| Author | Message | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1248 Registered: 10-2008 |
*I always like to pray before beginning any Bible study* Prayer **Dear Heavenly Father, I want to praise You for Who You are. You have redeemed us; Set us free from sin by the blood sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ; You have adopted us as Your Children; and You have promised to lead us into all truth as we seek Your kingdom. Be with us now on this forum as we study Your Word. Reveal to us the truths You want us to see. Teach us individually as well as corporately through the study of 1 John. Thank You for hearing this prayer. Amen. ** Reminder: Please do not look at or refer to any commentaries, books, study helps at the bottom of your study Bible, online resources, or ask your pastor  , about the questions. Trust that you will find and see what the Holy Spirit desires to teach you. DO: You may use cross-references in your Bible and/or Biblical language helps like Strong's Concordance, etc.} Structure: Put the #Number of the question you are answering at the beginning of your post if answering a particular question ... Lastly: Feel free to introduce more questions or ask whatever you would like regarding the passage. Environment: I would like to set a scene for you ... We are all sitting in my living room. There is a fireplace in front of the couch. Off to the side are double glass doors leading to a ravine and creek. The foliage outside the double doors is Michigan green and beautiful. Coffee and tea are served with the best biscotti found in the US! And we all have our Bibles opened ready to share. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1249 Registered: 10-2008 |
1 John 1:1-4 1.) Who wrote 1 John? Can you tell from 1 John 1:1-5? What can we tell from the text about the person who wrote 1 John? 2. What purpose did the writer have in writing 1 John? (1 John 5:13) **Keep in mind the purpose behind this letter ... The purpose is the theme of the letter; 1 John 5:13 ... Don't forget!! Not to be redundant, BUT ... filter all the verses of 1 John through the purpose of why 1 John was written.*** 3.) Who is the Word of Life? How do you know? What other places in the Bible refer to "Who" the Word of Life is? 4.) How do we know the writer's testimony about the Word of Life is trustworthy? (1 John 1: 1-5) Can we trust this writer about what he is going to say about the Word of Life? Why or why not? 5.) Application: How might this writer's testimony affect you personally? | ||
| Rider Registered user Username: Rider Post Number: 17 Registered: 9-2009 |
My Answers to Bible Study 1 John 1:1-4 1.) Who wrote 1 John? Can you tell from 1 John 1:1-5? What can we tell from the text about the person who wrote 1 John? Answer#1: A follower of Christ who was a witness of His life. It says in verse 4 �we are writing", so more than one person was involved in the writing. There are a number of usages that are similar to the Gospel of John which leads me to acknowledge that the disciple John is the author. 2. What purpose did the writer have in writing 1 John? (1 John 5:13) Answer#2: That those of us who believe that Jesus is the Son of God may know that we have eternal life. (Now) 3.) Who is the Word of Life? How do you know? What other places in the Bible refer to "Who" the Word of Life is? Answer#3: Jesus. John 1:1-5, Rev.19:13, 4.) How do we know the writer's testimony about the Word of Life is trustworthy? (1 John 1: 1-5) Can we trust this writer about what he is going to say about the Word of Life? Why or why not? Answer#4: He was a disciple of Jesus. 2 Tim 3:16 All scripture breathed out by God. ESV 5.) Application: How might this writer's testimony affect you personally? Answer: It gives me assurance that God has already completed my salvation and I can share the simple gospel to others who do not have that same assurance. 1 John 1:1-4 Roger | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13884 Registered: 12-2003  |
This is so wonderful! Thank you, Carolyn! 1. Who wrote 1 John? Can you tell from 1 John 1:1-5? What can we tell from the text about the person who wrote 1 John? Since the book is named 1 John, it is John's letter written, it appears, with the corroborating witness and approval of the other apostles. We can tell the author knew Jesus personally because he saw, heard, and touched Him. We can also tell that he believed Jesus was God because he leads with the phrase regarding Jesus, "What was from the beginning…" We can also tell from verses 3 and 4 that the author enjoys fellowship with the Father and the Son and that his own joy is incomplete without sharing this fellowship with those to whom he's writing. 