Book Study: First John
Book Overview
The book of 1 John is a pastoral letter written to strengthen believers in their faith and assure them of eternal life in Christ. John emphasizes the reality of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God and calls Christians to walk in the light, practicing righteousness and love. He warns against false teachers and the spirit of antichrist, urging discernment and steadfastness in truth. Love is central throughout the letter: believers are to love one another as evidence of God’s presence in them. John also highlights obedience to God’s commands as proof of genuine faith. The letter closes with assurance that those who believe in the Son of God have eternal life, confidence in prayer, and protection from the evil one. Overall, 1 John weaves together themes of truth, love, obedience, and assurance, encouraging believers to remain faithful and grounded in Christ.
Brief Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
John proclaims Christ as the Word of life, urging believers to walk in the light, confess sins, and enjoy fellowship with God and one another.
Chapter 2
Believers are called to obey God’s commands, love one another, resist the world’s desires, and remain steadfast against false teachers.
Chapter 3
John emphasizes believers’ identity as God’s children, calling them to righteousness and love, contrasting God’s ways with the world’s hatred.
Chapter 4
He urges testing of spirits, highlights God’s love revealed in Christ, and insists that true believers love one another as evidence of God’s indwelling.
Chapter 5
John assures believers of eternal life through faith in Christ, confidence in prayer, victory over the world, and protection from the evil one.
Key Verses
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 2:15–16
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life—is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
1 John 3:1
“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.”
1 John 4:7–8
“Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 5:11–12
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”
