministries

3 John Types

Place

John Apostles Traveling

leaders

Demetrius Prophets/

Teachers

Traveling

leaders

Diotrephes Elders Local

leaders

The Johannine Community

Gospel(contra

schismatics)

1st Epistle(schismatics

have begun tosecede)

2nd Epistle(secessionists

attacking fromoutside)

3rd Epistle(orthodoxy an

embattledminority)

Revelation(lost theirfirst love)