2. What purpose did the writer have in writing 1 John? (1 John 5:13) He wrote the book so that his readers would KNOW they have eternal life. He also alludes to this knowing in verses 3 and 4 where he says he is proclaiming what he has seen and heard personally from Jesus so his readers will share his fellowship with Him—and that this sharing would make his joy complete. 3.) Who is the Word of Life? How do you know? What other places in the Bible refer to "Who" the Word of Life is? Jesus is the word of Life. John 1:1-5. 4.) How do we know the writer's testimony about the Word of Life is trustworthy? (1 John 1: 1-5) Can we trust this writer about what he is going to say about the Word of Life? Why or why not? We know his testimony is trustworthy because he was an eyewitness who saw, heard, and touched Jesus. He knows Jesus and enjoys fellowship with Him (present tense: verse 3). The message he is writing is the message he himself heard from Jesus (v. 5). We can trust him because he also wrote the gospel of John in which he reveals his intimate understanding of Jesus' identity and teaching. He is the one who records the signs Jesus did that confirmed His identity as the Messiah. He articulates the fact that Jesus is one with the Father (Jn. 6). And as Roger says above, all Scripture is God-breathed. 5.) Application: How might this writer's testimony affect you personally? I know I am saved, and I know that Jesus is the eternal, almighty God the Son. I am also struck by the author's assertion in v. 5 that Jesus is light, and in Him there's no darkness at all. This fact reassures me that confusion and obfuscation are not from God. When events and actions and teachings and plans are hidden or camouflaged or falsified or otherwise not fully revealed, we can know that what we are hearing is not truth. The Lord Jesus is Light, and He shines light on what is hidden. Deception and obfuscation cannot be from Him. They are evil. I am reassured that the Lord Jesus will reveal truth and will not deal with me in confusion. Confusion and hiding are signals that Jesus is not at the core of something. Colleen | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2741 Registered: 7-2007 |
Beautiful environment! | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 219 Registered: 5-2011 |
1) John the disciple of Jesus wrote John it would seem. John's name is on the Book and from the text we see that he is an eye witness of Jesus who saw and touched Him. He makes it known that he is not the only one who can testify to this. John believes that Jesus is the Son of God and it says in the text that he has fellowship with Jesus. 2) He's telling them that if they believe in Jesus they can have eternal life. 3) Jesus is the Word of Life. John 1:1 4) He is trustworthy because he is an eye witness to Jesus. He is testifying to that. He also has others that collaborate what he is saying. 5) The application for me is that if I believe in Jesus I too can have eternal life. | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 220 Registered: 5-2011 |
Questions that I have or rather that I use when reading passages follow the inductive Bible study. The WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHERE, WHAT, and the HOW. We've answered the WHY and WHAT of what is being said. We've answered the WHO as far as whose writing it, but also we need to identify the readers of the letter. 6) Who was John writing to? His audience? 7) Where was this letter being sent to? 8) When was this letter written? I don't know if we can assertion all of the answers to these questions yet from just the first 5 verses. 6) His audience would seem to be people that he already knows or at least have knowledge of like a church because he is writing to them. We usually write to people we already know or have knowledge of. John also talks about these readers as being able to have fellowship with him and the other believers of Jesus so it would seem that the readers are believers or that have at the very least heard of Jesus. 7) The only time frame that I can see so far is that it is sometime after Jesus was born and ministered on this earth. 8) The where doesn't seem to me, anyway, to be answered as of yet. It may not be answered either as not all questions are answered. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1251 Registered: 10-2008 |
