1st, 2nd, and 3rd John
1st John Theme:
“The epistle of John presents three criteria for testing the Christian profession of teachers and individual Christians. First, professing Christians needed to present righteousness as the right behavior (2:3–4). Second they must demonstrate love as the correct attitude of Christian living (4:8). Third, they needed to hold to the correct view of Christ as the proper teaching of Christians (4:3). Those who demonstrate these three traits have eternal life. John would repeat these three themes several times in the epistle as tests to determine the presence of eternal life.”[1]
1st John 1:1-4: The Word
Ø Does John’s testimony leave any room for doubt that he knew the risen Christ?
Ø What was John’s purpose in declaring that he knew Christ?
Ø What should be our purpose when we declare Christ to others?
1st John 1:5-2:14: Walking in the Light of Jesus
Ø What does it mean that “God is light and in Him there is no darkness”?
Ø To what is John referring when he talks about people walking in darkness or walking in light?
Ø What happens when we walk in the light?
Ø Is it possible to walk without sin? What happens if we claim to do so?
Ø What is the remedy for a believer’s sin?
Ø For whom, according to John, did Jesus die as a sacrifice? Application?
1st John 2:15-27: Warning!!!
Ø What is the danger of loving the world?
Ø How does John define an antichrist?
Ø Who, according to John, is a liar?
Ø Are believers immune from deception? Application?
1st John 2:28-3:10: Walk as Children of God
Ø What does it mean to be called a child of God?
Ø What is the relationship between a believer and sin?
Ø Why, according to John, did Jesus appear on earth?
Ø What is the bottom line evidence of being a child of God?
1st John 3:11-3:24: Love One Another
Ø Why are we always surprised that the world hates us?
Ø With what is “hate” compared?
Ø What is God’s command? Are there any stipulations to that command?
1st John 4:1-6: Test the Spirits
Ø Why is it important to test what we are taught? Do you think there are still false prophets/teachers today?
Ø How can you tell whether or not a prophet/teacher is on God?
Ø Who is our ultimate Teacher? Where does He reside? Do you listen to Him?
1st John 4:7-21: Love Comes From God
Ø How can we measure our love for God?
Ø How does John define love?
Ø Is it possible to love God and hate a brother? Application?
1st John 5:1-21: Why I Have Written
Ø How can someone overcome the world?
Ø What does it mean that Jesus “came by water and blood”?
Ø How does one gain eternal life?
Ø Why did John write this letter? What is eternal life? Can we lose that gift from God?
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2nd John Theme:
“John mentioned twin themes in writing 2 John. First, he urged his readers to practice love with one another (2 John 5). Second, he called them to practice truth in affirming the correct doctrine about Jesus (2 John 7–11).”[2]
2nd John
Ø What is John’s command to the recipients of this letter? Application for us?
Ø What does John mean when he tells his readers to “continue in the teachings of Christ”?
Ø What did John recommend as a response to those who teach false doctrine? Application for us?
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3rd John Theme:
“This letter presents a contrast between the truth and service demonstrated by Gaius and the arrogance shown by Diotrephes. John emphasized that “truth” was a type of behavior that agreed with the doctrine Christians professed (3 John 8). The autocratic behavior of Diotrephes violated this behavior. John wanted to bring his domineering practices to an end.”[3]
3rd John
Ø Why did John praise Gaius? Application for us?
Ø List John’s indictments against Diotrephes.
Ø List John’s praises for Demetrius.
Ø What can we learn from these two men?
[1] Lea, T. D. (1998). The General Letters. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (644). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Lea, T. D. (1998). The General Letters. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (651). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Lea, T. D. (1998). The General Letters. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (653). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
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