Reflection Questions John’s First Letter – Introduction

Read the following information about the author of 1 John, namely the Apostle John: brother of James, son of Zebedee, fisherman from Galilee. Here the commentator describes the reliable tradition, as stated by early church leaders Polycrates, Irenaeus, and Jerome, about the end of this John’s life.

“Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus (AD 190)” said “that John ‘who reclined on the Lord’s breast’, after being ‘a witness and a teacher’ (note the order of the words), ‘fell asleep at Ephesus’. According to Irenaeus, it was at Ephesus that John ‘gave out’ the Gospel, and confuted the heretics, refusing to remain under the same roof as Cerinthus, ‘the enemy of truth’; at Ephesus that he lingered on ‘till the days of Trajan’, who reigned AD 98–117. Jerome also repeats the tradition that John tarried at Ephesus to extreme old age, and records that, when John had to be carried to the Christian meetings, he used to repeat again and again ‘Little children, love one another’.” Source: R.V.G. TASKER, in New Bible Dictionary (IVP).

The Apostle also wrote: John’s Gospel, the second and third letters of John, and Revelation. He cared for a network of churches from a base church in Ephesus. The comment from Jerome indicates that as he aged, he greatly desired to impress upon new generations the foundational truths of Christian faith. As an Apostle, he had been commissioned by the Risen Lord to teach this faith and he kept discharging this responsibility so long as he had strength. The first letter of John is a summary of the truth foundation that he passed on, likely written in his senior years (70-90AD) to assure and build the confidence of emerging generations. We believe the letter was circulated among the churches in his care.

1.a) Reflect & share with your group: what would you most like to say to younger generations that are in your sphere of influence? What key lessons would you like to pass on, to encourage and assure them?

b) Also: spend a few minutes sitting with this harder question:

To what extent does your personal example testify to the lessons you’d like to pass on? (Note any responses you have, but no need to share with your group unless you want to).

2. Now we consider the purpose of 1 John in a little more detail. Read 1 John 5.13. Can you put John’s purpose in writing this letter, in your own words?

3. 1 John 2.12-14 is one of the most lyrical and moving parts of the letter. In these verses we see the Apostle’s heart to assure and build up the confidence of his beloved congregations, before he dies.

Read these 1 John 2.12-14. What stands out to you and why?

Note down any unanswered questions you have about the themes here and make sure the group finds some answers in 1 John by the end of this Lenten series.

4. Let us reflect on our need for assurance, today.

Read the following, from Rev Glen:

“You might be someone who has seasons of doubt- not about the reality of God, but about your standing with him. Do I really belong to him? Pain, suffering, & disorder in the world, has made you doubt. Spiritual weakness and your moral mistakes have made you doubt that you belong to him. You wonder: do I really have eternal life?  It might be that you live with an answered prayer: a request you felt the Lord, in his kindness, should answer. This has made you wonder ‘do I really belong to him? Do I have life in him? Are all the promises of God in the gospel mine?’

When we have these kinds of troubling questions, the church returns to 1 John, to the ageing apostle, and his timeless truth.”

In 1 John there are three tests through which we know we are God’s own.

Read 1 John 2.20-25 & 1 John 4.13-16.

What is the truth test that shows if we belong to God the Father, and have life in him?

What is the Spirit test that shows if we belong to God the Father, and have life in him?

Read 1 John 3.10.

What are the behavioural tests that shows if we belong to God and have life in him?

Important: Don’t worry, the Apostle doesn’t expect us to be perfect or complete in our faith or character. He realizes we still struggle to believe and fail in many ways and so offers assurance of forgiveness in Jesus to those who are turning to Jesus (1 John 2.1-2). But what we are going to explore in this letter is the way that as we grow in grasp of the truth, experience of the Spirit, righteousness and love, we can attain an inner peace, an assurance. This assurance is a good gift with many benefits.

Note down any questions you have at this point, and make sure we find answers in 1 John by the end of the Lenten series.

5. Read 1 John 1.1-4.

Here the truth basis of genuine Christianity is laid down. Jesus of Nazareth- whom John and the Apostles all saw, heard, and touched- is no less than God. He is the Son of God, equal to the Father, who gives us eternal life and close fellowship with our heavenly Father.

a) Without necessarily naming people, in what ways have you heard influential leaders deny or reject that the Jesus of history is God in the flesh?

b) Why is it so important to accept that Jesus- born, crucified, and risen- is God in the flesh? What comes to our human experience, our lives, through this Son of God who lived, died and rose?

6. Conclude in prayer for a deeper assurance of your identity as a child of God, through this series.

NIM