Wow. Such great insights! I had never seen the "we" in those verses before, Rider and Colleen. Thanks for pointing that out! Also, I enjoyed looking up the verses that you all posted in regards to where else in the Bible are the words, "Word of Life". I had forgotten about the Revelation text. And yes, 2 Tim. 3:16 (All scripture is God-breathed) ... thank you for the reminder! And Colleen, Great insight. And I also really liked your thoughts that when things are hidden or camouflaged that this is not of God, because He is light. And Rider ... I loved your () for #2 NOW! And Starlabs ... I, too, like the who, what why, where, and how questions. Great point you made in #6 of your post ... that the readers have fellowship with the writer and at the very least have heard of Jesus. ***Just a note ... I remember when I took my very first Greek class umpteen years ago (I have forgotten almost all of it ), this passage was one we talked about. The teacher pointed out that the "tense" of the verbs for heard, seen, and touched in this passage was a tense that we don't have in our English language ... The tense referred to something that happened in the past, continues to happen in the present, and will also happen in the future. With that in mind "John" is telling us that what he saw, he continues to see - and he will also see in the future. In reflection John is talking about an ongoing connection, relationship with what he saw, heard, and touched. That something "Christ" is what he experienced every day ... not just something that happened to him in the past. We, too, have the Holy Spirit, as a "guarantee" - God living in us - when we become believers ... So with John, we can say, What I saw, heard, and touched when I first believed - I still can see, hear, and touch today. Kinda neat.**** Carolyn | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1252 Registered: 10-2008 |
Tomorrow, I want to introduce a really fun activity with the next section of verses. It is something I learned in Bible Study Fellowship that helps the scriptures "sink" into a person's mind. The activity also helps to alleviate "proof-texting". Then after we do the activity ... Which will be due Fri. night or Saturday [I'm a school teacher - so give me a little slack] We will dive into some more questions. The next section of verses have been used as proof-texts and horribly misunderstood ... So I want to spend extra time in them. Carolyn | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13888 Registered: 12-2003 |
Carolyn, I'm liking this. Thank you again! So interesting! I've loved your insights, Roger and Starlabs. Looking forward to your activity, Carolyn! Colleen | ||
| Free2dance Registered user Username: Free2dance Post Number: 575 Registered: 2-2010 |
I am responding before reading the other comments. I will go back and read them after posting my initial reactions. Sorry I’m so far behind! I didn’t want to start until I could sit and read the letter in one sitting. I have to say, after doing so, I am SO glad we are doing this!! 1) We know that the person who wrote this letter was a disciple who walked with Jesus and was in active relationship with Him while He was on earth. Also, the way he begins the letter reminds me a lot of the gospel of John, “In the beginning was the word...” and “That which was from the beginning...” are so similar. Also him speaking of the Lord as the life or as eternal life through out 1 John is reminiscent of the gospel of John. 2) The purpose, I believe, is stated in verse. 3, “...that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us;” This fellowship being, ... “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” As you mentioned, 1 John 5:13 states that the audience can know they have eternal life. Also, through out the letter the author refers to the audience as “Little Children” and in 2:12 this is what is said of Little Children, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.” I believe the purpose of the letter is that there would be unbroken fellowship in the body and this is based on the fact that the body is already the body, they are a redeemed people “working out” or “living out” their salvation together. The issues that divide people can often be set aside when believers stand united around the gospel of Jesus Christ, the testimony of God. 3) The Word of Life is the Lord Jesus Christ. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” The author also refers to Him as the eternal life in this letter both in this section in 1:2b, “...and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father...” and in 5:20b, “...Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” Also in the gospel of John in 1:4, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” 4) Because the writer was one of those who walked with Him, who experienced Him in his flesh and not only his spirit. The life was made manifest to him. However, even trusting such a claim requires a certain amount of faith since all of us have experienced being lied to before in these ways. The testimony is truly in the Spirit, and I believe that He testifies to us that we can believe these things. 5) To be completely honest I find myself nervous. Since the author was so close to Jesus in the flesh, I feel myself bracing my myself because of some of the statements that trigger my old SDA tapes. However, I hear two things going on inside. My head is telling me that this letter may have been written before Paul shared the fulness of the gospel of grace to the gentiles ;) and my heart is telling me that all scripture is useful for teaching and that just because I have triggers here and there does NOT mean that the way I had originally been taught them is the way they are meant by the author. I believe that the Lord did not intend to trick us with His word, but intends to reveal Himself in it. So, with that being said, the writers testimony will likely push and challenge me, but what I know for sure is that it WILL reveal the Lord to me in new ways and I look forward to it! | ||
