62 - 1 John

TLDR: We have heard, seen, touched the Word of life. God is light; God is love. Walk in the light; love one another; believe in the name of the Son. "Perfect love drives out fear." Assurance and obedience together.

Overarching Storyline

Word of life; God is light (ch. 1–2). Do not love the world; antichrists (ch. 2). Children of God; love one another (ch. 3). Test the spirits; God is love (ch. 4). Faith and assurance (ch. 5).

Bible Project: 1 John overview.

Pegs for Memorizing This Book

• Person: John; antichrists; children of God.
• Image: Light, love, abiding.
• Number: 5 (chapters).
• Phrase: "God is love" (4:8, 16); "Perfect love drives out fear" (4:18); "If we confess our sins" (1:9).

Highlights

• 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.
• 1 John 3:1 — See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.
• 1 John 4:8 — Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
• 1 John 5:14 — If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

(Link to verse entries and meditations as added.)

Before and After

• Before: 2 Peter; 1 John is pastoral and doctrinal — assurance and love.
• After: 2 John; 1 John is the longest of the three; 2 and 3 John are brief.

Place in the Overarching Biblical Story

Assurance and love. We know we have eternal life (5:13); we love because He first loved us. The letter counters docetism and encourages fellowship with God and one another.

Interesting Facts

• No author named — Tradition attributes to the apostle John; style is close to the Gospel of John.
• God is love — 1 John 4:8, 16; love is not just an attribute but God's nature.