| Free2dance Registered user Username: Free2dance Post Number: 576 Registered: 2-2010 |
Wow! So great reading new insights on this passage! Thank you everyone! Colleen, I was encouraged by your comment about being able to know that thing which are hidden are not of Him. Thank you! Carolyn, I loved your note on the Greek tense! Starlabs, love your questions! I think we can know that John is writing to believers. See my thoughts on number 2 for why I believe that. He often calls his audience, "Little Children" and these are defined as those who can know their sins are forgiven in 2:12. That forgiveness happens on the basis of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you! | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1951 Registered: 7-2004  |
Rather than looking at questions, some of which can't be answered from the verses being studied, I will look at what the individual verses have to say to us.
This affirms that Jesus is co-eternal with the Father. Next John assures readers that he is writing about what he has experienced first hand (heard, seen and touched). John refers to Jesus as the "Word of life" similar to his description of Jesus as the "Word" in his Gospel. Interestingly, Paul also uses the phrase "Word of life" to refer to Jesus in Phil 2:16.
The word of life, that was from the beginning was made manifest. Spirit (because God is Spirit) became flesh, when Jesus became incarnate. Again the emphasis that Jesus is eternal, notice the comment about eternal life that was with the Father. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:16), here John points out that the Life (Jesus) is eternal and was with the Father. Jesus was not created, He didn't come into existence after the Father, He was always with the Father eternally. John affirms again that he is going to write about what he has first hand knowledge of regarding Jesus.
John, after once again affirming first hand knowledge of his message, moves on to describe some of his goals in writing this letter. Goal number one: fellowship. The use of the word here would seem to imply something more than merely hanging out talking after church as we typically use the word. The word used here for "fellowship" is the same word used in I Cor for communion. Fellowship denotes an intimacy and shared bond that goes far beyond our idea of a "fellowship" dinner or hall. John is seeking that kind of shared unity and closeness with these fellow believers. John goes on to point out that this is the nearness that he continues to experience with God (Father and Son) and by implication, he is pointing to the fact that the only way to truly share this "communion" is in a shared relationship with God.
Another goal in writing this letter, to fill his joy in the Lord. And this joy is not full so long as the other believers are not in this close relationship with him and with God. When I read this I am left with the impression that John sees these believers and knows that there is more available to them than what they are experiencing. He longs to see them experience more of the goodness of God. His joy will always have something lacking as long as other believers don't have this full experience of God. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13915 Registered: 12-2003 |
Rick, I like your reflections on "fellowship" and on John's tempered joy if these believers whom he knows and loves aren't living in the fullness of their experience with God. God gives Himself to us—all of Himself, when we are born again. John wanted his "little children" to learn to live in submission and trust so they could grow in confidence and security. Colleen | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1257 Registered: 10-2008 |
Free2dance, I really enjoyed your answers. #2 and the emphasis on fellowship was quite amazing to me. Thank you for sharing! To be honest, I too, have reactions to 1 John based on the proof texting that I knew as an Adventist. Some of 1 John have caused a viseral reaction in me, too. I am choosing to believe God's promise that if we seek Him with all our hearts (Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you) we will be blessed. Thanks so much for joining the discussion! Rick, thank you, too for breaking down each verse and your thoughts concerning them. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1258 Registered: 10-2008 |
I have been reading through 1 John 1:1-2:2 almost every morning. One of the things that "hit" me was verse 3. We can have "fellowship" with God Almighty. Mercy!! The One Who created the universe, Who is omnipotent, omniscience, and omnipresent is willing to have "fellowship" with me. Easton's dictionary describes koinonia (fellowship) as such:
Very neat. Because I am finding it to be a busy time, I'm going to change the posting for the study to once a week. Slow it down a little so we can all truly participate and keep up. Carolyn | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 1180 Registered: 5-2009 |
Joining a little late... 1. So similar to John 1:1--"In the beginning was the Word...In Him was life..." The person writing is giving us his "credentials"...(& the credentials of other eye-witnesses). His testimony includes 3 of the 5 senses: hearing, sight & touch. The Person he has interacted with is real/flesh, not a figment or a dream. As the Message puts it (hope it's OK to read a fresh paraphrase along with the Bible): "The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us." (I often need to read different varieties of Bibles to give me an "un-Adventist" look @ Scripture, if you know what I mean?) 2. "We write this to make our joy complete." I think we've all experienced the utter joy of seeing people leave the "anti-gospel" for Jesus & His complete sacrifice/atonement for our sins. John 5:13 is just awesome! Who knew??? And John & the others want fellowship with the recipients of the letter, and their fellowship is also with both the Father & the Son. An all-encompassing fellowship combining God & the eye-witnesses & those who were not eye-witnesses, but still believe the testimony of those who were. 3. Answered in #1--Jesus Christ...the Word, Life & Light: John 1:! He was with the Father, eternal. 4. He was there, witnessing an incredible Reality. As with the book of Daniel, I have a bad reaction to parts of this book, but I am learning to trust God, so I'm going to study it, anyway. Besides, 1 John 5:11-13 are some of my favorite verses. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13921 Registered: 12-2003 |
It's really impacting me, as this 1 John study progresses, to realize how many books of the Bible were viscerally repugnant to us as Adventists. I doubt we would have admitted it, maybe not even fully to ourselves, but studying 1 John and Daniel, etc., is really hitting me hard. These books were truly twisted in our past. We were taught untruth using God's word to make the points...it's horrifying. The same thing happened with many hymns..words were changed, and even real words had no meaning to us. How many of you were left feeling "flat" by songs like "Rock of Ages" and "Blessed Assurance"? Truth is amazing. The Lord Jesus is truth, and He reveals Himself through His word...all of it, even Daniel, 1 John, Revelation, and Habakkuk...who knew? Colleen | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1261 Registered: 10-2008 |
Colleen and Nowisee, This morning I am angered and sad. I just spent time once again reading from 1 John 1:1-2:2. And it hit me how twisted scripture was taught to me. No wonder we have visceral reactions to texts or verses. They were twisted to mean the exact opposite of what the Biblical context portrays. We were taught the opposite of what God's Word means. And because of that our emotions react to what is new and true. I'll share more latter as we finish the section 1 John 1:5-2:2 and how the Greek tenses explain how truly opposite we were taught. Carolyn | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 1262 Registered: 10-2008 |
In BSF, after studying a passage on our own without commentaries or other people's words, we then discuss those verses within a small group, after that we sit down to hear a lecture on those verses from someone who has also studied and the person has read from several different commentaries. Therefore, I would like to quote from a commentary on the Epistles of John by a James Montgomery Boice. He gives an interesting understanding of Gnosticism. Many commentators believe John was writing his epistles to address the gnostic heresy that was creeping into the infant church. Here are Boice's words found on pg. 14, 15.
I thought this was interesting in the light of what we read in 1 John 1:1-4 about John emphasizing he SAW, HEARD, and TOUCHED Jesus ... Jesus came in flesh. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13928 Registered: 12-2003 |
Carolyn, thank you for all your work in doing this study with/for us. Interesting insights above from Boice. thank you. Colleen |
